[Acrylic-bob]

I am a little surprised that no one else has started the discussion yet. Clearly you are all to preoccupied with Christmas preparations.

Today we saw a relatively small but potentially momentous change in the law. For the first time, in England, it became legally possible for two members of the same sex to publicly affirm their love for each other and to have that affirmation recognised by the law as a Civil Partnership. This single act accords such partnerships more or less the same rights and privileges as are enjoyed by married couples of the opposite sex.

Society has travelled a long way since the days of my youth, when same sex partnerships were unheard of, because homosexuality itself was illegal and would, on conviction, result in a lengthy prison sentence. Homosexuals were also frequently the hapless victims of blackmail and homophobic violence.

The Christian right has worked itself up into the predictable moral frenzy about the whole issue, predicting the end of civilisation as we know it and all manner of divine sanctions as a result of the moral laxity which condones what they view as an abomination in the eyes of their god.

Odd how the more things change, the more they seem to stay the same.

Speaking personally, I think that all the aping of heterosexual marriage is a bit tacky and just a tad silly. I agree there has to be some formal ceremony to make what is in effect a contract, but I would have hoped that my outre brothers and sisters could have come up with a more imaginative way of doing it. After all, they have had plenty of time to think about it. Still I would like to send my best wishes and congratulations to anyone getting partnered today. I hope your lives continue to be filled with love and happiness.

Anyway, mawkish sentimentality aside, what do members think about this contentious issue?

Are Civil Partnerships seen as redressing an enduring inequality?
Or are they the thin end of a very thick wedge which will be the ruin of us all?