Same-sex marriage has an unexpected foe
Just when you thought that all the arguments against same-sex marriage had been led to the starting gates, a new horse canters up. Writing in The Conversation , a op-ed site for academics, Annamarie Jagose , an internationally renowned expert in feminist studies, lesbian/gay studies and queer theory at the University of Sydney , argues that legalisation would be a disaster for gays and lesbians . “Why should marriage continue in the 21st century to be a primary mechanism for the distribution of social recognition and privilege?,” she asks. In recognising some gay and lesbian relationships as marriages, same-sex marriage emphasises the continued illegitimacy of other sexual arrangements and the continued exclusion of other social actors. The legalisation of same-sex marriage has risky consequences that exceed the good intentions of many of those arguing for it. Dr Jagose declares that the enemy is marriage itself. Why should gays and lesbians want to sign up for such ...