I was listening to the radio yesterday and one of the guest
speakers was talking about the “Chick-fil-a Appreciation Day” and Gay marriage
in general. They made an excellent point
about the issue. Morally, you can feel
however you wish about it. If you
disagree with it, then that is your personal opinion. But when it comes to the issue of the
government, it becomes a civil rights issue.
The fact of the matter is that gays DO NOT have equal rights in the
United States because of the legal benefits that come with marriage (See http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/marriage-rights-benefits-30190.html
for a list of benefits).
In the history of the United States, people have used
Biblical passages repeatedly to justify legislation that prevents equal rights
to a particular group of citizens whether there was actually a legitimate
scripture quote or not. Back in the 1800’s
slavery was justified by politicians through biblical verses, and later it was
used by some to justify laws against interracial marriage. In 1958 when Virginia
Judge Leon Bazile refused to hear the case of Loving v. Virginia and was quoted
as saying of interracial marriage, “Almighty God created the races white,
black, yellow, Malay, and red, and placed them on separate continents, and but
for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such
marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend
the races to mix.” There actually is no
direct verse in the Bible but the story of the Curse of Ham was often used. There are also verses in Ezekiel,
Deuteronomy, Judges, and others that have been used for the same justification.
All of those issues have been overturned. All races in the United States legally have
equal rights, and and any man can marry any woman. However, being born homosexual is apparently
grounds for inequality in the United States.
So in this time, the fact of announcing opposition of gay marriage, I
feel, is to say you are for the willing oppression and denial of civil rights
to a specific group of United States Citizens.
Gays will have equal rights, and I will vote for them to have those
rights. And when that does happen, how
will those who opposed it be remembered?
Ask yourself, how does history remember the likes of Strom
Thurmond, Robert Byrd, Howard Smith, or Former Alabama Gov. George Wallace Jr?
To Melissa Carter, you are amazing, and every person needs
to hear your voice. Listen, and be informed. http://bit.ly/Qzjk2d
