San Francisco’s mayor, Gavin Newsom, may have dodged the legal pathays to set an historical precedent in that city. His efforts may be shot down by cooler political heads, and perhaps rightly so. However, recognizing the validity of same-sex couples’ commitments to each other is a very correct one for our times. If our national objection to such marriages is descended only from interdictions in the Christian Bible, we haven’t a leg to stand on. Plenty of the taboos written into that book have their basis in the beliefs and concerns of an ancient day. Just as we no longer prescribe bloodletting by leeches as a cure for disease or sacrificing of humans or animals to ensure a good harvest, we must let go of outdated, ridiculous notions of how human beings may conduct their personal lives.
There is one barrier in our society to gay marriage, a religious one that presupposes homosexuality is wrong, but right or wrong has no place in facts of nature. A butterfly with blue wings could be considered wrong if blue was out of favor. The argument would be raised that gay unions open the door to adoption of children and more openness about being homosexual. It could also lead to an increased feeling of pride in and normalcy of relationships, thus lowering the spread of AIDS, and it would allow homosexuals to enjoy the same life celebrations that most of us take for granted. What do we fear? Homosexuality is here to stay. Let’s get over it and be mature boys and girls.
Everett
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