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CartElton John Campaigning to Fully Legalize Gay Marriage in Britain
Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:46:52
Sir Elton John married longtime love David Furnish in a civil partnership ceremony in 2005, the first day the law allowing homosexual unions was introduced in Britain. Now, Sir Elton is campaigning for homosexual unions to have equal rights as heterosexual unions, and insists he will immediately marry once unions are equalized.
In a column for The Independent, via WENN, he wrote: "If we legalize gay marriage in Britain, you can bet your last penny that I'll be pushing to call him my husband at the first opportunity – though whether he or I go down on one knee is a matter for negotiation. I know a lot of people, and perhaps especially religious people, will say that David and I should count ourselves lucky for living in a country that allows civil partnerships, and call it quits there… Maybe we should just be happy that we at least have a civil partnership, and not push our luck."
He continued: "Well, I don't accept this. I don't accept it because there is a world of difference between calling someone your 'partner' and calling them your ‘husband'. ‘Partner' is a word that should be preserved for people you play tennis with, or work alongside in business. It doesn't come close to describing the love that I have for David, and he for me. In contrast, 'husband' does. Until the law recognizes David Furnish is my husband, and not merely my partner, the law won't describe the man I know and adore."
John would like fans to sign a petition to make the change.
He also played to the country's sense of national pride, writing: "Wouldn't it be a huge source of national pride if we… became one of the first countries in the world to say being married isn't about whether you're straight or gay, but about whether you're human? I think it would. I think that, in this Olympic year, when the eyes of the world are upon us, we should show that we are country committed to the sacred institution of marriage, proud of our tolerant heritage, and brave enough to let lovers like David and I call each other a husband."
What do you think of Elton John's argument?
—Maggie Pannacione
10.12.12
