I think those criticising lauries more annecdotal tendencies here, and the emotional element, are ignoring that this is a criticism of the claim that marriages are a huge good while positive civil partnerships are a myth.

View this post as it’s intended, an indictment of those that ignore the bad eggs in the ‘traditional’ family while, not only just over exemplifying those bad in civil partnerships or single parent families as proof of their total lack of worth, but also actively distorting tragedies in to a sick untruth to ‘prove’ their bigoted prejudices.

Obviously, your general view is more ‘to each their own’ than the tone of this post suggests. I think that’s most people’s general view. In fact, it’s almost definitely Tim Montgomerie’s view. Had you said that, no problem. But you didn’t, you decided that the best way to combat a horrible homophobic rant was to fire back exactly the same kind of emotive and baseless nonsense, and that’s really disappointing.

He is reported to have been pissed out of his skull and died,

Bloody hell some people can make a story out of anything

And Richard, I’m sure your family life was lovely. Mine was alright, too, and my parents were married for most of it – although my sisters and I are happier now they are divorced. Neither of our experiences, however, have any bearing on the actual point I was actually trying to make.

Statistically speaking, most people still have experience of being part of a married, heterosexual family, either as children themselves or as adults. This will also mean, statistically speaking, that numerically more people have both good AND experiences within heterosexual, married families.

Well, speaking from experience all my local friends grew up in the 80s and 90s in married two-parent families. No violence, deaths etc. Only one divorce. Personally I’m glad I have two married parents who have been together since before I was born. Horribly old-fashioned of me I know but I’ve done rather well out of the arrangement.

Needless to say Moir has no feelings for the bereaved family since she seems hell bent on pushing her entirely predictable little-england agenda (safe in the knowledge that most of the Fail’s frightened readership will lap up her every melodramatic utterance).

Having said that I think family IS the most important social institution, but what constitutes ‘family’ should not be shoe-horned into some kind of ancient biblical formulation that Moir and her ilk seem so attached to.