Secular support for same-sex marriage

The Secular Humanist Society of Gibraltar has expressed its wholehearted support for same-sex marriage and said firmly opposes holding a referendum on the issue.

In a statement the SHSG said: “Marriage is and should be about love and making a commitment to the person you love. This is something that heterosexuals do not have a monopoly on.”

The Society further stated that same gender couples should not just have to content themselves with civil partnerships.

“Why should a gay person be denied marrying the person they love simply because of that person’s gender? Welcome though the introduction of Civil Partnerships was, the inescapable fact remains that it is not a marriage and does not have the same recognition internationally.”

The SHSG said it believes that the proposed amendments to the Marriage Act will bring true equality.

However, the Society stated that it is firmly opposed to the notion of holding a referendum on the issue.

“Human Rights are not something to be voted on, rights are to protect individuals and they should not be subject to public consultation as to whether a person or group of people are worthy of rights.”

“If a man wishes to marry a woman the only person who needs to consent to this is his intended spouse. To suggest that if the same man wished to marry another man instead, he would suddenly need the consent of 51% of the electorate is absurd in the extreme.”