by Karla Aguirre

Created on: December 04, 2008

It was a step forward in California history that sent a wave of emotions, regardless of either supporters or opponents. The legalization of gay marriage was a step forward into progress as a society. Finally, thousands of same-sex couples accomplished what they wanted. Until finally, Proposition 8 came in and opened a trap door back into where we were. When we think of marriage, we think of two adults that love each other enough to want to spend the rest of their lives together. Why should that not apply to a same-sex couple?

It seems society's double-standard morals are still primitive. Some argue that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. My question is "why"? The usual response is for procreation. Perhaps marriage for the purpose of procreation would have been fine in a time where Earth's population wasn't in the billions. Procreation is mainly for maintaining the species alive, but we don't need that anymore. We are not an endangered species, so why put such an emphasis on reproduction?

Another typical response is, gay marriage will ruin the sanctity of marriage. This is a perfectly good chance to ask ourselves: is homosexuality REALLY the worst thing to happen to marriage? If you ask me, I think heterosexual marriage is already collapsing into ruin on its own. A prime example would be Hollywood, more specifically, the for-some-strange-reason famous Pamela Anderson. How long have her marriages lasted? Whatever happened to "till death do we part"? Somehow in Hollywood logic it's "'till everyone stops caring and/or we get bored do we part".

Another one that is commonly heard is "if homosexual marriage is legalized, we'll have to legalize pedophiles and a-like". Says who? That is one of the most absurd arguments in the ever-lasting debate. See, there is one key difference: homosexual marriage involves two CONSENTING ADULTS; the other one involves a child who doesn't know any better. So why are homosexuals compared with scum like pedophiles? It's ridiculous to put them in the same category.

Of course, there is also the infamous Ted Haggard a man who prided himself in his religious views, and opposing gay marriage. In an amusing twist of fate, he was in a scandal involving a gay male hooker. But it seems the big issue of the scandal was the fact that he was having a same-sex affair, rather than the fact that he committed adultery and did drugs. Homosexuality did not throw his marriage into turmoil; it was his own inability to value his marriage to his wife to stay true to her. His own weak will to keep away from drugs, thus contradicting the views he so strongly preached about.

So who in the end took away rights from thousands of Californian same-sex couples? Easy. Those who believe themselves to be enough of an authority, to step into the personal lives, of other people that they don't even know. The California Supreme Court was right to legalize same-sex marriage. Why? Why not? We are too modern of a society to hold to outdated, closed-minded views. We are far too advanced for discrimination, so why are we still holding true to such primitive practices? What's there to fear? Don't like the sight of two men sharing a kiss? Who's making you look? Avert your gaze to a less "offensive" sight.

It's time to step out of discrimination, and into a brighter future. We cannot live oppressing others, and denying them of basic rights just because we don't like a few things. What kind of a society are we? America cannot be a land of freedom, if two people who love each other cannot even marry. Nothing is lost to anyone if a gay couple weds. The Supreme Court was right to legalize it. Though Prop 8 was passed, the fight will never end and should never, until equal rights are won.

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