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Ciaran · 10-06-2012, 09:36 AM

The issue of who should have the right to marry is an incredibly complex one.

I think that all, or almost all, of us on this site would support equal marriage rights for LGBT people as or hetrosexuals. However, our views on who should have the actual right to marry no doubt vary significantly depending on our cultural, political, societal and religious views.

For example, at what age should someone be allowed to marry? If a minor, should he / she be allowed to marry with parental consent? I'm not a parent and never will be but cannot believe that I would give my consent to a child of 16 or 17 to marry. Similarly, whilst it is legal, should society regulate to stop a person of 18 marrying someone of 88?

Also, how do we deal with persons who may be mentally incapacitated in some way but, equally, as deserving of love and a committed relationship as others?

Added to the above, there is the cultural overlay. For example, in many South Asian societies, the right to marry is held but not the right to choose your spouse. This would be more important than the right to marry for me as I can just imagine who my parents would set me up with !!

Also, of course, the added complexities of those already married and wanting to marry again, whether their current marriage remains in law or not. Certainly, as a Roman Catholic, leaving aside the whole LGBT obstacle, I would have to jump through significant hurdles to get married a second time in the event of divorce. Similarly, until relatively recently, many societies expected widows not to remarry in the event of their husband's death.

Apologies for my ramble .... just the initial thoughts that came into my head upon reading the opening post.

10-06-2012, 09:36 AM	#3
Ciaran Member How Do You Identify?: Altocalciphilic Preferred Pronoun?: Papa Smurf Relationship Status: Curmudgeonous spinster Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: London (but from Belfast) Posts: 678 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 471 Thanked 3,654 Times in 602 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	The issue of who should have the right to marry is an incredibly complex one. I think that all, or almost all, of us on this site would support equal marriage rights for LGBT people as or hetrosexuals. However, our views on who should have the actual right to marry no doubt vary significantly depending on our cultural, political, societal and religious views. For example, at what age should someone be allowed to marry? If a minor, should he / she be allowed to marry with parental consent? I'm not a parent and never will be but cannot believe that I would give my consent to a child of 16 or 17 to marry. Similarly, whilst it is legal, should society regulate to stop a person of 18 marrying someone of 88? Also, how do we deal with persons who may be mentally incapacitated in some way but, equally, as deserving of love and a committed relationship as others? Added to the above, there is the cultural overlay. For example, in many South Asian societies, the right to marry is held but not the right to choose your spouse. This would be more important than the right to marry for me as I can just imagine who my parents would set me up with !! Also, of course, the added complexities of those already married and wanting to marry again, whether their current marriage remains in law or not. Certainly, as a Roman Catholic, leaving aside the whole LGBT obstacle, I would have to jump through significant hurdles to get married a second time in the event of divorce. Similarly, until relatively recently, many societies expected widows not to remarry in the event of their husband's death. Apologies for my ramble .... just the initial thoughts that came into my head upon reading the opening post.