Partnership Rites: Commitment and Ritual in Non-Heterosexual Relationships

Abstract

Headlines do not always mislead. They can sometimes tell some new truths, or at least tell stories in new and revealing ways. Consider one from the London Evening Standard (26 March 1997): ‘Happy Families, 1997’. Over a cheerful picture of a pleasant-looking couple sitting on the grass, ‘with their dog Zeb’, the article discusses ‘the modern face of parenting in London’. The couple are clearly deeply committed, ‘partners of 22 years’, and fairly affluent, living in a large house in a comfortable, quiet suburb of North London. One is a university lecturer, the other a theology student — clearly ideal parents. The only jarring note is the sub-head: ‘These two men are gay and see nothing wrong with being foster parents.’ These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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