Same-Sex Marriage opponents argue that the ‘sanctity of marriage’ – a term which originally described the Christian Bible-related holiness of marriage between a man and a woman – will be destroyed if The Gays are allowed to get married. But I have some disappointing news for them: it’s already ruined.
Because I already ruined it.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, (ok it was about a decade ago) I got married. I had a diamond ring, and a new surname, and called myself Mrs. So there was a time when I held marriage sacred.
But never in the traditional religious sense. God had nothing to do with our union. I didn’t get married anywhere remotely near a Church, which is hard to achieve in the freaking City of Churches. I got married at a winery. Where they make lots and lots of wine. Because wine is what I hold sacred.
And even worse – I married a man who had already been married – twice. If you’re good at maths like I am, you’ll realise that meant I was the THIRD WIFE.
Gasp.
But even before we were married, we’d already ruined its potential sanctity. You may be shocked at this, but…we had sex before our wedding night. With each other.
This pre-marital carnal knowledge happened in the name of good times and strictly was not for procreation purposes – in direct violation of sanctity of marriage principles.
And, when it later came time to make our contribution to re-populating the planet as is every heterosexual couple’s absolute obligation, I once again failed. Our son was not conceived as part of our holy union – he was made during a threesome involving me, my husband, and our fertility specialist doctor. There was nothing natural or divine about it. It was about as far from an immaculate conception as you can get, because science vs fiction.
Top Comments
sanctity of marriage. just ask lyle shelton ... oh thats right he did that oh so christian thing of divorcing and re marrying. christ spoke of that sort of thing didnt he ? unlike homosexuality or gay couples being married
This is horrible. If you are wanting us all "to be nicer to each other", a good place to start would be by having some respect for those who DO hold marriage to be sacred. Just because you do not, does not mean that you get to tear that away from the many of us who do.
Marriage holds cultural and/or religious significance BEYOND merely the legal recognition of a relationship. This is true all over the world in many cultures and in every religion. I also do not know (I stand to be corrected) of a culture or religion that has (before this century) made provision for same-sex couples to be married.
If equal recognition & rights of the status of their relationships is what same-sex couples want, then I expect that in a secular society they are entitled to have that. If they want some ceremony to confer that status, then they are also entitled to that. But, it is not marriage.
There is cultural and religious symbolism and yes, even sanctity attached to marriage that makes it a uniquely heterosexual union.
The law should allow those of us who believe this to continue to hold marriage sacred, just as it should provide the legal recognition to same-sex couples that they want.
You can consider your marriage to be sacred, but in reality in Australia you are not married until you have lodged the correct, properly signed paperwork with Births, Deaths and Marriages. Marriage is an entirely secular agreement in Australia, and preachers are just marriage celebrants.