Philo, yes I am definitely the father and am registered as such.

We are monogamous and technically described as defacto - a rather ugly term. Apparently this qualificiation takes 2 years.

For all intents and purposes we are emotionally and physically 'married' but without the official voodoo, baggage and stickers.

Philo, I should also add that I recognise that for legal purposes we are married - the 2 year thing.

The strange thing about that is when we bought a house last year only couples who had been together for less than 2 years could qualify for the 1st home buyers grant if you had previously owned a property.

Not that it made any difference as we were never reliant upon it.

Neverthless, I do not see myself as being married in the 'traditional' sense.

We were both divorced when we met, no kids, and decided to work on the important things in a relationship when we became serious rather than indulge in the veneer of convention.

Can I suggest people in any other kind of relationships except man and woman to come up with their own terminology instead of using the word marriage? Please be creative and don't steal the word marriage from it's original meaning. Webster 1828 dictionary definition of marriage: "(1): The act of uniting a man and woman for life; wedlock; the legal union of a man and woman for life. Marriage is a contract both civil and religious, by which the parties engage to live together in mutual affection and fidelity, till death shall separate them. Marriage was instituted by God himself for the purpose of preventing the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes, for promoting domestic felicity, and for securing the maintenance and education of children."

Marriage is a contract........that's why is doesn't work. Point of order here/with-in human understandings.

How do you feel, when signing a contract..strait away, the un..word, comes into play. Its the non bonding of two people which gives that small but freedom of, that makes most of what we see in the break-downs when marriage is looked upon as must or die, if you don't.

I don't understand the question?

LEAP

Neutral,
Almost no research has been carried out into de facto relationships in our feminist society, but estimates are that they last on average 3-5 years.

No enough time to raise children, leading eventually to single parent families and child poverty, and also leading to an uneducated society, as there is not enough money to properly educate children in a single parent family.

Feminists control most of social science, and that is why there is minimal research undertaken into de facto relationships.

They don't want the facts to be made public.

Below is a video clarifying the issue for those who think they are defending marriage by banning some people from marrying.

Warning: Language (swearing) Alert. Therefore don't watch if you are easily offended.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCLXZCYyNqU