A Small Large Rant
Tomorrow, the Washington State Supreme Court begins hearing arguments on the issue of whether or not banning same sex marriage in this state is Constitutional. So, naturally there was a great deal of coverage on the local news stations about that this evening. Now, I must say, all of the local news stations are pretty balanced in their coverage of this issue. There was coverage of the pro-same sex rally yesterday, followed by coverage of the news conference held today by the anti-same sex group.
Now this is where I get angry. The “
anti” folk (led by former NFL quarterback Jeff Kemp, son of Jack), without exception; limited their comments at this news conferrence to various studies showing that children raised in two-parent (male / female) families were healthier and better adjusted than children raised in “other” types of households. Now, I would question the male / female label in most of these studies. In the sutdies that I have seen since going to work for Children's Services over eleven years ago , they usually only compare children raised in one parent households versus those raised in two parent households. However, even if they can back up those studies, I can’t help but question their motives for raising this issue, at this time, other than to sway public opinion.
Now, nowhere in the case being heard by the Supreme Court tomorrow does the issue of raising children enter into the discussion. There is no subsection that states that two men will now be able to conceive a child without the help of a female’s assistance, or visa versa. Nor does the case being heard tomorrow have anything to do with same-sex adoption. Same sex adoption is already legal and fairly common in Washington State.
So, is it possible that these fundamental Christian protesters misunderstood the issue being heard in the courts tomorrow? Of course not. They are instead resorting to the same scare-tactics that they always use when approaching the issue of equal rights for homosexuals. And that is the deep-seated fear, in a majority of heterosexuals in this country, that homosexuals are out to molest and corrupt the children of this nation. The majority of gays that I know who are in favor of same-sex marriage, have no desire to involve children in the relationship. Those that are interested in raising children with their partners, are already pursuing that avenue. What they are really looking for is a sense of legitimacy and legal standing in their community.
The real point here is that the anti-same sex marriage folks don’t have any real reason to deny two men or two women the right to marry, other than the fact that they don’t like it and that they believe it is against their religious principles. But religion has no place in the discussion of legal rights. Marriage licenses don't take into account relgious principles in any way. If these Christians don't want gays and lesbians to be married in their churches, fine. Let these couples get married in a civil service, without benefit of clergy. But, instead, they twist the whole argument around to one that they know apply leverage with –- the safety of children.
Sorry about this rant, but other than religious grounds, is there any possible reason that I have missed as to why two people of the same sex, should not have equal rights??
