Class nature of marriage equality

[Starry Messenger]

http://www.cpa.org.au/guardian/2012/1553/02-editorial.html

The recent release of census data shows that over 1,338 Australian same-sex couples, nearly 2,700 Australians, have travelled overseas to marry. There are 65,000 Australians in de facto relationships who are prevented from marrying. Such are the bald figures. So why are the state and the church against same-sex couples being married?

After all, a man and a woman who decide to live in a de facto relationship after three years are considered in the eyes of the law to be legally married. This is not because of any romantic notion about marriage by the state but because the relationship will involve money and property and, likely, children. Marriage as we know it today historically is based on property.

When patriarchal society emerged in the zenith of its power more than 150 years ago with the rise of mercantile capitalism ownership of property formed a fundamental part of the system. Women were the property of their husband. Marriage involved the transfer of property – the bride – from her father to her husband as chattel. Then it was almost impossible to get a divorce. Desertion was rife.

As a pillar of the capitalist system, the church sees marriage – as it defines it – as an institution vital to its continued power, indeed to capitalism itself. Thus for many decades – into the 20th century – churches opposed any changes to divorce laws that made it easier for couples to end their relationship.

If you strike blows against that pillar, challenging that power, there will be a reaction, as there is, from the Vatican all the way down to the pious hypocrites in Australia’s parliament who publicly espoused that that gay marriage was against their beliefs. The creed that a person’s religion is a private matter between the individual and his or her faith is always shattered when it comes up against the political, as it always does.

Obviously this is about Australia, but I thought it could apply to some aspects of LGBT oppression here in the US too.