Marriage rights not just reserved for a man and a woman

Marriage rights not just reserved for a man and a woman

By Stacey Featherstone
Writer

    On Nov. 4, California passed Proposition 8. The law passed silkily under our radar, the country too distracted by the climatic end to one of the longest presidential races in American history to notice homosexuals being stripped of their rights in California.
     Proposition 8 amended the Californian Constitution, eliminating the right of same-sex couples to marry and only recognizing the marriage between a man and a woman in California. According to The Los Angels Times, the vote was 52.2 percent in favor of the amendment.
     The law is fundamentally prejudiced, contradicting American principles of justice and equality. The fact that two consenting adults of the same sex do not have the opportunity to receive the civil rights and priviledges (fiscal and otherwise) conferred by lawful marriage is blatant heterosexism and a discriminatory attack on the homosexual lifestyle. The law was designed to relegate thousands of Californians identigying themselves as homosexual to an inferior legal and social status.
     Voter Guides describing the ammendment, according to http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov, printed arguments both in favor of and against the law. Arguments for the law claimed Californians never boted "yes" to gay marriage. Then could someone please pinpoint for me when, exactly, California voted "yes" to straight marriage? Another reasoning supporting the law stated, "while death, divorce, and other circumstances may prevent the ideal, the best situation for a child is to be raised by a married mother and father."
     Sexual orientation is absolutely irrelevant in determining a person's capacity to engage in a committed and long-term relationship or parenthood. Furthermore, Proposition 8 advocates are attacking single parenthood and divorcees, accusing them of establishing detrimental household environments for their children.
     Anotehr proponent of the amendment stated if Proposition 8 had failed,"teachers could be required to teach young children there is no difference between gay marriage and traditional marriage."
     Well, I certainly hope so. There is no difference. The institution of marriage entails two individuals deciding to spend the rest of their lives together and declaring it publicly in a ceremony of marriage, receiving all of the rights and respect associated therein.
     Here I am careful to differentiate between the institution of marriage and the sacrament of marriage, as recognized by various religions. Although I must remark that in light of the American divorce rate and drive-through wedding chapels, it is difficult to imagine what remins sacred.
     Still, if the acrament of marriage needs to be reserved for a God-fearing man and his pious woman, please, let it be by all menas. But the civil rights associated with marriage cannot be hoarded by heterosexual couples. This country is built on principles of equality and fiar treatment of all peoples, gay or straight, black or white, young or old. State legislation and constitutions should be reinforce these principles.

~The Bucknellian, Vol 142, No 11 (21 Nov 2008)