--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's only fair that stable gay…" description: "\"It's only fair that stable gay relationships of long standing should have the same rights and responsibilities as married couples. I know the image of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/ian-mckellen-1396_gay_it-s-only-fair-that-stable-gay-relations_684174.jpg" --- # It's only fair that stable gay relationships of long… ![“It's only fair that stable gay relationships of long standing should have the same rights and responsibilities as married couples. I know the image of gay marriage is to some people horrific and ludicrous.” quote by Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/ian-mckellen-1396_gay_it-s-only-fair-that-stable-gay-relations_684174.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/ian-mckellen-1396_gay_it-s-only-fair-that-stable-gay-relations_684174.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/ian-mckellen-1396_gay_it-s-only-fair-that-stable-gay-relations_684174.jpg) > “It's only fair that stable gay relationships of long standing should have the same rights and responsibilities as married couples. I know the image of gay marriage is to some people horrific and ludicrous.” [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates for equal legal recognition of long‑term same‑sex partnerships, equating them with marriage rights and duties. **In simple terms:** Same‑sex couples deserve the same legal status as married couples. Key Takeaway Support equal rights for all couples. Themes equality rights relationships Mood hopeful determined Type advocacy political When to use this quote - policy debate - family planning - civil rights activism Key Concepts Legal parity social acceptance Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance tradition with equal rights? - What legal steps ensure fairness for all couples? A Different Perspective Opposition may view it as undermining traditional marriage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-marriage/) [Gay relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-relationship/) [Gay Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-relationships-3578281/) [Horrific](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrific/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Marriage People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage-people-889710/) [Married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/married/) [Married couples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/married-couples/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Responsibilities Married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibilities-married-1111282/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights and responsibilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-and-responsibilities/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Stable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stable/) [Stable Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stable-gay-790607/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) ## Related quotes > [Gay relationships have historically not been treated the same as straight relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/gay-relationships-have-historically-not-been-treated-the-same-as/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [You see gay relationships that are just stunning in the quality of the relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-welby/you-see-gay-relationships-that-are-just-stunning-in-the-quality-of/) [Justin Welby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-welby/) > [I dont care who anybody sleeps with. If a couple has been together all that time...and there are gay relationships that are more solid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-dont-care-who-anybody-sleeps-with-if-a-couple-has-been-together-all/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I don't care who anybody sleeps with. If a couple has been together all that time - and there are gay relationships that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-don-t-care-who-anybody-sleeps-with-if-a-couple-has-been-together/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I have friends who are in gay relationships and I don't think it's right for people to be against that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-marchand/i-have-friends-who-are-in-gay-relationships-and-i-don-t-think-it-s/) [Brad Marchand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-marchand/) > [I view marriage as a sacred institution. I think two men naturally are predators. Gay relationships are a commercial break, not a whole movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-burns/i-view-marriage-as-a-sacred-institution-i-think-two-men-naturally-are/) [Pete Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-burns/) > [Most of the longer-term relationships I've known have been gay relationships. They seem to be able to hang out longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/most-of-the-longer-term-relationships-i-ve-known-have-been-gay/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [I know a lot of very stable gay couples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-know-a-lot-of-very-stable-gay-couples/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [Much is said about the burdens and responsibilities of married men. Responsibilities indeed there are, if they but felt them: but as to burdens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernestine-rose/much-is-said-about-the-burdens-and-responsibilities-of-married-men/) [Ernestine Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernestine-rose/) > [While I don't often use the word, the technically precise term for my orientation is bisexual. I believe bisexuality is not a choice, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-nixon/while-i-don-t-often-use-the-word-the-technically-precise-term-for-my/) [Cynthia Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-nixon/) > [“Okay, then, how does Zev not having sex with me make sense? You just said you’ve been sleeping with Lori since high school. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cardeno-c/okay-then-how-does-zev-not-having-sex-with-me-make-sense-you-just/) [Cardeno C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cardeno-c/) > [If I wasn't in a monogamous gay relationship I would have sex with all of you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-quin/if-i-wasn-t-in-a-monogamous-gay-relationship-i-would-have-sex-with/) [Sara Quin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-quin/) > [I spent the first half of my career being accused of being gay when I hadn't had anything like a gay relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/i-spent-the-first-half-of-my-career-being-accused-of-being-gay-when-i/) [George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/) > [I despise it when people think so ignorantly. Being in a gay relationship is not wrong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-despise-it-when-people-think-so-ignorantly-being-in-a-gay/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My father loved me and was devoted to me until he knew I was gay, and then our relationship went south. So I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/my-father-loved-me-and-was-devoted-to-me-until-he-knew-i-was-gay-and/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) ## More by Ian Mckellen > [I've always longed for the theatre and acting to be popular. No actor wants to play to an empty house. We only do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-ve-always-longed-for-the-theatre-and-acting-to-be-popular-no-actor/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [It's my impression that I've done every job that I've been asked to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/it-s-my-impression-that-i-ve-done-every-job-that-i-ve-been-asked-to-do/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I'm fortunate to be famous for two rather imposing characters like Magneto and Gandalf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-fortunate-to-be-famous-for-two-rather-imposing-characters-like/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Tolkien is as good as Dickens at sketching a scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/tolkien-is-as-good-as-dickens-at-sketching-a-scene/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [If you are playing King Lear you are the centre of attention anyway. You don't need to draw attention to yourself. It's all laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/if-you-are-playing-king-lear-you-are-the-centre-of-attention-anyway/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Godot is whatever it is in life that you are waiting for: 'I'm waiting to win the lottery. I'm waiting to fall in love'.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/godot-is-whatever-it-is-in-life-that-you-are-waiting-for-i-m-waiting/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I'm only an actor. I'm not a writer. I'm not going to leave any legacy. All I've ever done is learn the lines and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-only-an-actor-i-m-not-a-writer-i-m-not-going-to-leave-any-legacy/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I'd never read 'Lord of the Rings' until I was asked to play Gandalf, so I didn't really know it was a frightfully famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-d-never-read-lord-of-the-rings-until-i-was-asked-to-play-gandalf-so/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [You might be surprised by how interested young people are in older people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/you-might-be-surprised-by-how-interested-young-people-are-in-older/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [The strength of British theatre should be that these actors in their middle years know what they're doing and are good at it. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-strength-of-british-theatre-should-be-that-these-actors-in-their/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and thereafter it became about telling the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about-disguise-and-thereafter-it/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Elijah looks angelic but his beauty of spirit is what makes his Frodo leap out of the screen. Unalloyed goodness is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/elijah-looks-angelic-but-his-beauty-of-spirit-is-what-makes-his-frodo/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > ['The Lego Movie?' I've never heard of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-lego-movie-i-ve-never-heard-of-it/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [When I appeared in 'Coronation Street,' I lived in Manchester and enjoyed it very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/when-i-appeared-in-coronation-street-i-lived-in-manchester-and/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Before acting, I wanted to become a journalist. I also toyed with the idea of being a chef - but that's only when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/before-acting-i-wanted-to-become-a-journalist-i-also-toyed-with-the/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) [Explore all 247 Ian Mckellen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) ## More Gay quotes > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [Each of us is precious to God because each of us has their name written on the palms of God's hands. And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“A disproportionate number of stories are love stories – and what is homosexuality but a special narrative of love?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bram/a-disproportionate-number-of-stories-are-love-stories-and-what-is/) [Christopher Bram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bram/) > [The Bible is to gays what Mein Kampf is to Jews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tatchell/the-bible-is-to-gays-what-mein-kampf-is-to-jews/) [Peter Tatchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tatchell/) > [I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn't but people were curiously desperate to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-had-to-smile-when-stories-emerged-questioning-whether-i-was-gay/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/jesus-never-said-a-word-about-homosexuality-in-all-of-his-teachings/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Any home where there is love constitutes a family and all families should have the same legal rights, including the right to marry and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/any-home-where-there-is-love-constitutes-a-family-and-all-families/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [Since 'coming out,' I've marched in gay pride parades all around the world, I've filled my home full of rainbow tat and I've become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/since-coming-out-i-ve-marched-in-gay-pride-parades-all-around-the/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) > [I tend to get reactions just by being on screen, because I guess I'm physically queer-coded or something. Especially with 'Star Wars;' I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-tend-to-get-reactions-just-by-being-on-screen-because-i-guess-i-m/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I didn't have any role models. I really thought I was doomed to this loveless, lonely life. I didn't know any gay people until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-batt/i-didn-t-have-any-role-models-i-really-thought-i-was-doomed-to-this/) [Bryan Batt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-batt/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Western culture is what keeps women and gays safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/western-culture-is-what-keeps-women-and-gays-safe/) [Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/) > [Unless you're of a certain age, you may not know my name, but you can Google it - I was a pretty big movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/unless-you-re-of-a-certain-age-you-may-not-know-my-name-but-you-can/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) [Browse all 5,038 Gay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's only fair that stable gay relationships of long standing should have the same rights and responsibilities as married couples. 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