Life Is Not Purgatory
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
Letter to the Editor
Semantics. That is what the gay and lesbian marriage issue is all about. If two individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation have the right to the tax advantages and other benefits of marriage, why all the fuss? It is because a heterosexual couple can obtain a marriage licence to go before a Justice of the Peace (an agent of the Crown) to swear (or affirm if you are not religious) the oaths loyalty to your spouse… and a homosexual couple cannot. That is discrimination; it truly is as simple as that.
Democracy is the rule of the majority, with respect to the rights of the minority. I am glad the motion before the House of Commons was defeated narrowly, but I have 132 reasons to worry about our government. The rights of the minority cannot be ignored simply because they are unpopular, otherwise they are no protection at all.
With a little luck the above letter will be published in the next few days, bringing my total published letters to three
Semantics. That is what the gay and lesbian marriage issue is all about. If two individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation have the right to the tax advantages and other benefits of marriage, why all the fuss? It is because a heterosexual couple can obtain a marriage licence to go before a Justice of the Peace (an agent of the Crown) to swear (or affirm if you are not religious) the oaths loyalty to your spouse… and a homosexual couple cannot. That is discrimination; it truly is as simple as that.
Democracy is the rule of the majority, with respect to the rights of the minority. I am glad the motion before the House of Commons was defeated narrowly, but I have 132 reasons to worry about our government. The rights of the minority cannot be ignored simply because they are unpopular, otherwise they are no protection at all.
With a little luck the above letter will be published in the next few days, bringing my total published letters to three
