I started writing this as a comment on
It's an interesting one, because, on the whole, there are no impediments to straight people marrying, and if us straighties don't want all the hassle of a big ceremony there's nothing to stop us doing a three minute jobby at the Register Office with two random witnesses dragged in off the street (kicking and screaming from the bus shelter in the case of my local Register Office!).
When the matter was discussed on PolitX, Tory Boy brought up the issue of the two elderly spinsters. Now, he was using the elderly spinsters to beat gay people over the head (which is a fairly unique form of gerontophobia). Underneath the ridiculous ranting about marriage being for the children (thus rendering void every marriage of the barren and elderly - gerontophobia, again) and gays undermining the family (surely the elderly spinsters have been pretty undermining to family values, too!), there is potentially a serious point.
I am increasingly of the view that not only should it be a legal right for any adult of sound mind to designate any other adult of sound mind as next-of-kin, but, also for any adult to be able to designate a 'significant other' for, say, Inheritance Tax and pension purposes.
It would avoid the debate about the undermining of marriage (although, if it's so easily undermined, it can't be that hot a proposition). It would enable people who wish to get married for religious reasons to do so. Those who spurn the interference of church or state in private matters, as every good libertarian should, be they straight or gay, can ensure that they can die with dignity not leaving their life partner destitute. It would also ensure that those who will not, or cannot, share their life with a sexual partner are also not disadvantaged.
