Is gay marriage a secularist issue?

The next issue that looks to be lined up as part of the great secularist vs. religious debate is gay marriage.  I've thought a lot about this over the last few days, and I've come to the view that it's not really an issue that has much to do with religion or secularism at all.

I'm sure that there will be those who portray the government's proposals as the latest step of those nasty militant secularists trampling all over their religious rights.  The reality is that this is a bit about equality, a bit about democracy and quite a lot about politics, but it's not really about religion.  Writing in the Telegraph this weekend, equalities minister Lynne Featherstone said that "this is not gay rights versus religious beliefs", and she's right.

Of course many religious people and groups are strongly opposed to gay marriage, just as many secularist and humanist groups are strongly in favour, and that's a good thing.  Secularism isn't about opposing religion and all it stands for.  One of it's principles is that everyone has the right to their own faith, and faith groups have the right to state and defend their views the same as everyone else.

I'll write that bit again, because it's important - the same as everyone else.  No reasonable secularist would oppose the right of groups like the Coalition for Marriage to campaign against gay marriage, just as no reasonable churchgoer would have a problem with Stonewall supporting it.  The only role I can see for secularism in this debate will come if the bishops in the house of lords use their privileged position to stop the legislation, but that's a debate for another day.

As for my own view by the way, I stood up in front of my friends and family (in a civil venue) and promised to love and support my wife for the rest of my life.  I can see no reason why my gay friends shouldn't be able to do the same thing.