no plastic grooms

This is the definition of "marriage" from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:

mar·riage

Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English mariage, from Anglo-French, from marier to marry
Date: 14th century

1 a (1): the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2): the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage

2: an act of marrying or the rite by which the married status is effected ; especially : the wedding ceremony and attendant festivities or formalities

3: an intimate or close union

I see no religious or sacramental reference in this definition, and I am sufficiently familiar with recorded history and primordial custom to know that "marriage" has traditionally been regarded as a state independent of any and all religions.

I'm not going to jump onto anyone's bandwagon in a quest to join my contemporary religionists and their reactionary concept of personal relationships, and if I should end up outside City Hall tomorrow (Saturday) it will be only to stand somewhere with a simple sign suggested by my friend Bill Dobbs:

CIVIL UNIONS FOR ALL

Although I'd try to add in something about civil rights for all, since not everyone is cut out for unions.

Two nights ago Dobbs sent an email around: "39 years after Stonewall the gays in New York City say GOD LOVES GAY MARRIAGE", and he attached an image showing that on the central banner of Wednesday's demonstration outside the Mormon Church's New York headquarters across from Lincoln Center.

I'm just as disgusted as Bill, but I'm old enough to actually remember Stonewall and have to ask, what's the hell's going on here?

It seems we're not alone on this. See "sorry, sweethearts, still fiercely disinterested in this one" from johnny i hardly knew you.

[image of Tab Hunter and Roddy McDowall from michaelprocopio]