UK Gay Humanists Reiterate Support for Marriage Equality

London, 20th August 2010

The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has been campaigning for the right of same sex couples to marry since at least 2004. Humanists in general have also supported gay marriage since long before it became a mainstream cause. This reflects humanists’ beliefs in a free and inclusive society.

Humanism is a broad movement which places the emphasis on human fulfilment, happiness, and freedom. Within this there is space for a range of perspective on marriage. Some humanists see marriage as a particularly valuable social institution. Others are more questioning of some of its cultural associations – for example when it comes to the traditional status of women -and accordingly see Civil Partnerships as more relevant.  Others attach less importance to the role of the state in recognising and regulating personal relationships.

 Whatever their beliefs about the specifics of marriage and relationships, gay humanists are united in believing that in a free and fair society everyone must have the same rights to formalise their relationship, irrespective of sexual orientation.

GALHA therefore believes that that both marriage and Civil Partnerships should be made available to gay and straight couples alike. A simple process should also be made available to convert a Civil Partnership to a marriage, or vice versa.

Only this will confirm full equality, and end a situation where gay couples and straight couples face different kinds of discrimination in different contexts.

It will also send out a powerful message that gay people enjoy the same rights, and the same responsibilities as straight people, enhancing social cohesion.

It would further end bizarre anomalies as when a transgender person has to divorce his or her partner.

We believe that religious bodies should be entitled to perform same sex marriages on the same basis as heterosexual marriages, though we would accept as a compromise that a religious group should have the right to perform either only heterosexual marriages or only same sex marriages.

Without the right to  gay marriage gay people will remain second class citizens, and our society will be poorer.