I think many people like myself object to using the term “marriage” to describe the unions being formed by homosexuals. The
English language is already being modified too much. It is looking more like the “Newspeak” of 1984. I don’t mind if the partners of homosexual unions have all the rights and advantages (and disadvantages) of male and female marriages. Just don’t use the word marriage.
So, we need another word. Instead of marriage, I propose “coupling”. Instead of being married, homosexual partners would be coupled. Instead of “to marry one another”, they would use “to couple one another”. I guess gays and lesbians could still use the terms wedding and spouse, but please, don’t use the words “husband” and “wife”. I think we could all live together in harmony with this.
This article appears in Mar 11-18, 2010.
