Gay marriage

In all the debate about same-sex marriage one thing appears to have been ignored, yet it is blindingly obvious.

“Same” and “equal” are two different concepts.

It is generally agreed that civil partnerships give same-sex couples equal rights with opposite-sex couples who are married.

To call both of these unions marriage is surely suggesting they are the same when they patently are not. The most committed feminist would fight tooth and nail for equality with men but she would never suggest women are the same as men.

Just as men and women are different so a union between two of the same sex must be, and must remain, different from that between two of opposite sexes. Calling them both marriage not only does injury to the English language: it also does injury to our minds. It’s plain common sense!

C Tallach

Upper Breakish

Isle of Skye

IF TWO people of the same sex got married, that wouldn’t mean two people of opposite sexes were less married.

Marriage is not a finite resource.

BRUCE GAVIN

Henderson Row

Edinburgh