Gay couples deserve equal civil rights
A few weeks ago, a 17-year-old lesbian in Mississippi challenged her school district’s rules that would prevent her from escorting her girlfriend to the prom. Her prom was canceled. Although a federal judge ruled Tuesday that the school board violated the student’s rights, the prom was not reinstated.
What is the matter with this country? Is being a lesbian so horrible that we must deny her and her fellow students their prom experience?
I’m sure there are a few of you out there saying, “Yes, lesbianism is so horrible. Homosexuality is an abomination!” And you’re right. According to Leviticus 18:22, homosexuality is detestable. But to all of you who believe this, I ask — are we really going to interpret the Bible so literally in this modern day and age?
A scene from NBC’s “The West Wing” comes to mind. After a Dr. Laura type informs Martin Sheen’s character, President Bartlet, that the Bible says homosexuality is an abomination, the President begins to question her.
“I’m interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. She’s a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleared the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be?”
He also mentions Exodus 35:2: “Whoever does any work on the Sabbath must be put to death.”
And then Leviticus 11:7: “Touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean.”
“If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point?” Can UGA? And the list goes on and on.
One of the most foolish arguments is that it’s a slippery slope if we allow gays to get married. “What’s next — marrying an animal?” opponents always ask.
Why do so many people go straight to marrying donkeys whenever gay marriage is mentioned? Need I remind you, a donkey is not human. I think it’s safe to say that marriage can be kept between human beings, although it’s clear who the real asses are here.
Now, I realize gay rights and gay marriage are two totally different issues. But for the sake of space, let’s kill two birds with one stone. To those of you who are OK with homosexuality, but oppose gay marriage, I have to ask: Do you really think the government should have the right to tell people where or how they can get married?
Why don’t we leave it up to the individual institutions to decide, a concept the constitution refers to as separation of church and state. I knew those Founding Fathers were onto something!
Some people argue that by allowing gays to get married, we’re increasing the possibility that more gays will begin adopting children, as if this were a negative thing.
It’s quite the opposite actually. A review of nine studies, published by The New Press, revealed no significant differences between children of homosexuals and children of heterosexuals with regards to self-esteem, moral judgment and intelligence.
Another flawed argument is that gay marriage would weaken the institution of marriage. With a divorce rate at 50 percent among heterosexuals, I can’t help but wonder how many Americans truly value marriage of any kind anymore.
Interestingly, in Massachusetts — one of five states that allow gay marriage — the divorce rate is about where the U.S. divorce rate was in 1940: 20 percent, according to the most recent data from the National Center for Vital Statistics.
And finally, the law in most states is discriminatory against gays, as they are not afforded the same rights as heterosexuals (i.e. tax breaks, insurance benefits and over 1,000 other matrimonial perks). And picture this, dear reader: gays cannot visit their partners if they are dying in the hospital no matter how long they’ve been in a committed relationship.
One of my closest friends has a gay parent. My friend is one of the most kind, sane, compassionate people I know and she was raised by a gay man. It breaks my heart to think of her dad as not being able to include his partner on his insurance plan or visit him if he was hospitalized, even though they’ve been living together for almost six years.
We are a constantly evolving society. Allowing women to vote was revolutionary in its time. So was allowing people of all races to be equal under the law. Now it’s time to allow two people of the same sex to legally share their lives together.
For as far as our country has come in so many areas of human decency, I can’t fathom how we now can be so shortsighted on an issue that affects so many.
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