....Gay Marriage

As of this writing there are nine states that have legalized same sex marriage within the United States. There are also, 11 countries internationally that have legalized same sex marriage within their nation. Some of the reasoning the ultra religious use to repress same sex marriage is an expression of closed mindedness that is both terrifying and laughable. As far as these folks are concerned the… Bible, Koran, Tanakh, Pastafarian Gospel (what have you) all may have some reference to marriage as the union between a man and a woman.

I say may have because I'm not 100% sure but have a really strong gut feeling that they may and besides I don't really have the time to read through them all.

Anyway, because these holy documents may have referred to the marriage union as one between a man and woman some folks have accepted this idea as one dictated by our Lord, the collective inhabitants of a mountain or some starchy being. What this group doesn't see is that not only that sexual preference was left out of their religious documents but the following were also left out: aircraft, cell phones and cable TV. Now can a logical person say that because those three things were not mentioned in a religious text they do not exist or are frowned upon by God? Umm, no. Can that same logical, religious person say that because they were not in his or her religious text that those things are evil? Again no, if that were the case said person couldn’t watch 24 hours of Pat Robertson and the Inspiration channel, or get their religious text of the day or fly to the Vatican to see Pope Francis. Of course I am using the extremes as an example and I have nothing against religious people. They have a frighteningly strong sense of conviction when it comes to religion that I almost admire but mostly fear. I do believe in God, I don't push my beliefs on anyone and like anything else I take the Bible with a grain of salt. Ok, even if God dictated this directly to his disciples and they took everything down verbatim, people have had over 2,000 years to modify and change his(/her/their) word to suit their needs. A rant for another time....

I will leave this portion of the discussion with a conversation I had once when debating this very question (on my doorstep as she was asking me about my religious choices and holding an enormous amount of pamphlets).

This wonderfully energetic (she almost vibrated…literally) young girl told me that her God loved everyone I slowly looked left and then slowly right and asked in a conspiratorial whisper "What about the gays?” The poor girl looked almost relieved and stated simply, "Oh no, they are an abomination in Gods eyes".

Oh really? Come closer my little fly.

"So how are, "dropping my voice to a whisper again, "gays an abomination, I don't ever remember reading about them in the bible?" I ask little Mary Sunshine.

Her answer was weepingly sweet. God doesn’t mention homosexuality in the bible because it wasn't invented yet. WOW....mmmm 'k.

Now beside the religious folks we have the conservative right who are completely against same sex marriage. On this side we have the "it just isn't done" rationale that can vary from exposing (or, gasp.....raising) children to this type of relationship we will warp these kids somehow. To the allowance of same sex marriage opening the door to say a bestial union (I, Dave take you Woofy the dog…), poly union (I, Tom take you Brenda, Silvia, Catherine, Jessica, Dave and Woofy…) or inanimate union (I, Brenda take you toaster…). However, if children are exposed to spousal abuse, addiction or racism, just to name a few, in a straight relationship nah that’s fine....because it's a traditional relationship.

Come on people.

Another argument I've heard that makes no sense to me from the right is: If we allow gay marriage we are now using the tax dollars of those who don't believe or wish to endorse that institution. SO even though these folks are paying into social security now, as long as they kept their relationship in the closet they can collect?? Really a dumb ass argument. Most states charge a higher tax rates for married couples, so by allowing homosexual marriage the government would actually reap the benefits. This will help pay for better roads, new equipment in schools and in the case of Billy Bob the redneck welfare recipient who made this argument, state paid psychiatric assistance to help his son grasp why his best friend has two dads.

The last argument I want to try and refute is tied to the right but can easily cross over into the religious anti gay marriage argument. Since same sex marriage has nothing to do with procreation it should not be seen as an institution. Folks there are plenty of opposite sex marriages that are a convenience marriage and never have the intention of procreation but that doesn’t make them unlawful. There are folks on both sides of the fence - straight and gay that would make terrible parents. The only difference between the two sides is that homosexual couples actually have to put a lot of thought and planning into having children whereas most straight couples don’t and some put none in whatsoever....repeatedly.

Are you livid or nodding in agreement folks?