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Same-sex marriage issue of equality, not morality
Kris Noneman
Issue date: 5/29/09 Section: Forum
Today, I come with the most serious piece I have written to date. This is a wake-up call to all those who believe that the United States is a country of freedom and equality.
According to a recent New York Times article, the California Supreme Court has upheld a law banning same sex marriage. Proposition 8 is a California law passed last November that reserves the term "marriage" for opposite sex couples as defined by the California Constitution.
I always thought California to be one of the most liberal states in the nation, but perhaps I was mistaken, as this decision comes at a time when several other states have decided to legalize same-sex marriage.
Currently, only Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine and Iowa allow gay marriage, but this list will most likely be expanded in the near future as Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and New Jersey are currently discussion the same issue. Washington D.C. has voted to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, but does not the issue licenses itself.
My personal beliefs on the issue have recently been altered. I attended a small Christian high school where I was taught to be narrow-minded and intolerant of people who may be different, but now I cry out in anger as I realize what I've been taught is simply wrong and discriminatory.
I speak of this subject not as a religious issue, but as an issue of rights, freedom and equal protection for all citizens - things this country likes to claim it has, but has repeatedly denied citizens access to in its actions.
The right to marry is not listed in the United States Constitution as a right of the individual, thus it becomes the responsibility of the states to define laws regarding marriage. As far as I know, there is no state that has illegalized marriage as a whole - that would be utterly ridiculous. However, allowing one set of people to enjoy the right of marriage while forbidding another group to do so seems a little like discrimination to me.
According to a recent New York Times article, the California Supreme Court has upheld a law banning same sex marriage. Proposition 8 is a California law passed last November that reserves the term "marriage" for opposite sex couples as defined by the California Constitution.
I always thought California to be one of the most liberal states in the nation, but perhaps I was mistaken, as this decision comes at a time when several other states have decided to legalize same-sex marriage.
Currently, only Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine and Iowa allow gay marriage, but this list will most likely be expanded in the near future as Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and New Jersey are currently discussion the same issue. Washington D.C. has voted to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, but does not the issue licenses itself.
My personal beliefs on the issue have recently been altered. I attended a small Christian high school where I was taught to be narrow-minded and intolerant of people who may be different, but now I cry out in anger as I realize what I've been taught is simply wrong and discriminatory.
I speak of this subject not as a religious issue, but as an issue of rights, freedom and equal protection for all citizens - things this country likes to claim it has, but has repeatedly denied citizens access to in its actions.
The right to marry is not listed in the United States Constitution as a right of the individual, thus it becomes the responsibility of the states to define laws regarding marriage. As far as I know, there is no state that has illegalized marriage as a whole - that would be utterly ridiculous. However, allowing one set of people to enjoy the right of marriage while forbidding another group to do so seems a little like discrimination to me.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 16
Eric Hill
posted 5/29/09 @ 9:18 AM PST
Bravo, Kris. Although I might suggest that is it is very much of a moral issue: It is our moral obligation to recognize that same-sex couples have the sames rights as all others. (Continued…)
Brian
posted 5/30/09 @ 6:44 PM PST
"I do not consider myself to be homophobic, though the fact that I once was allows me to understand how people who are homophobic think."
Are you suggesting that anyone that disagrees with homosexuality are homophobes? If so, this is an unnecessary hyperbole at best, and a flat out lie at worse. (Continued…)
Eric Hill
posted 6/01/09 @ 7:41 AM PST
Brian,
You raise some good points (particularly about that fact that just because it's not in the text does not mean that it's okay -- although I find your comparison of same-sex marriage and inter-species marriage a bit of stretch -- false analogy). (Continued…)
Christopher
Trevor
posted 6/01/09 @ 8:23 PM PST
Brian, you do realize how wrong you are? There is a difference between two CONSENTING adults doing something that does not concern any other people. Please tell me this one thing. (Continued…)
Emily
posted 6/03/09 @ 2:47 PM PST
Kris,
Thank you very much for this article. It is truly appreciated that you would choose to openly speak of this, no matter the effects on your reputation. (Continued…)
Fred
posted 6/10/09 @ 12:40 PM PST
"Gay-rights" is a noble sounding issue with logical sounding arguments. But the fact of the matter is that the movement for gay rights does not equal a movement for civil rights. (Continued…)
Fred
posted 6/14/09 @ 11:07 PM PST
Did I mention the Bible at all? No, I don't believe I did. Most of you in favor of this issue would not care what it had to say in any case.
Eric, the sexual revolution did not raise the issue of women's equality. (Continued…)
Eric Hill
posted 6/19/09 @ 12:08 AM PST
"-allowing to of the same gender to marry will make the case for many sorts of officially recognized marriages thus devaluing or perhaps destroying traditional marriage. (Continued…)
Fred
posted 6/21/09 @ 3:18 PM PST
Eric,
It's clear you don't understand what I mean when I say that classifying people based upon behavior is unwise. You continue to put it on equal grounds with classifying people based on who they are, i. (Continued…)
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