Unequal rights in the new law on same sex marriages

ON the day the same-sex marriage bill passed through the House of Commons, a number of disturbing points were reported (Yorkshire Post, May 22).

A very rare and unholy alliance of Conservative and Labour members conspired to defeat Tim Loughton’s amendment.

This was intended to extend civil partnerships to heterosexuals and thus remove the discrimination that currently exists against opposite-sex couples who cohabit.

So what now of David Cameron’s claim to wish promote equality through the bill? We also hear of Government propaganda telling us that a majority in this country support same-sex marriage, yet your poll indicates that a massive 97 per cent of your readers are opposed to its legalisation. What a mendacious Government we appear to have!

From: JG Riseley, Harcourt Drive, Harrogate.

I AGREE with Lord Tebbit that extending marriage to please one group is unfair to others who might also wish to be exempt from inheritance tax. I would, however, suggest to him that the problem lies not with gay marriage, or civil partnership, but with the rules for inheritance tax.

These were draw up for a more convention-bound society and for a target group (the aristocracy) who were very traditionally minded. The intention was to tax the transfer of wealth from one generation to the next.

If we wanted such a tax today we might, instead of having an exemption for a spouse, have a variable rate such as one per cent for each year of age difference between the deceased and the beneficiary.

The relationship between them, other than in age, becomes irrelevant, but most married couples would still escape with little or no tax to pay. It would also remove pressure to ‘skip a generation’.

From: Mrs Janet E Rowntree, Escrick, York.

IT is deeply saddening and distressing that we are equating homosexual relationships with heterosexual marriage. As someone on the panel of the BBC Question Time programme said: “We are confusing equality with uniformity.”

To my mind, marriage is a sacred undertaking between a man and a woman. In their union, they do not just become as one but, also, they generally take on the chastening responsibility of procreation. Bringing children into the world and rearing them is the most important task any of us can undertake.

Though I have quite a number of friends who are homosexual, their relationships are different from those encountered in marriage and, by their very nature, cannot be procreative.

From: Terry Palmer, South Lea Avenue, Hoyland, Barnsley.

WE should not be too surprised regarding so-called same sex marriage laws being passed – these kind of “anti-normal” laws are becoming the norm.

Whatever Cameron, Clegg and Milliband use to try and turn the electorate against Farage and Co, all they are really doing is turning the electorate in Ukip’s favour.

Like it or not he and they are speaking the same language as the many and not just the few.

From: Peter Asquith-Cowen, First Lane, Anlaby, near Beverley.

LORD Ashcroft deserves praise for being totally honest about Conservative membership (Yorkshire Post, May 21). He admits that it “does not look the same as the rest of Britain”. He is spot on.

As a progressive Socialist, totally opposed to Conservative ideas and values, I have to admire David Cameron’s stance and courage on gay marriage, despite all the arguments for and against.

The Sunday before last was Pentecost. Without warning “The Big Question” was replaced with a service from Blackburn Cathedral.

To me this illustrates two things: one, the BBC’s support for traditionalism and two, just how out of touch this institution is along with grass roots Tory members.

The BBC used to be criticised for being ‘ too left-wing!’ It seems well in tune with Tory values.

In letters of protest at 10 Downing Street before the gay marriage debate, the line-up consisted of all elderly, grey-haired people. Mostly men. If the Tory party is ‘out of touch’ with the nation, then surely the BBC is.

From: Frank McManus, Longfield Road, Todmorden, Lancashire.

PARLIAMENT should not try to alter the English language, but respect the main definition of “marriage” as “the state or relationship of being husband and wife” (2009 edition, Collins English Dictionary).

This upholds the unique honour of Holy Matrimony as a setting for the miracle of procreation whereby we all were brought into being. The Prayer Book notes that Christ “adorned and beautified it with his presence and first miracle...in Cana of Galilee”. The honourable old term “sworn friendship” is available for pairs and other groups who do not qualify.