Britain will tomorrow unveil proposed legislation to give gay couples much of the civil protections of heterosexual marriage. The British Tory party has shifted its position to acceptance, and will allow its MPs to vote however they want to on the matter. Their spokesman, Alan Duncan, is himself openly gay (and an old friend from college days). Here is a simple argument in defense of this proposition:
We understand the reservations several Church leaders have expressed about extending this civil union into some sort of pastiche gay marriage, which would be in breach of so much Judaeo-Christian teaching. But that is a religious issue. What is proposed is a civil matter. It is wrong to oppose a sensible and modest civil reform for fear of where it will ultimately lead. Allowing gay people to affirm their relationship within a civil contract does not undermine the institution of marriage. It might even reinforce it. We will all benefit from greater recognition of stable relationships, of whatever kind.
This is from the Daily Telegraph, the most conservative serious newspaper in Britain, in an editorial titled, “Gay couples should be equal under the law.” I’m beginning to feel as if the substance of this issue is now over. In the Weekly Standard, Maggie Gallagher argues against banning civil unions or other such protections for gay couples in a constitutional amendment. We’re left with a dispute over who gets to use the term “marriage.” That debate is worthwhile and important. I want to unify our civil society and strengthen marriage by bringing gays and straights under its single umbrella with a single name. I think that gay members of a family should not be put into a separate holding pen as if their relationships are somehow inferior to their siblings. But it seems to me that the real substantive matter is whether we encourage gay relationships (as opposed to no support for stability among gays) and whether homosexuals are equal under the civil law. A new consensus seems to be forming in defense of both arguments, which is really gratifying. It’s particularly gratifying that many conservatives are finally intent on bringing gay people into the civil architecture of our society.
BART SIMPSONS IN BRITAIN: From the aptly named blog, ourpointlesslives. Sound effects can be found here.
The Dish 