Same-Sex Marriage: Zero Tolerance

This article offers a feminist analysis of Rainer Forst’s position on same-sex marriage and tolerance. Moreover, it is an attempt to forge philosophical bridges between Forst and the work of Luce Irigaray. I am sympathetic to Forst’s argument that same-sex marriage is owed to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender men and women (LGBT) as a matter of right. However, I take issue with Forst’s characterisation of same-sex marriage as something to be tolerated by non-supporters. This is because tolerance does not require, let alone encourage, a perspectival change in the agent; and yet, there is no rational basis on which to oppose same-sex marriage. The maintenance of prejudicial attitudes is likely to contribute to the ongoing social discrimination that LGBT people face, even if legal equality is achieved for LGBT people.