In the “good old days” — if such a phenomenon ever existed — it was reputed that marriage was an alternative to promiscuity or virginal abstention, despite societal insistence that marriage was designed to forge virtuous families. This flies in the face of legal, prevailing “companionate” marriages of today in which starting a family is but an accident or afterthought.

The primary motive among young people today — aside from the rarity of “true” love — is rent control eased by living together, not to mention sharing of all the other peripheral costs of daily living. Granted — aside from living with parents — the most economical but inconvenient is the relationships of multiple guys, gals, or both living under one roof in chaotic communion. This, however, does not solve the problem of getting serious about at least a semblance of a monogamous relationship, or for that matter getting serious about life.

It would appear that the same motives exist among gays, most of whom, I trust, wish for the same legal, non-stigmatic companionate marriage afforded homosexuals whose initial intentions are devoid of having children.

Religious groups fail to recognize companionate marriage and simply chalk it out as “holy.” States, however, should make the distinction official and readily accept both heterosexuals and homosexuals as simply companionate aimed at improved, somewhat monogamous relationships, together with limited legal responsibilities and privileges as opposed to carefree convenience or common law cultism. In the event the relationship of either type become tried and true and serious about family either by procreation or adoption, each should recommit to full-fledged, conventional marriage subject to rigorous responsibilities.

Copyright © 2006 Richard R. Kennedy All rights reserved. Revised: August, 8, 2006.

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