"I don't want to be married. I'm very happy with a civil partnership. If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership," John says. "The word 'marriage,' I think, puts a lot of people off.
"You get the same equal rights that we do when we have a civil partnership. Heterosexual people get married. We can have civil partnerships."
Elton seems OK with his legally secured equal rights without demanding further "equal rights." Interesting. I wonder if Judy Garland will stop buying his records.
The thing is, there's been very little resistance in America against the establishment of the concept of civil unions. This speaks well of the American people, I think. We aren't cementheads: we're a fair, just, reasonable and compassionate people. There's not a single American who doesn't know a gay-oriented person or doesn't have one [or more] in their family. It's abominably stupid to ban anyone from a hospital visit or from inheriting a house that he/she has lived in for most of their adult life. America has recognized this already.
On the other hand, using legal mechanisms, especially the courts, to take away freedom of conscience, freedom of thought, of reason, about what "marriage" means...well, that's not fair, just or compassionate either.
I think Mr. John got it about right here. Well done, Sir Elton.
2 comments:
Elton seems OK with his legally secured equal rights without demanding further "equal rights."
Good line. The advent of civil partnerships may turn out to have "hurt" the cause, as it strips away the claim that there has been a restriction of individual liberty. The burden is now on gay marriage proponents to explain why this new understanding will benefit society - a much more difficult argument to make.
Does anyone in America take marriage seriously anymore? Not many in Britain do. It's an excuse to have a booze-up, get a few free gifts and a move to the front of the plane because you're on ''honeymoon.''
Rather than question the rights and wrongs of gay marriage, most should question the real meaning of marriage. If it's for love, affection and a feeling of being together then go for it. If it's for beer, gifts and reclining seats then think again.
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