Most of us are now aware of the legal battles and disputes that have occurred and continue to flame the differences between the Gay and Heterosexual Communities since the birth of Prop 8. The religious, secular, and political, communities have voiced their opinions and the legal outcome is yet to be determined by a higher court. California, The United States, and the World awaits the outcome of this legal battle which in many respects has set a precedent and perhaps shined light on some very outdated, prejudiced, bigoted beliefs. With that
said, within the complexity of the issues, lies a blatantly obvious misnomer that has been adopted to define the Gay Community’s fight for marriage equality.

The Gay Community’s stance and feverish fight to have equal legal rights under the definition of “marriage” has been mislabeled “Same Sex Marriage.” This title is being used

throughout the news, in editorials and in the Internet to define the rights the Gay Community wants to enjoy in a legal marriage. The words “Sex” and “Marriage” in the same sentence denotes a derogatory reference and it is being used to define marriage between two men or two women. The Gay Community has had to fight the stereotype of depravity, partly due to legacy, from the “Free Love” era of past decades. However, why then continue to use the word “Sex” when defining a union between two women or two men? Why not then refer to this very important issue as “Same GENDER Marriage?” We already know the condemnation that exists because there is a large population that believes sex between two women or two men is considered to be an abomination. The word “Sex” does not emote feelings of caring, love, devotion, or commitment, in comparison to the word “Marriage.” “Sex,” in our society is still that dirty little word the majority of us nervously discuss with our children, blush at in adolescence, and describes the actions we participate in while in the confines of our bedrooms.

The Gay Community has gone to great lengths to clarify that it’s not about “Sex” but about “Love” between two people. The Gay Community has been blasphemed for their sexual orientation to the point where for many, suicide has been the only choice to avoid the pain of being ostracized. Using the phrase “Same Sex Marriage” perhaps was not recognized as having such a derogatory connotation. It is assisting to continue the ugly stereotypical thinking about the Gay Community focusing on the act of sex. It does not enlighten the ignorant, bigoted, prejudiced, minds. The act they call an abomination is being fed into everyone’s subconscious mind by the use of the words “Sex” and “Marriage” in the same sentence. Sex in a marriage between a man and a woman is inferred, however, when using the description “Same Sex Marriage” it is highlighted and intentionally belittling. Sex should also be implied when referring to a marriage between two persons of the same gender. This could be accomplished by using the phrase “Same Gender Marriage”. If there needs to be a further description of marriage at all!

If a differential description is needed to define marriage, we would then perhaps need to redefine marriage between a man and a woman as a “Bi-Sex Marriage” that being of two people of different genders. Then it would justify and unfortunately establish two categories of marriage: “Same Sex Marriage” and “Bi-Sex Marriage.” Many of us agree that marriage rights should not have anything to do with gender but using different descriptions could fully identify each type of marriage. How would you feel if having the word “Sex” was used to describe your “marriage? – A “Bi-Sex Marriage. Probably as insulted as I am identified as having a “Same Sex Marriage.”

It is time to recognize the phrase “Same Sex Marriage” as a misnomer and correct it to “Same Gender Marriage” OR just “Marriage.” This phrase does not create negative images in our minds of bedroom activities. The Gay Community is helping to demean the real meaning of marriage by allowing the use of the words “Sex” and “Marriage” in the same sentence. The use of the word “Sex” is inflammatory when used to refer to the Gay Community and is insulting the fight for marriage equality.

Lets remove the obvious misnomer of “Same Sex Marriage” and discuss the real issues respectfully without the use of derogatory terms. If there has to be an adjective lets leave “Sex” in the bedroom and use the phrase “Same Gender Marriage."