Petition Urges Dictionary.com to Update Marriage Definition

[William769]

More than 80,000 people have signed onto a petition urging Dictionary.com to expand its definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.

The petition's organizer, Mike Raven, writes:

Specifically, with roughly 50 million visitors per month, we want Dictionary.com to correct the definition of marriage. Dictionary.com says that it’s a “social institution under which man and woman establish their decision to live together as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.” They then brush same-sex marriage off as “a similar institution involving partners of the same sex.” Because why should same-sex marriage get the detail and care that “traditional” marriage gets? They got a blurb right? Isn't that enough? No. With [its] separate but "equal" styled wording and placement, it is time they hear our voices and correct their definition.

Some major dictionaries already reflect the reality that marriage is not limited to heterosexual couples in many places around the world. Steve Kleinedler, managing editor of The American Heritage Dictionary, described the shift in a 2009 op-ed:

http://www.advocate.com/news/daily-news/2012/05/25/petition-urges-dictionary-update-marriage-definition

[HillWilliam]

1. K&R

and mark for later.