Colombia latest nation to grant same-sex marriage
In a move that surprised even the gay community Colombia’s highest court ruled that samesex marriage is now the law of the land. This is the latest development in a predominantly Roman Catholic nation where opposition to altering marriage laws seemed impossible to accomplish.
As one looks at the countries that have adopted the new marriage laws it is obvious that a number of these jurisdictions are under the influence of the church, but perhaps the tide is changing. Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Spain, Portugal and France are among the nations where same-sex marriage has been legalized and where the Catholic Church dominates.
A few years ago when Pope Benedict visited Spain he made it clear he journeyed there with a heavy heart because of the government’s decision to legislate gay marriage.
His attempt to persuade the president of that country to change course was futile. In Colombia, gay rights activist Luis Felipe Rodrigues said, “We are super happy.
This is a victory against all the conservative political parties, against the Catholic Church and everyone else who tried to block equal rights. This decision tells all that equality is unstoppable.”
Equality in all its forms must be the goal if society is to survive. Respect for others should be the ultimate goal. Success must be measured on our abilities to embrace diversity, not to act as judges of others who may seem to be “different” in some way.
Religious beliefs are part of our world order, but influence of the various religions is decidedly waning and the cause is that more people are thinking for themselves and not influenced by those in the church hierarchies who make constant attempts to separate us one from another. Each of us is unique.
The person we love should not be an issue other than deciding if that love is real. Our gay brothers and sisters date, fall in love, cohabitate, perhaps marry because now the law says we are able to do so.
Children are born into many same-sex families and all these things make us a contributing and sustainable part of our society.
Human kind must determine their future and each individual has the ability to choose the person he/she will love. This must be the end result, not because a certain church tells us to only love a person of the opposite gender. We live in a large world where folks experience arrogant orders that really suppress individuals into a part of society that accepts traditional families only and in the process ignores and indeed bully many into an existence that on a great many occasions have negative effects.
There is space for all and we must learn to stake a stand and find our own happiness in order to live fulfilled lives, without criticisms and judgements. The Pope, the Vatican, the Church of England, among others such as, the evangelical movements, must refrain from judging, but I have a hunch that is far off into the future.
Love is all it takes to make a family.
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