Let No Man Put Asunder

On Sunday Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the most senior Roman Catholic Cleric in Britain, called Gay Marriage “grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right”. With the coalition government planning to introduce gay marriage by the next general election, it is not surprising that the Catholic Church are in battle stations; The Catholic Church loves a good fight. But the words of Cardinal O’Brien really hit me. How can allowing people to marry be against other peoples human rights? Surely not allowing people to marry is denying people human rights?

Now comes the point at which I announce my bias. I am bisexual. One day I believe I will settle down with one partner and they may be male or female. When this day comes I would like to be able to marry them. But in 15 years time when the point comes to settle down, I may find I may not be able to marry because a few straight people think I do not have the right. I have the right to do what I want as long as nobody is hurt, and who do you hurt by marrying someone of the same gender? The Catholic Church, and other Christians, argue that God defined marriage as being between a man and a woman. I, however, am an atheist, so do not believe in God. Why should I be restricted by the beliefs of one religion? Marriage was around long before Christianity, defeating the argument that these Christians have. Marriage predates recorded history and each culture has its own marriage tradition. Although the Christian view of marriage has been the basis of current western marriage traditions, we do not live in a society of one religion. Our society accepts all beliefs and cultures, so why should one religion be able to overrule all other beliefs?

One of the most common arguments against same-sex marriage is that it would ruin the sanctity of marriage. I personally believe that heterosexuals have done a good enough job of fucking up marriage themselves. You can commit adultery, get divorced, or not love your partner but none of this will ruin the sanctity of marriage, yet if loving same-sex couples are allowed to get married all hell will break loose. These people seem to fear that same-sex couples are just waiting with their hammers to break down marriage and jump all over its burning remains. If anything same-sex marriage will ensure the sanctity of marriage. It will show that at the heart of marriage is love and unity, and that no matter what your sexuality, if you love someone you are united with them. Marriage is about uniting people but a section of society seems determined to use it as a wedge to divide society. In the 21^st Century the absence of same-sex marriage is a horrific abuse of human rights. Yet in Britain the coalition has made clear its aim to introduce same-sex marriage by the next election; The Church can no longer stop progress. At risk of sounding cheesy, prejudice cannot stand in the way of love.