neecy
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Hate gay marriage? Then don't have one! ~ by Neil Parthun
I heard something that made me laugh.
I was told that homosexuality was a choice. You mean people choose to be physically and emotionally abused, attacked, harassed, denied equal rights and condemned by close minded religious fundamentalists?
Let's face facts: Homosexuality is no more a choice than heterosexuality. This is not about special rights for some but merely equal rights for all.
Be scared no more, fundamentalists and reactionaries! Like it or not, marriage in the U.S. does not have to take place in a house of worship. Marriage can strictly be a civil institution in the eyes of the government without the injection of religious ideas. It has a multitude of legal benefits afforded to those who enter. Homosexual couples should be guaranteed equal access to these civil benefits as members of the constitutional republic.
Many anti-gay bigots deceptively use the term "pro-family." They proclaim that homosexuals cannot marry because their marriage will not produce children. Last time I checked, there is no mandate to have children in the vows of civil marriage. Countless thousands of couples who do not want or cannot have children are allowed to marry without this vile, despicable harassment from "pro-family" advocates.
"Pro-family" discrimination can also be seen in adoption. Anti-gay advocates proclaim that gays cannot be parents and adopt because they will turn the children gay. If the parents' sexual orientation directly influences the child's, then straight parents must raise only raise straight children, right? Just ask Alan Keyes.
The religious overtones against homosexuality really raise my ire. One can thumb through the Bible to find passages to justify slavery and other terrible actions.
The Bible also condemns eating pork — yet Christian fundamentalists are not demanding a constitutional amendment to enforce that Old Testament edict. One cannot pick and choose which rules to follow merely to justify their biases. A religion based on compassion is cheapened and disrespected by such disgusting behavior.
If you don't like gay marriage, don't get one. Don't like consensual homosexual sex between adults? Then I'd suggest you don't engage in the activity. You can have your own perspective on homosexuals, but don't dare codify your biases into laws that infringe on the rights of other Americans.
To those who clamor for legislation and constitutional amendments that will deny homosexuals equal rights, I simply ask that you remember one thing — the members of our government placed their hands on the Bible to enforce the Constitution. They did not place their hands on the Constitution to enforce the Bible.
- Neil Parthun is religious and a straight ally, he wants you to realize he is not bashing religion. He is discussing religious fundamentalists who violate the principles of their religion and America's separation between church and state by codifying discrimination against homosexuals. He can be reached at parthun@uiuc.edu.
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I agree with this 100%. Although I'm striaght, I'm infertile - does that mean that I should not be allowed to marry a man because I'd never be able to procreate? If one of the arguements religous fundies use is that homosexuals can't have children- well neither can I!!!
I know many heterosexual couples who don't WANT children. Should they have been refused the right to marry?
I heard something that made me laugh.
I was told that homosexuality was a choice. You mean people choose to be physically and emotionally abused, attacked, harassed, denied equal rights and condemned by close minded religious fundamentalists?
Let's face facts: Homosexuality is no more a choice than heterosexuality. This is not about special rights for some but merely equal rights for all.
Be scared no more, fundamentalists and reactionaries! Like it or not, marriage in the U.S. does not have to take place in a house of worship. Marriage can strictly be a civil institution in the eyes of the government without the injection of religious ideas. It has a multitude of legal benefits afforded to those who enter. Homosexual couples should be guaranteed equal access to these civil benefits as members of the constitutional republic.
Many anti-gay bigots deceptively use the term "pro-family." They proclaim that homosexuals cannot marry because their marriage will not produce children. Last time I checked, there is no mandate to have children in the vows of civil marriage. Countless thousands of couples who do not want or cannot have children are allowed to marry without this vile, despicable harassment from "pro-family" advocates.
"Pro-family" discrimination can also be seen in adoption. Anti-gay advocates proclaim that gays cannot be parents and adopt because they will turn the children gay. If the parents' sexual orientation directly influences the child's, then straight parents must raise only raise straight children, right? Just ask Alan Keyes.
The religious overtones against homosexuality really raise my ire. One can thumb through the Bible to find passages to justify slavery and other terrible actions.
The Bible also condemns eating pork — yet Christian fundamentalists are not demanding a constitutional amendment to enforce that Old Testament edict. One cannot pick and choose which rules to follow merely to justify their biases. A religion based on compassion is cheapened and disrespected by such disgusting behavior.
If you don't like gay marriage, don't get one. Don't like consensual homosexual sex between adults? Then I'd suggest you don't engage in the activity. You can have your own perspective on homosexuals, but don't dare codify your biases into laws that infringe on the rights of other Americans.
To those who clamor for legislation and constitutional amendments that will deny homosexuals equal rights, I simply ask that you remember one thing — the members of our government placed their hands on the Bible to enforce the Constitution. They did not place their hands on the Constitution to enforce the Bible.
- Neil Parthun is religious and a straight ally, he wants you to realize he is not bashing religion. He is discussing religious fundamentalists who violate the principles of their religion and America's separation between church and state by codifying discrimination against homosexuals. He can be reached at parthun@uiuc.edu.
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I agree with this 100%. Although I'm striaght, I'm infertile - does that mean that I should not be allowed to marry a man because I'd never be able to procreate? If one of the arguements religous fundies use is that homosexuals can't have children- well neither can I!!!
I know many heterosexual couples who don't WANT children. Should they have been refused the right to marry?
