Bishop Gene Robinson Divorce

The First Openly Gay Bishop Gets Divorce

Bishop Gene Robinson Divorce
Mark Andrew (top left) and Bishop Gene Robinson (right and bottom left) during their civil ceremony in 2008

First openly gay Episcopal Bishop, Gene Robinson announced that his marriage is coming to an end, making him the first openly gay Bishop to get divorced.

Many divorces are a sad event, but this divorce in particular will bring sadness to many LGBT supporters throughout the globe.

Gene Robinson and Mark Andrew were married in 2008 and had been together for over 25 years. Five years prior to their marriage, Gene Robinson was elected to his position within the Anglican church as the first ever Episcopal Bishop that openly shared his homosexuality with the public.

[quote]“…like any marriage, gay and lesbian couples are subject to the same complications and hardships that afflict marriages between heterosexual couples.”[/quote]

It has been hoped by many that his strong and secure relationship with Mark Andrew would lead the way for people both in and outside of the church to be able to enter into meaningful same-sex marriages.

In a statement by Robinson, despite his own unfortunate personal circumstances, he still very much believes in true love and marriage.

In his public statement, he said, “The fact remains that it takes two people to make a marriage and two people to make a divorce. The reasons for ending a marriage fall on the shoulders of both parties: the missed opportunities for saying and doing the things that might have made a difference, the roads not taken, the disappointments endured but not confronted. It is at least a small comfort to me, as a gay rights and marriage equality advocate, to know that like any marriage, gay and lesbian couples are subject to the same complications and hardships that afflict marriages between heterosexual couples. All of us sincerely intend, when we take our wedding vows, to live up to to the ideal of ’til death do us part’. But not all of us are able to see this through until death indeed parts us.”

Of course, much of the media coverage that this event has garnered is due to a divorce occurring within the Anglican-Christian church, especially to such a high-ranking figure like a bishop. For many, the sexuality of the couple is irrelevant. But for others, this will simply provide more reasons to question whether same-sex marriage is the right choice for those that have decided to dedicate their lives to serving the Church in an official capacity.

Resources

Follow the Conversation on Twitter

Leave a comment