Philo, the thread was not about giving an OK to marriage at all.

I am married simply because it suited us both to get married.

True, in order for that to be recognised by others we had to step through state installed hoops.

I'd point you to david f's brief list to see why it might be a good idea to marry, if that suits people. It did suit us, for many of his reasons.

Now, using your list "who are its citizens, for duty of care of children, tax and social responsibility and legal property distribution" it would seem that each would apply to same sex marriages too.

I know gay men, who were married to women, had children, then decided they were gay, and live with another person now, a bloke, still with children in their care. And there are women in that situation too.

Not every family comes straight out of an Eynid Blyton book Philo.

A shock, I know, but that's life old dear.

TBC

Enid Blyton, life is NOT like "Noddy & Big Ears"?

:(

Well Ammonite, there is a nasty tittle-tattle tale that suggests Noddy and Big Ears are married and that Noddy was attracted to Big Ears because of the size of his equipment.

As radio-hams both, the large ear is a boon and Noddy has such small ones.

You will note that there are no 'issue' from the relationship.

Plod, who is reputed to have as big a truncheon as Big Ears has ears, is suspected of fancying Noddy too, but this is not confirmed.

I am considering doing a PhD on the implied pyscho-sexual relationships in Blyton's books and have been offered a place at the Catholic University, which just shows how wrong we can be about the grip of the Vatican on its educational wing.

david f,
These issues can all be covered in a registered Civil contract, stating next of kin and intention of will. It does not represent marriage. I assume the children spoken of were the product of a marriage not a same sex union.

You are all invited to the wedding of the century between Willie the Bull and Kate the Cow this Saturday afternoon at 3pm. The nuptials will take place in farmer Brown’s back paddock. The newlyweds will be spending their honeymoon in an Indonesian abattoirs.