I have read many arguments written by people
who oppose same gender marriage and the attempt to change the
legal definition of marriage.
I've also heard arguments in the past
opposing equality of rights and freedoms for other minorities.
In my opinion, all of these arguments either disguise a
prejudice or seek to impose religious beliefs upon
minorities.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
attempts to acknowledge equality for people long discriminated
against. Different gender marriages, therefore, are not being
threatened by the changes proposed to the marriage laws.
As a secular humanist officiant with the
Humanist Association of Canada, and dually licensed by the
province of Ontario to solemnize marriage, I receive requests
from couples to conduct secular marriage ceremonies on their
behalf.
When a couple approaches me to provide
services, I do not ask whether they will be having a gay
marriage ceremony, or a straight marriage ceremony, or whether
it will be an inter-racial or inter-faith marriage. To do this
would be to indicate that somehow or other the union would
differentiate from the norm.
I do not take issue to the right of any
religious organization that refuses to marry gays, if this
would be out of accordance with their church doctrine. In the
public domain, however, religious, secular or civil unions
should all be referred to as marriage in the government
marriage registry and in matters of
law.
Sheila McKillop
Licensed Secular Humanist Officiant
Sudbury