California’s Same-Sex Marriage Trial

There is nothing that says a person fortunate enough to have something of value to put into a will can’t give it whomever they choose. Being the child of a “legitimate” union does not guarantee an inheritance.

And questions of paternity are not determined by whether or not a child’s parents are married. Thankfully, we know what causes babies now, so scientific evidence can be obtained to determine a baby’s mother and father.

Obviously marriage is not a guarantee that a child will be brought up by both mother and father. If that is the State’s responsibility, then being a single parent (whether never married, divorced, or widowed) would have to be illegal.

Not to mention the fact that if the sole purpose of “marriage” is to produce and raise children, as defense attorney Cooper said in his arguments to the court, then a couple would have to prove that they can even have children to begin with. No barren individuals need apply.

The only thing the State benefits from in a marriage is money.

This is definitely one of those instances where I think many Pagan couples have the right idea. Many perform a ritual “handfasting” which binds the two adults together, but only for a year and a day. After that time, should both parties want to further their commitment, they do so in a more formal fashion. But if they feel they should go their separate ways, they do so, hopefully with the knowledge of what they’ve learned and loved in each other and without rancor. Yes, it can happen that way. I’ve seen it done.

“Marriage” should be strictly left up to those institutions that use it in a Sacramental fashion, just like baptisms and confirmations. Anyone who wants to join together in a union or contract in addition, or instead of, the Sacrament, should be free to do so as well.

It would be just like any other holy rite of passage. If you consider your joining together to be a holy Sacrament, then you would have the Sacrament performed in the manner of your choosing.

If you wanted to have a legal, binding contract, then have one drawn up, just like any other legal partnership.

But otherwise, leave it in the places of worship.

I do fervently hope that the federal judge in California rules in favor of the plaintiffs. I know appeals will make it all the way to the Supreme Court, where I hope that the case is heard and decided in the same manner of the 1967 case Loving v Virginia which ended laws banning interracial marriage.

But mostly, I hope I will see the day in my lifetime when we will all look back and say “I can’t believe anyone thought this was wrong.” And that my kids will grow up in a place and a time in which it is truly understood that all acts of love are the rituals of our lives.