A significant change of perspective
I never used to care much about the idea of gay marriage. At least not in a personal sense, since I think it's highly unlikely that I would ever get married. In a theoretical sense, I could sympathize with the argument that weddings are related to procreation, and therefore off-limits to gays.
Not anymore. I now realize that there's so much more to marriage, and the benefits that the law bestows on married persons, that this is truly an equal-rights issue. There's simply no compelling reason for society to deny the institution of marriage to a loving, committed relationship between two adults who happen to be gay. Especially when gay persons are being denied the benefits of the taxes they pay.
The idea that the institution of marriage needs to be "defended" against gays is utterly preposterous. Gays who get married want to SUPPORT the institution of marriage, and not tear it apart. It's also absurd to believe that heterosexual married couples are somehow threatened by marriages between gays -- there's no logical cause and effect between one and the other. In fact, everyone knows the biggest threat to the institution of marriage is heterosexual divorce, and I don't see any politicians introducing constitutional amendments to deal with THAT.
Ultimately, I think the idea of a constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage will fail. First, it's going to be incredibly difficult for politicians to agree on the text of an amendment that will pass both the House and Senate, and then be ratified by three-fourths of the states. Second, every day there's more momentum to issue gay marriage licenses, and people will start to see these aren't threatening or even particularly unusual. Finally, the normal seven-year time limit for ratification by the states isn't very long for a contentious social issue such as this.
Maybe this is all just wishful thinking, but I really believe that in ten years, gay marriage will be generally accepted in society. As long as no one throws it in somebody's face, Americans will come to accept the validity of a private, loving, committed relationship between two consenting adults.
Now when can we have that amendment prohibiting gay divorce?
Not anymore. I now realize that there's so much more to marriage, and the benefits that the law bestows on married persons, that this is truly an equal-rights issue. There's simply no compelling reason for society to deny the institution of marriage to a loving, committed relationship between two adults who happen to be gay. Especially when gay persons are being denied the benefits of the taxes they pay.
The idea that the institution of marriage needs to be "defended" against gays is utterly preposterous. Gays who get married want to SUPPORT the institution of marriage, and not tear it apart. It's also absurd to believe that heterosexual married couples are somehow threatened by marriages between gays -- there's no logical cause and effect between one and the other. In fact, everyone knows the biggest threat to the institution of marriage is heterosexual divorce, and I don't see any politicians introducing constitutional amendments to deal with THAT.
Ultimately, I think the idea of a constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage will fail. First, it's going to be incredibly difficult for politicians to agree on the text of an amendment that will pass both the House and Senate, and then be ratified by three-fourths of the states. Second, every day there's more momentum to issue gay marriage licenses, and people will start to see these aren't threatening or even particularly unusual. Finally, the normal seven-year time limit for ratification by the states isn't very long for a contentious social issue such as this.
Maybe this is all just wishful thinking, but I really believe that in ten years, gay marriage will be generally accepted in society. As long as no one throws it in somebody's face, Americans will come to accept the validity of a private, loving, committed relationship between two consenting adults.
Now when can we have that amendment prohibiting gay divorce?