A Big Fat Gay Musical Wedding

On Saturday 29^th March 2014 same sex marriage became legal. I admit that I’ve wondered about the differences between Marriage and Civil Partnership. Why was this such a momentous occasion - I thought that had happened ten years ago? Having researched, I realised the differences don’t revolve around love but because of love.

Today, there are still those who oppose this step towards equality. Most arguments seem to centre on the religious. This would be one of the occasions where I recall Shylock’s words in the Merchant of Venice:

I am a Jew.

Hath not a Jew eyes?

Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions;

fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is?

If you prick us do we not bleed?

If you tickle us do we not laugh?

If you poison us do we not die? 

Could the word Jew be replaced with Homosexual? Could Christian be replaced with Heterosexual? Should both be replaced with Human?

Last year, Stephen Fry's documentary, Out There, on the extremes of homophobic feelings around the world, proved uncomfortable viewing. Thankfully, we are a country which does not sentence people to death for same sex relationships. But should ignorance and prejudice excuse the bigoted?

I had skipped over the possibility of watching Our Gay Wedding: The Musical

I’m not much of a fan of musicals and without knowing the facts, it sounded a bit tacky – which is always an individual interpretation.  

Then, when I stumbled upon a slice of Benjamin Till and Nathan Taylor’s full-on promotion of the programme, I was intrigued.  And, when I watched their marriage, I was entertained.

It was a cheesy, slick, happy, humorous, poignant, camp and an undeniably gay union and celebration. I think it's a fantastic record of a marriage that was about equality, choice and love.

The thing that touched me most was the obvious, overwhelming love. The love that was visible between Ben and Nathan and the love that the congregation felt for them both.  

I still remain uneasy though and I think Andrew Pierce explains how I feel, better than I can. 

Nevertheless, what now? Well, the following was said at our wedding:

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I believe that that says it all ... Congratulations to EVERY Happy Couple! 

thanks to classeminars.org for the perficpic