Okay, so maybe I can understand why some people are put off by homosexuality. If you are very religious, I imagine that many religions beat into your head day and night that being gay is a sin, and I guess some people don't want to sin (although I thought you were supposed to love your neighbor). And perhaps the idea of gay sex makes you uncomfortable. Okay, whatever - it's not everybody's thing.
But why, why, why do people want to OUTLAW gay marriage? I just don't get it. What have gays done to you personally? Did a marauding hoard of gays burn your house down and stomp your cat to death? What is it? One of my favorite comics, Louis CK, says, "It's not like you're eating your cereal in the morning and all of a sudden two gay guys touch dicks in front of you." Comic Dane Cook makes the same point: "Were you at the ATM one day and all of a sudden a gay guy comes up and starts fucking you up the ass without asking?" Why do people care SO DAMN MUCH about not letting gay and lesbian couples officiate their relationship in the eyes of the law?
I can see why churches wouldn't allow it. Fine. Can't get married in a church. Supposedly, there is a separation of church and state in this country, but we all know that's a crock of shit. Some people say that it's a threat to the institution of marriage. Really? How? I think heterosexual adultery is far more dangerous to the institution of marriage, but that's just me.
One of the things that got me thinking about this is a brilliant HBO documentary called Outrage (if you have HBO on Demand, you should go watch it). The basic premise is that many of our senators and representatives in Congress are closeted gays, and in order to prove to anyone how straight they are, they oppose gay rights legislation at every turn. People mentioned include former Senator Larry Craig of Idaho, Governor Charlie Crist of Florida, and Congressman David Dreier of California. Blogger Mike Rogers has outed all of these men, and all of these men have denied that they are homosexual. Rogers' reason for outing them is essentially that he finds it disgusting that these men have allegedly participated in and asked for protection from the gay community and have not only given them nothing in return, but actively worked to make their lives more difficult and unequal to those of their heterosexual peers. Food for thought.
So how about we let the gays and lesbians and transgendered people and queers and bisexuals and whomever get married in the eyes of the law? Whaddya think? What's the worst that could happen?
And I really do want to hear from both sides. If you are against gay marriage, convince me that it should be illegal. I want to hear your argument. I will remain objective (I'll try, anyway).
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The first amendment, including the separation of church and state, is part of the bedrock of this country. For me, there is a Grand Canyon size gap between religion and the state. I freely chose my religion, and hold its principles very dear. But I completely defend everyone else's right to choose their own code. I don't expect that my religion will apply to anyone else who hasn't chosen it! For exanple, I have no expectation or belief that anyone should abstain from alcohol, even though my religion requires that of me. I would not try to impose that on people who are not members of my religion, and I don't understand why anyone would try to enforce such an imposition on others in the question of gay marriage.
ReplyDeleteI see no reason why we should not follow the European model of a requisite civil ceremony and a separate religious ceremony if the couple chooses. Such a model would permit each religion the free exercise of its teachings on marriage. It would also allow the state to define civil marriage on its own terms, allowing GLBT marriage with no threat to followers of any religion.
I just don't understand why people can't see the distinction between what the government should or should not do, and what a religion will or will not do. Why is it hard to make that distinction?
Knittah - right there with ya.
ReplyDeleteAnon - I can't remember, but if I find it on YouTube I'll post it.