Once, a few years ago, I had a moment when I realised how truly lucky I was to be born in England. I was sitting in a car listening to the news as I waited for my mother, and after a series of features on various wars and catastrophes happening around the world, the reporter went onto domestic news. The main story was that there was an argument in parliament over the price of margarine, something to do with VAT, I think.
People, all over the world, struggling, fighting for their lives, their freedom, their rights and there was I, sitting comfortably in a car park, in a country whose leaders were squabbling about margarine.
I had another one of those moments today when I read a news article from CNN about how gay couples are still being prevented from marrying each other in California. There may be a lot wrong with Britain, but my goodness, at least we've got it right when it comes to allowing people to express love and commitment regardless of their sexuality.
Even though a federal judge made a decision earlier this month to allow gay couples to marry in California, ruling that the Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage violated federal civil rights laws, a subsequent appeals court ruling has temporarily blocked the resumption of same-sex marriages.
Gay couples in California have been struggling for the right to marry for years
This is another gut-wrenching twist in the two-year long roller coaster ride for gay marriage activists in California, and it makes me so sad for the couples who just want to celebrate their love and commitment publicly.
Proposition 8 centred on the statement that marriage can only exist between a man and a woman. Well, that's upheld here too, but the difference is that we've created a civil partnership bill that allows gay couples to effectively marry without ruffling any feathers regarding the definition of marriage. If only the same could be done across the whole of America, where there is still so much prejudice.
At the time of writing this, CNN reports that same sex marriage is currently legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Iowa, and New Hampshire, and in the District of Columbia, while civil unions are permitted in New Jersey. Not many places when you consider the size of the United States.
It's so sad. I need to remember how lucky we are in this regard the next time I shake my fist at the news. At least we've got something right. Come on California, it's the 21st century for heaven's sake!
