I believe I have every right to voice my opinion and, in doing so, I emphatically stress that I neither judge or condemn anyone.

I confess that I don’t understand a same-sex relationship, but in no way do I belittle the feelings and emotions involved. I do personally know gay people, but I don’t label them - they are my friends and very dear to me. 

With the feelings that are involved in a gay relationship, I can appreciate that some couples have a desire to legalise their relationship, but I have a deep problem with it being called a marriage. 

In my Encyclopaedia Britannica, the definition of marriage is: “The act of marrying or the state of being married; specifically a compact (a covenant, agreement or contract) entered into by a man and a woman, to live together as husband and wife.”

To me, as a Christian, the statement in the Bible is the most important one when, at the time of creation, God created first a man and, then, so the man would not be alone, he gave him a female companion and said: “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one.”

 This was the first marriage and, being instituted by God Himself, it is unchangeable.

As I’ve said, I do appreciate the gay couple wanting to legalise their relationship, but I’d rather it be called a covenant or a commitment, but definitely not a marriage. 

Philomena Parker, Lewis Ponds