by Joseph Wardy

Created on: November 28, 2010   Last Updated: November 29, 2010

The title of the essay containing the word "approval" makes me uneasy. It implies someone or society in general must bestow its blessings.  Here it imples that the homosexual community must be given permission from the heterosexual community to be allowed to marry. The reverse seems closer to the reality in that heterosexuals should ask for forgiveness for what appears to be an illusion of superiority.  

Same sex marriage will happen eventually as people in the United States have shown a more progressive attitude since the Stonewall riots in New York's Greenwich Village on Christopher Street.  After that disgrace, gay politician Harvey Milk began to make progress for gay rights in San Francisco. But gay marriage has been largely ignored as the homosexual community fights for equality. Civil unions for gays has been approved (here we go again with that word). It is a Pontius Pilate wash your hands approach to fairness. So above all same sex marriage for gays is a human rights issue.

Some opponents uses phrases in the Bible as a justification for not allowing gays to marry. It is a microcosm of the millions of people in history who have been persecuted and killed by extremists who falsely believe in "one religion, one truth". There is no one religion that is best just as there is no sexual orientation that is best. What would this God we worship say about the arrogance of feeling we are better? What would this God say about the unfairness of inequality?

Some opponents of gay marriage claim marriage is for heterosexuals who can have children. Do these same people realize that the majority of both genders today oppose marriage? How about the many couples today that have chosen not to have children?  I know some gay couples who have adopted and are very, very loving parents.

Some opponents of gay marriage feel it is an institution for heterosexuals only. Maybe there is validity to the statement that institutions are run by the inmates. The prison these inmates live represent unhappy marriages resulting in divorce of about 50 percent. This excludes married people staying in marriage living lives of quiet desperation.

Why given these realities should straights have exclusive rights to marry? The gay couples I know can teach the heterosexual community about devotion and commitment. How would heterosexuals feel that in 100 years they need to demonstrate their equality by marching in the Straight Rights Parade?  

   

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