Stephen Fry kept saying in his recent TV programmes Out There ‘It’s about love.’ Today’s post is about love rather than my normal themes of dreams or writing, but I felt I had to write it. You’ll see why.
Last week-end I went to the civil ceremony of two dear friends. The venue was wonderful; the celebrations went on all day and deep into the night.
Watching these two beautiful brides make their promises to each other, I felt proud and grateful to live in a country where marriage is now an option for everyone.
Although some people argue against gay marriage on religious grounds, I’m personally pretty sure God enjoyed the occasion as much as me. I mean, as God is love it stands to reason that every expression and celebration of love is naturally attuned to the divine vibration.
Some people worry that gay marriage undermines our social values. Any change can spark a reaction of fear, which can turn into aggression, but this change is something we should not fear. Love is good news for society. It’s easier for people who love and feel loved to be generous and kind in their behaviour towards others.
All of us who believe in love, whether we’re gay or straight, need to speak up for gay rights because, as Stephen Fry warned in his piece about Russia, progress can be reversed.
In Russia, recent anti-gay legislation has lead to a huge increase in homophobic violence, and now they’re debating whether the children of gay couples should be taken away on grounds that growing up in an orphanage would be better.
Progress is a fragile thing. It needs careful nurturing in the early days. That’s why I wanted to write this piece today, and add my small voice of support.
Did you see Stephen Fry’s TV programme? What did you think?
Jenny Alexander's blog: Writing in the House of Dreams 
I’m for Gay marriage, but to make a pitch for it instead of writing info. is a bit much. Connie
Thank-you for your feedback Connie – it’s really helpful. This post is a one-off and I wasn’t sure how readers would respond to such a digression – next week I’m either doing depression and the artistic temperament or how writing changes you or my argument with amazon over a ‘reader review’ – all hopefully of interest to writers. And also, I do hope, of interest to you 🙂
I for one feel that even “creative writing” ought to be able to stretch its’ perceptive reach into these and other areas of inquiry and exploration, and I appreciate these reminders and views very much myself, Jenny!
As Carl Jung said,
“The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.”
… and Ortega y Gasset,
“Why write, if this too easy activity of pushing a pen across paper (or launching fingers upon the keyboard) is not given a certain bull-fighting risk and we do not approach dangerous, agile, and two-horned topics?”
Much Love, All the Best, Travis W
Hi Travis – this is such lovely affirming feedback – that Jung quote is my all-time favourite one on creativity! I’ve never seen the Gasset one before, but I love it. I was thinking pretty much exactly along these lines when I wrote this post – that it feels important, if we write, to write what demands to be written, rather than always sticking to the safe path. Thank-you so much! Jen xx
I certainly do not have your experience of writing Jen, but I know that some things demand to be written; they sort of take you over until you get your thoughts/feelings down on paper. I saw the Stephen Fry programmes and was horrified at the views expressed about gays, held by important and seemingly educated people in both Russia and Brazil. It was extremely worrying that such influential men believed gay people might enter kindergartens and convert six year old children to homosexuality! Ignorant fear seemed to have gripped them! A step backwards I felt. Thanks for writing about this. Pat xxx
Thank-you for commenting, Pat. I think the combination of Fry’s programmes and the joyful civil ceremony I went to at the week-end sparked a really strong mix of love and fear in me – we’re so lucky to live in such an inclusive society, but it’s so fragile – and even though I thought I might lose some of my lovely readers, I just needed to express my feelings here this week. It’s been emotional! xx
I’m glad you expressed your feelings Jenny. Isn’t that what creative writing is all about, being able to share emotions and to evoke emotions in others?
I admire Stephen Fry and his work. I think he has highlighted the ignorance that so many have about homosexuality and revealed the extent of fear that fuels the prejudice. I would consider myself to be a woman of faith and like you have attended civil ceremonies which have been every bit as meaningful and beautiful as a traditional ceremony. And I agree with your comment Jenny that God is love. And God loves those who love because that what He tell us to do.
‘Love one another’. No exclusions. (In fact, we are supposed to ‘love our enemies’.)
I too support those who want to live in a world with love as opposed to living in a world of hate.
Fry’s a great advocate for gay rights because he’s so intelligent and sensible, isn’t he? I loved how he pointed out that gay people don’t go out to recruit others, but homophobic people do. I really appreciate your comment, Carolyn. I think everything comes down to love, including creativity, so everything is linked. You get right down to the essence of that in your blog and fb page, which I always enjoy.