Why do we care about gay marriage laws?

First you need to know my perspective: I am a 57 year old heterosexual male who was raised in the rural south. The vast majority of the people I have known in my life believe homosexuality is a sin. They see marriage as a religious union more than a civic agreement.

I will not speak to the morality of homosexuality, there is a higher authority that will make that decision for us and that is not the government of any state or country.

My thoughts on gay marriage:

In our society marriage has two main components. There is the marriage license that is the civil component and the wedding ceremony that is the religious and personal component. We have always maintained a large degree of separation between the two; only intersecting them at the point where the person officiating over the ceremony
signs the license indicating the ceremony was performed.

The civil component is the basis for all the legal rights and responsibilities that are part of the marriage convention. These laws are intended to protect all parties from being harmed in any way from the marriage or any subsequent divorce. Divorce laws generally ignore the religious component completely.
The religious component ignores the civil component and focuses on the relationship and moral responsibilities of the parties involved.

It is generally legal to be married by a Justice of the Peace or a recognized official of any religious organization. If you are married by a priest or Rabbi you are expected to follow the teachings of your religion based on the vows you take during the ceremony. These vows do not bind you to or release you from the legal issues connected to the signed marriage license. The license does not bind you to the views of your religion. I say let anyone marry anyone in whatever combination their personal religious beliefs support. Let all parties sign legal documents declaring the union and accepting the civil rights and responsibilities that are part of the license. Let them have whatever ceremony they want as long as the officiating person is recognized as an acceptable signer.

Since I was married by a preacher and made vows to my wife, I accept the moral responsibilities of our marriage. Since this same preacher signed and made the license a legal document I am bound by the local laws. What ever those people across town decide to do is their business. I am not in the position to judge them. I certainly have opinions but judging is not my responsibility. Their marriage does not in any way affect me. Laws imposing moral arguments are against the spirit of this country. If you disagree with what a group is doing you have the right to let your opinion be heard. I do not believe you have the right to prevent them from doing it just because you do not believe the same way they do.

We are all familiar with the way women are treated under strict Islamic law as enforced by the Taliban. This is only one example of the ultimate destination when we travel too far down the road of legislating morality. We should put our efforts into educating others in our beliefs and helping them with their problems; not on making legislation to force them into our mold.

D. Page