Gay marriage, civil partnership

Madam, – In light of Justice Vaughn Walker striking down California’s Proposition 8 (World News, August 6th), perhaps it’s time…

Madam, – In light of Justice Vaughn Walker striking down California’s Proposition 8 (World News, August 6th), perhaps it’s time we reconsidered our own vision of marriage.

Either marriage is about two loving people in a committed relationship providing happiness and stability to themselves and their community or it’s about the production of children, in which case the marriage licenses of the infertile and the elderly must surely be revoked.

We must look past the lip service of civil partnership and grant all relationships equal respect and rights under the law. If we do not, we condemn gay couples to a life as second-class citizens, their relationships less valued and less meaningful to the state. If Argentina can get this right, it’s a little embarrassing that we lag behind. – Yours, etc,

MARK HAUGHTON,

Green Road,

Blackrock,

Co. Dublin.