There are constant calls for legal recognition for gay marriage. Despite almost universal agreement that there should be no discrimination on the basis of sexuality, there is still sufficient resistance that many jurisdictions who value equal rights for all sexual persuasions, resist calls to legalise gay marriage.
How can this be?
Well at stake are actually two core issues.
Number 1- equal treatment under the law for gay unions
Number 2- the right to use the word 'marriage'
Although in many cases not actually achieved, it seems difficult understand any argument against point number 1 if there is acceptance of equal rights for all sexual persuasions.
So now to argument number 2. Often the right to the usage of the same word becomes an integral part of the debate.
Note that equal rights for women has never hinged on the right of women to call themselves men.
If we give women the right to call themselves men, we lose the ability to refer to one specific gender. While it could be argued that we should never need to single out one gender, in the real world it is necessary to make the distinction between genders from time to time.
The biggest argument against allowing gay unions to use the word marriage is it removes having a distinct word for a union between a man and a woman. While again many may argue we should never need to make such a distinction, I think it is also a fundamental right to be able to keep a specific word. Equality is not dependant on removing gender specific words from the language- even though it can be dependant on such words not being used in an incorrect manner or to reinforce stereotypes.
The argument is reduced to semantics. There is a real problem that we have no 'more inclusive term' to describe a life partnership and perhaps we need one. Then laws could be altered to reflect the more inclusive term and the injustices overcome without continually being stuck on an emotive word.
