Overseas same sex marriages should be recognised
Same sex marriages should be possible in Hong Kong
Does it matter?
No, marriage is just for men and women
Really? I don't think so. Any Tom Dick and Harry can visit as long as the patient agrees and they're over 12.
Drat, quote fail
What I’ve never understood is why marriage is so important. It’s not really that successful in the hetero world. Given that marriage was supposed to be a religious thing and there isn’t much recognition of homosexuality in most of them surely the nirvana is fully equal rights under a civil partnership?
Isn't that just splitting hairs? What does it matter what you call it? Marriage is just a legal concept, so why not give the same legal benefits to everyone who wants them? You can be married and not be a "family" or be one without being married. Extending the same legal benefits to everyone equally is surely better than creating a lot of alternative ways those rights can be established to cover people who might not want them, like cohabitation etc.
For various official purposes marriage is often different than partnership. Think pensions, insurance, inheritance, vsiting rights, etc etc. It varies by country, but gay couples often bump into barriers that straight married couples don't. I can understand, even if I'm happily divorced myself.
Yawn. Yes obviously. For as long as we insist on organising ourselves, inheritance rules and tax benefits under the institution of marriage it obviously needs to apply and be available to all sorts of couples. Astounded anyone would still think otherwise frankly.
Sincerely hope this won't even be a question anywhere in the civilised world within 10 years.