layout by Amanda Vontobel
In the 2008 elections, our country voted into office a new administration, a vote for change. Whether it’s been for better or worse remains to be seen, since we are only at the midterm point. But for California in 2008, a more specific issue was at stake for its gay and lesbian citizens. By way of a constitutional amendment known as Proposition 8 (California Marriage Protection Act), gays and lesbians were about to have their civil rights pulled out from under their feet. Prop 8 added a provision to the California Constitution stating that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California”. As we know, it passed. However, nobody took it sitting down. Protests were organized in California and beyond. The country as a whole recognized this to be a pivotal moment for gays, lesbians, and supporters of the cause everywhere. Groups were formed, signs were made, people marched, for days, weeks, months. Finally a few days ago, August 4, 2010, equality won when United States district court Judge Vaughn Walker overturned Proposition 8, deeming it unconstitutional.
So why is this even an issue in the 21st century? For gays and lesbians, it is about wanting to be afforded the same human rights as heterosexual citizens. After all, we all live, work and pay taxes. Why should the government be allowed to take our hard earned pay and not offer us the same rights as everyone else? However, the anti-gay marriage people see it a whole different way. They feel that the very foundation of this country is being threatened if this change would take place. Some even believe that gays and lesbians are evil sinners that need to be saved.
First, let’s look at the most oft repeated stance against homosexuality, the infamous “It’s in the Bible” defense. Leviticus 18:22 states “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”. However, further research of that statement has indicated that it’s meaning is actually to warn its followers of “wasting seed” (which by the way, would apply to self-pleasure as well). Instead, it is interpreted solely as a weapon against homosexuality, calling it a sin. And this only stands for those who follow the Bible. Let’s not forget that this country allows us to have Freedom of Religion, which also means Freedom of NO Religion, if one so chooses. More to the point, the country is supposed to follow the “Separation of Church and State” ruling, so I don’t know why they can easily toss around biblical passages and build political laws and propositions around them. Using the Bible as a justifiable reason against homosexuality and same sex marriage is seriously outdated and clearly irrelevant.
Next we have “same sex marriage threatens the sanctity of marriage and tears at the fabric of society”. I have yet to hear one valid reason to back this up. Before the 2008 elections, Jill Bennett did a vlog with her conservative neighbor to discuss the Prop 8 and gay marriage. Several times during the discussion, she asked him point blank exactly HOW two people of the same sex being married would ruin/change/affect any other heterosexual marriage. He had no response other than rolling out the aforementioned Bible defense. Jill even pointed out that other countries have had legalized gay marriage for years and they considered it an asset to their progress as a society. What about divorce? How many people have been married several times, often in a church too because they paid enough to have the previous marriage annulled ? Or those quickie Vegas weddings that are perfectly legal? Don’t those threaten the sanctity of marriage? I’m not saying I don’t believe in divorce, surely that is anyone’s right to decide. However, if the law can easily separate what was once joined together in the same eyes of the law, why does that not threaten the sanctity of marriage? Because, it doesn’t. Just like same sex marriage doesn’t. People change, situations change, life is about change. Using the “sanctity of marriage” excuse as a way to deny same sex couples the right to be married is a nothing more than a double standard.
Some people say they could accept a same sex couple having a civil union where they are afforded the same rights as a heterosexual couple, but just not call it a marriage. The problem is, the civil union rights are NOT the same. We recently wrote how Google finally changed their health benefits for same sex couple employees who had been paying a higher tax than heterosexual couples for their insurance. Civil Union benefits vary from state to state. So it can often mean you have no connection to your partner whatsoever. Let’s say your partner is in a horrible car crash. Depending on how the law recognizes your civil union, you could not be allowed to see them, or make decisions for them, because the state does not recognize you as their spouse or loved one. You’re not a blood family member, or a legal spouse of any sort. You are basically do not exist in this person’s life according to the state, even though the partner you’ve loved for years is lying in the next room, possibly dying. All because some people don’t believe you should have the same rights as them, even though it has absolutely NOTHING to do with them or their heterosexual (dare I say privileged?) lives. Just because they don’t agree with how someone lives their life, does that give them the right to take the rights of others away? Is that the America we want to live in? If you ask me, denying anyone else equal rights is unconstitutional, self-righteous, selfish, and just a little mean.
Finally, we have possibly the most desperate reasoning for being against gay marriage, the notion that bestiality would be legal too. You always hear a gem of a human being say “If homosexuals can get married, what’s next….marrying sheep? Can I marry my dog??” And on a more serious level, many feel that if we want equality for all, why not include pedophiles and rapists in that category? The response to that is really quite simple. None of these examples are consensual. A sheep cannot consensually agree to marry or have sex with you. Your dog Fido, cannot consensually agree to marry or have sex with you. A rape victim and a child who has been sexually molested are attacked against their will. They did not consent to or condone these actions. The people who commit these acts are mentally or psychologically sick and should be treated as such. That is NOT the same as two consenting adults of the same sex who connect with each other and want to be together. Period.
Of course, before gay marriage came into play, there was the issue of just being gay in general. Is it a choice, are you born gay, can you be turned gay by hanging out with gay friends, and can it be cured? All of this has been up for debate for several years. Consider this…from the moment you are born, you’re being fed information from your parents about life. They gave you life and it is their job to help and guide you into a life of happiness, security, and peace. You will learn by observation as much as by what they tell you. You will see Mommy and Daddy doing Mommy and Daddy things. And you will be taught that someday you will have a wife or husband of your own. If you think about it, you really don’t have a chance to know if you’re gay or not because this paring up often happens when children can barely talk. People do it all the time, saying things like “little Johnny and Mary look so cute together, they like each other, they’re going to grow up and have their own babies!” Maybe little Johnny really has his eye on handsome Joey down the block, but he’ll never be encouraged to think that way. And of course, I’m using this as a loose example. When children are that young, it’s rare that they grasp what attraction is or dating is in general, let alone with someone of the same sex. But, studies have proven that most gay people knew they were gay (or at least different) at a very early age, often pre-teen. Yet they knew enough that it was something to hide, or to be ashamed of. Where could they possibly get that idea, if it’s something they felt naturally? It’s because it was taught to them. Imagine what it would be like if parents would simply raise their children to follow what they feel naturally, not putting on them the pressure that they must fit into what society deems appropriate. Raise them with the understanding that love is love and it’s about sharing that love and building a life together, by having children, or helping others in some way, or just simply loving each other and putting all of that love back into the world.
So really, it’s not that difficult to understand. There are still going to be homosexuals whether or not it’s recognized by a state or society. History proves homosexuality has been around since time began in all shapes and forms. It is not an evil plot to take over the world and make everyone gay. Children being raised by gay parents are not bound to be gay. If that were true, than how did so many gays turn out gay being raised by straight parents? If anything, children being raised by gay parents are just going to be more open minded about it. And if a straight person hangs around with gays, and decides to try it out for themselves, guess what….if they’re not gay, they will figure that out too, and happily date the opposite sex again. It’s really so simple, honestly. If everyone would just live and let live, love and let love, I guarantee this world would be a much happier place. And wouldn’t that be a refreshing change?
