A ‘No’ vote will unfairly place gay couples in a legally subordinate position

I’m writing about a friend; let’s call her Joan. In her early 20s, she was in a relationship with a man of her own age.

They weren’t married, but had two children, both girls. He wasn’t prepared for fatherhood, the relationship quickly came under strain, and eventually broke up in acrimonious and traumatic circumstances — traumatic for Joan, that is. Anyway, the ex-boyfriend is back living his own life, out with the lads, and he shows little interest in his two daughters.

Some five years later, Joan is now in a stable and loving relationship. I’ve never seen her happier and there’s a light in her eyes that was absent for years. The two girls are thriving, relaxed and gigglish, as children of that age are. No longer does a glint of fear appear in their eyes when the front door is opened.