QUICK LEAD
MARRIAGE?
The right questions
Beyond conjugality
Better ideas. And you've likely never heard of them
A federal commission tries to get us past
the "gay marriage" impasse
In January 2002 the Law Commission of Canada waded into the Great Gay Marriage Debate with a report, two years in the works, looking at the legal recognition, support, and regulation of close personal relationships between grown-ups with no kids.
They had not limited themselves to "Gay Marriage: Yes or No?" They asked a question broader and more fundamental: What role should the state play in the intimate lives of adults? Regardless of their sexual orientation. Or ever whether or not they're having sex.
Their answer? As minimal a role as possible. The state should stop trying to define our most meaningful personal connections. Even marriage. People in all kinds of relationships -- not just "marriage" or "conjugal coupledom" -- should be free to define our intimate lives for ourselves. And, of our own free will, to be recognized as partners in law.
Their ideas were revolutionary. Their report's title: Beyond Conjugality. That's way beyond "gay marriage." And beyond the Great Debate's pat answers. So the media, addicted to simplistic "Yes / No" issues, paid that report almost no attention.
Which likely means you've never heard of it. Or its truly liberatory ideas. Take a look.
GET BEYOND
Go to:
Better questions
And much better answers
The Law Commission of Canada's Beyond Conjugality
Go back to:
This page: http://www.rbebout.com/getfree/beyond.htm
Ideas in play
(List of contents)
Spouse touting (Introduction)
Gay marriage? Wrong question (Lead page)
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October 2002 / Last revised: December 25, 2002
Rick Bébout © 2002 / rick@rbebout.com