Same-sex marriage is not "newer than cell phones"

[BainsBane]

as Justice Alito assumed yesterday. Same-sex unions date back thousands of years. Michel Foucault writes about the practice in The History of Sexuality, and even Wikipedia contains some information.

While it is a relatively new practice that same-sex couples are being granted the same form of legal marital recognition as commonly used by mixed-sexed couples, there is a long history of recorded same-sex unions around the world.[2] Various types of same-sex unions have existed, ranging from informal, unsanctioned relationships to highly ritualized unions. A same-sex union was known in Ancient Greece and Rome,[2] in some regions of China, such as Fujian province, and at certain times in ancient European history.[3] These same-sex unions continued until Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. A law in the Theodosian Code (C. Th. 9.7.3) was issued in 342 AD by the Christian emperors Constantius II and Constans, which prohibited same-sex marriage in ancient Rome and ordered that those who were so married were to be executed. [4]

In the southern Chinese province of Fujian, through the Ming dynasty period, females would bind themselves in contracts to younger females in elaborate ceremonies.[5] Males also entered similar arrangements. This type of arrangement was also similar in ancient European history.[6] . . .Numerous examples of same sex unions among peers, not age-structured, are found in Ancient Greek writings. Lucian describes a debate in which a proponent of same-sex pederastic relationships describes them as being more stable than heterosexual relationships and goes on to express the hope that he will be buried with his lover after they have passed their lives together.[23] Famous Greek couples in same sex relationships include Harmodius and Aristogiton, Pelopidas and Epaminondas and Alexander and Bogoas. However in none of these same sex unions is the Greek word for "marriage" ever mentioned. The Romans appear to have been the first to perform same sex marriages.

The first recorded mention of the performance of same-sex marriages occurred during the early Roman Empire.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_same-sex_unions

Additionally, "A same-sex marriage between the two men Pedro Díaz and Muño Vandilaz in the Galician municipality of Rairiz de Veiga in Spain occurred on 16 April 1061. They were married by a priest at a small chapel. The historic documents about the church wedding were found at Monastery of San Salvador de Celanova."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage#Medieval

[BainsBane]

1. so what that means is

We don't need to worry about the decline of society as a result of same-sex marriage. It's been happening informally for centuries, and we're still here.

[William769]

2. Recommended.