IT is not proper for any parliament to change the meaning of the word 'marriage'.  

In all spoken and written languages for more than three thousand years that word has been known and defined as the union of a man and a woman.  

If homosexual couples think that the already lawful term 'civil partnership' does not represent what they need, then it could be changed to 'legal union' or 'religious union'. But there is no good reason at all for redefining the very long established meaning of 'marriage'.

Derek W Palmer

Gulworthy