Only barrier to gay marriage is religion

02/27/04 - To the Cigar,Marcus Ross, in his recent opinion of the regulation of same-sex marriages, made the same mistake as every other pundit trying to push for the abolishment of gay marriage: assuming that he could truly understand the other side of the argument.

The only argument against gay marriage is religious. Period. Even if you are one of those who believes that same-sex unions are immoral, as long as you are not the one perpetuating the act, it does not affect you. Same-sex unions are just as stable as heterosexual ones. Homosexual couples have been shown to stay together longer, and children adopted by same sex-couples thusfar have matured normally and led happy and productive lives. However there are people in this country that believe that they should be the ones to regulate the happiness of others, and that certain souls need to be saved.

Mr. Ross' argument that two people of the same sex cannot live together in harmony is horrendously flawed. He is assuming the feelings of the entirety of both sexes without experiencing it himself, which leaves little to be admired in his argument. Furthermore, if sex should be a determinant of marriage, what about hermaphrodites? They know both sexes! Or what about transsexuals? Who can they marry? Or rather, according to Mr. Ross, who SHOULD they marry?

For those arguing the point of the "sanctity of marriage" I say that there this no longer exists. I give you the argument that more than 50 percent of marriages end in divorce, that couples are married in order to receive legal placement in this country and, most revoltingly, that I can travel to Vegas, get intoxicated off of watered down Casino alcohol, wander the streets for someone equally as wasted, go to an all night chapel at 3 a.m. and get married by a man dressed as Elvis only to retire to a cheap motel for the evening and get the marriage annulled in the morning. Yet two people who are deeply in love with each other and completely committed to establishing a healthy life together cannot get married because they do not fit the Biblical definition of what marriage should be. It's wrong.

If there truly is separation of church and state in this country, than there is no reason why same-sex marriages shouldn't be legal. None at all. All of the arguments after the religious are truly just a matter of opinion. The Supreme Court should be brought this issue as soon as possible so that finally this matter can be settled. I'm glad that Mr. Ross has taken it upon himself to decide how homosexuals should feel, but I do believe that's up for them to discover, and not up to us to assign them emotions.

Thank You,
Keri Mirkovich