Dear Editor,
As a gay man I've been following with interest the story of gay marriages being banned in California and the process to try and overturn the ban.
Personally I believe that the word "marriage" belongs to heterosexual couples and no gay person has the right to that term. As much as I fight for and believe in equal rights for all, still today in our "free" South Africa, I come across people who when they find out my sexual preference say things like..."Oh lovely...I have quite a few friends like you."
Personally I would not like to walk into church in a pink suit (which is not my colour) with my "hubby" in tow, profess our love for each other in front of 100s of people who'll say..."Oh lovely... we've been to one of 'those' weddings?"
I'd rather stand in front of a Magistrate and have a great reception afterwards with only a select few friends. These friends see us as real people who pay our taxes, contribute to the economy, help those in need, are not racists (as we understand discrimination so well), love, hurt and bleed the same as anyone else and not as something to mention over a gossip cup of coffee with their heterosexual friends.
I do believe a civil union is the right way to go as we have the same rights as married heterosexual couples, but without the word "marriage". Yes...it is law in South Africa for us to get married and it is a great achievement, but I personally would not like to be associated with the word "marriage".
Paul
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