In honor of this week's news

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision this week to allow same-sex couples to marry, I can't help thinking of what Lord John Grey might make of this news.

"And what do you think love is, then, that it is reserved only to men who are drawn to women?"

(From LORD JOHN AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 32, "The Path of Honor". Copyright© 2007 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.)

Indeed!  Think of #LoveWins and similar messages on social media in the last 24 hours.

“I came this afternoon to give you some news of my own; I am to be married.”

“Married?” The shock was plain on Fraser’s face. “To a woman?”

“I think there are not many alternatives,” Grey replied dryly.

(From VOYAGER by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 59, "In Which Much is Revealed". Copyright© 1994 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.)

I think Lord John would be astounded (to put it mildly!) to hear that in our time, same-sex marriage has become not only possible, but accepted by so many people around the world.

"Do you ever wish that you were...not as you are?”

The question took him by surprise--and yet he was somewhat more surprised to realize that he did not need to think about the answer.

“No,” he said. He hesitated for a moment, but Percy’s asking of the question was enough. “You do?”

Percy glanced back at the portrait of Villiers, then looked down, dark lashes hiding his eyes.

“Sometimes. You must admit--it would make some things less difficult.”

Grey glanced thoughtfully at a nearby couple, evidently courting; the young woman was flirting expertly over her fan, giggling as her swain made faces, imitating the stuffed-frog expression of one portrait’s subject.

“Perhaps. And yet it depends, I think, much more upon one’s position in life. Were I my father’s heir, for instance, I should feel the pressure of an obligation to marry and reproduce, and should likely consent. As it is, my brother has met his obligations in that regard nobly, and thus it is a matter of indifference whether I should ever wed.”

(From LORD JOHN AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE by Diana Gabaldon, chapter 32, "Pictures at an Exhibition." Copyright© 2007 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.)

I hope someday that it does indeed become a matter of "indifference" to society at large whether anyone -- gay, lesbian, or otherwise -- chooses to marry or not.In my opinion, that's a matter of individual choice, and people should be free to make their own decisions. I think this week's Supreme Court decision is a huge step forward!