Spring Break
Civil unions are separating and unequal
Justin Dragos
Issue date: 11/2/09 Section: Opinion
I'd like to start by saying that I'm a man who is happily married to a woman. My wife and I love each other and greatly enjoy our marriage. Also, if tomorrow every gay couple in America were married, our marriage would be exactly the same. It would be no less special, we wouldn't love each other less or somehow be less happy.
There is no logical or legal reason that same-sex couples should not be able to get married, and luckily in many places steps are being taken toward ending discrimination against non-traditional families. However, even though they may have good intentions, some states are taking a very dangerous approach to the issue.
Washington State, for example, is taking what they believe to be a step forward by introducing legislation which will open a stronger civil union option. The new option will entitle gay or lesbian couples to all the rights and privileges under the law that married couples have long enjoyed. Many people see this as a good "middle of the road" idea where it protects the "sanctity" of marriage while allowing others equal rights, but they are very wrong.
What the legislation is actually doing is attempting to legalize a policy of "separate but equal," which is complete crap. Separate is never equal and never can be. What they are proposing is a new era of segregation where people are treated differently based on their sexual orientation instead of their skin color, and they want it to be legal.
Sure, some people do not believe gays should have the right to marry, but many people also believed (and some still do believe) that African-Americans should not have been given the right to vote. It seems silly to us now, but at the time, a majority of the country held that exact sentiment.
Simply because people have created in their minds a new "group" instead of ethnicity, this new "sub-human" group based on sexuality does not mean we should let the hatred that fueled discrimination once again become legal fact. The truth is that regardless of who people decide to sleep with, the law should treat them all equally. Even if you feel that being homosexual is wrong or that gays should not marry, your feelings do not give you the right to discriminate against anyone or attempt to curtail their rights.
The law applies to all humans within this country, and to deny them the same rights that heterosexual couples are given is to decry them as less than human. You don't need me to tell you that such ideas are the definition of evil.
There is no logical or legal reason that same-sex couples should not be able to get married, and luckily in many places steps are being taken toward ending discrimination against non-traditional families. However, even though they may have good intentions, some states are taking a very dangerous approach to the issue.
Washington State, for example, is taking what they believe to be a step forward by introducing legislation which will open a stronger civil union option. The new option will entitle gay or lesbian couples to all the rights and privileges under the law that married couples have long enjoyed. Many people see this as a good "middle of the road" idea where it protects the "sanctity" of marriage while allowing others equal rights, but they are very wrong.
What the legislation is actually doing is attempting to legalize a policy of "separate but equal," which is complete crap. Separate is never equal and never can be. What they are proposing is a new era of segregation where people are treated differently based on their sexual orientation instead of their skin color, and they want it to be legal.
Sure, some people do not believe gays should have the right to marry, but many people also believed (and some still do believe) that African-Americans should not have been given the right to vote. It seems silly to us now, but at the time, a majority of the country held that exact sentiment.
Simply because people have created in their minds a new "group" instead of ethnicity, this new "sub-human" group based on sexuality does not mean we should let the hatred that fueled discrimination once again become legal fact. The truth is that regardless of who people decide to sleep with, the law should treat them all equally. Even if you feel that being homosexual is wrong or that gays should not marry, your feelings do not give you the right to discriminate against anyone or attempt to curtail their rights.
The law applies to all humans within this country, and to deny them the same rights that heterosexual couples are given is to decry them as less than human. You don't need me to tell you that such ideas are the definition of evil.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 8
Michael Delahanty
posted 11/02/09 @ 11:25 AM CST
I think it is great you broke the entire situation down to what it really is about.
My partner and I have been together for almost 25 years. We live in New York but had to go to Mass to get married last March. (Continued…)
Mel
posted 11/02/09 @ 12:15 PM CST
Thank goodness for someone finally coming out to say it! There is no reason gay/lesbian couples should not be able to marry. You may not agree with their lifestyle or choices but the bottom line is it is NOT OUR RIGHT to discriminate them and tell them they cannot. (Continued…)
T. Cooper
posted 11/02/09 @ 3:28 PM CST
Here is what I think that the religious leaders should try to realize the following issues before trying advocate against gay marriage:
1. The marriage license says "The State of [name of state]" NOT "[name of religion]" and for it to be legal in any state, the marriage must be registered within the state government and in cases of divorce, the couple go to court, not a place of worship. (Continued…)
Shelley
posted 11/02/09 @ 9:06 PM CST
I was married for many years, but not anymore. I have been divorced for many more years now; therefore, I no longer have the "rights" that I did when I was married. (Continued…)
mudcat wilson
posted 11/03/09 @ 7:03 AM CST
Like the author if this article, I too am a heterosexual, married male and, contrary to the author, I think the idea of extending marriage "rights" to homosexual couples is innately, problematic. (Continued…)
Shalom
posted 11/03/09 @ 12:11 PM CST
For the record - neither my gender, marital status, nor sexuality affect the strength of my argument, so I won't muddy the waters by stating them.
I don't know where mudcat gets his/her numbers, but even Wikipedia inidcates that fewer than 10 states have unions that grant rights even similar to marriage. (Continued…)
Mel
posted 11/04/09 @ 12:46 PM CST
For YEARS, the government has been trying to take church out of state. Why then, does it matter if religiously being gay is "wrong"?? In the eyes of the governement, a marriage has NOTHING to do with religion, AT ALL. (Continued…)
Ben Franklin
posted 11/04/09 @ 1:45 PM CST
Politics is the art of the possible. We need to face the reality that currently the majority of Americans do not support same-sex marriage. They may support the idea of equality but they are scared that same-sex marriage may somehow change the fabric of society. (Continued…)
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