There is outrage, now being expressed openly, at the idea that two men or two women can be as equal as a couple as a heterosexual couple. The Bible and religious teaching are cited as reasons why not, also the defence that marriage primarily is for the procreation of children between a man and a woman: in view of the fallibility of the Bible and the fact that gay and lesbian couples are able to adopt or bear their own children with the help of others these days, these arguments are not strong.
Marriage itself, if scrutinised honestly, has never been fully honoured. Indeed, the convention of marriage as a loving partnership has been abused throughout history when, so often, it was a union of convenience based on money or power and still is in some places and culture. Pharaohs married their mother or sister or daughter to ensure the continuation of a pure dynastic line; young girls were sold off to the right land match sometimes never meeting their husband until after a vicarious wedding ceremony based on contract; arranged marriage is common still; and many marriages have been and are abusive, based on violence and dependency of some form or other with the offspring caught in the middle. Marriage can be a painful, joyless prison, but so can any partnership. It can, also, be a union of joy and fulfilment if it is based on trust, honesty, and freedom, and so can a partnership too, regardless of gender.
The backlash over the proposal to enable gay marriage stems partially, perhaps, from genuine religious beliefs but more from a desire to cling on to the illusion of a former age of middle class, white Britain with traditions and conventions that are reassuring in a time of great change, often based on perceived respectability. More than this, there is prejudice and suspicion, still, against gays and lesbians in certain parts of our society as there is against other minority groups all over the world. It is time it ceased.
"Don't judge a book by its cover" is a wise idiom. All men and women are equal, and how we look is irrelevant to how we are. One day the light of our soul will be how we are seen, not if we are man or woman, black or white, large or small, rich or poor. Some souls have a more masculine balance even if wearing a female body, and for others their energy is very feminine even if they are judged as male, and thus it is that a gay couple may have a perfect balance of male and female between them. How can this be less worthy of legal recognition than any other couple? If it is their choice, and they are free to marry, how can an accepted rite of society fairly be denied them?
But then we live in a strange country where men and women are not equal in marriage, for now, where only men are deemed fit for high church office, where outer appearance is judged constantly and where the beauty of the soul goes unrecognised. Many people are in for a great surprise, and some will not like it at all.
Claire Montanaro is a spiritual teacher, channel and blogger with special interest in esoteric philosophy and the world in transition. Loves nature and wildlife. Author of “Spiritual Wisdom”.]]>
Well said. I blogged about this too. It's such a divisive subject but there is room for everyone. Letting this bill pass is nothing to be scared of.
Thank you, Gemma. I so agree with you!