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Gay Marriage
February 8, 2007 I read an Associated Press article where Michigan banned insurance benefits for same-sex partners. This is contrary to the precedent set by Alaska which established that withholding benefits to same-sex partners was unconstitutional.
Currently, 27 states have laws which ban same-sex marriage. I am ashamed at the lengths people will go to impose their way of life on others. They will infringe other's rights to happiness not because it causes them some harm, but because of a preference they don't share. Sexual preference is a private opinion. It is no different than if gentlemen prefer blondes or brunettes. It is no different than some heterosexual couples that prefer coitus positions with the woman on top opposed to the man on top. It is no different than the person that prefers to watch hockey instead of basketball.
Homosexuality has always existed and will always exist. It is not unique to humanity; many other animals exhibit this behavior (see HERE). So for those that label homosexuality unnatural, I point out that it may not be normal (that is, majority) behavior, but it certainly is natural. Imposing laws will not convert homosexuals to heterosexuality. This is oppression plain and simple. I am also surprised that in times when there is a resounding call for universal health care that it would be withheld from some people based on such an arbitrary criterion.
Another persecution homosexuals face is the disdain many show for their adoptive rights. Some feel that we should not allow homosexuals to raise children. This bigotry obviously plays on the fear that gay parents will raise gay children. This is completely absurd. Homosexuals obviously do not reproduce. Therefore, all homosexual people were born of heterosexual parents.
Some Christian zealots wish to subdue homosexuality based on its ungodliness. The persecution of gays in today's society I find similar to Hitler's persecution of the Jews. Hitler claimed his abominations were executing the word of God. In his book Mein Kampf, he wrote "Hence today I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord..." Millions of people believed his cause was just, just as millions of people today feel oppressing a certain group of people is warranted. Personally, I find this intolerance abhorrent.
Some claim that by stigmatizing homosexuality, you actually promote it. Rebellious-natured youth may look for an outlet and pick homosexuality simply because it is vilified. If it were more accepted it may not be the subject of wanton anti-authoritarian behavior. In other words, if you want the issue to go away, quit talking about it so much.
According to an
article in the Washington News, homophobes have now gone so far
as to attempt to suppress all marriages that do not produce
offspring. An argument against gay marriage was that they
could not reproduce, and this has been taken a step further, to say
heterosexual couples that do not mate are not fit for the benefits
of marriage. What exactly are they "protecting" the
institution of marriage from? There are economic benefits to
being married. Tying those benefits to biology is inappropriate.
What To Do I favor the equal application of rights to all people.
Do not create a label then exclude certain people from rights simply because they do something differently than you. We should repeal all laws that infringe the equal rights of anyone based on personal preference or opinion.
Marriage should be free to anyone that wishes to participate.
Quotes "An equal application of law to every condition
of man is fundamental."
"Why is it that, as a culture, we are more
comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?" "What are you trying to protect heterosexual marriages from? There isn't a limited amount of love in Iowa. It isn't a non-renewable resource. If Amy and Barbara or Mike and Steve love each other, it doesn't mean that John and Mary can't." -- Ed Fallon "You could move." -- Abigail Van Buren, "Dear Abby," in response to a reader who complained that a gay couple was moving in across the street and wanted to know what he could do to improve the quality of the neighborhood.
"If God had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise." -- Johann von Goethe |
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