Lesbian married couple splits, conservative gloats

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, is positively giddy over the reported split of one of this country's first gay married couples.

The lawsuit by Julia and Hillary Goodridge and six other couples led to the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. Their separation, and possible divorce, inspires Perkins to crow:

This follows a report last December that the first couple to enter a "civil union" in Vermont had split--in that case, amid allegations of domestic violence. While the experience of any one couple may prove little, these incidents symbolize something supported by a larger body of data. Homosexuals are less likely to enter into long-term partnerships in the first place than are heterosexuals (less than half the homosexual couples in Massachusetts have bothered to "marry"). When they do have partners, those relationships are less likely to last for life. In addition, such relationships are less likely to be characterized by sexual fidelity. When people ask what harm same-sex "marriage" would do, this is a big part of the answer--it would undermine society's understanding that marriage is epitomized by commitment, fidelity, and permanence.

Sure. Because it wasn't until those activist judges gave gays the right to get married that the commitment, fidelity and permanence of marriage began to crumble. Before the gays won the right to get married in that godless Massachusetts, there was never any such thing as infidelity or divorce.

No, Mr. Perkins, all this proves is that saying "I do" doesn't guarantee "'til death do us part." It doesn't matter if the couple is gay or straight. The Goodridges' marriage was among the first of its kind. If they divorce, they will be walking a path that hundreds of millions of opposite-sex couples have walked before them.

Until very recently, Mr. Perkins, people like you and the lovely Mrs. Perkins were the sole custodians of the institution of marriage. You should have taken better care of it.