I have difficulty trying to understand why allowing gays to use the term marriage rather than unions to be such a sticking point. I have heard it often said by people that are opposed to gay marriage say that marriage is a religious institution. Or using the term marriage will somehow make a mockery of traditional marriages. If marriage were indeed a religious institution, why then are heterosexual couples afforded such a wide variety of ways of getting married that have no religious affiliation whatsoever? Heterosexual atheists are allowed to marry and they certainly dont want any religious overtones to their marriages. Straight couples can get married by the justice of the piece they can get married by a ship captain on a cruise ship. They can be married underwater or on a mountaintop, it seems to me it just doesnt matter and that there are no restrictions. The list goes on and on therefore, making the argument of about marriage being a religious institution absurd.
I have also heard many opponents of gay marriage say that same sex marriage will make a mockery of traditional marriages, meaning I suppose between a man and a woman. I think that looking closely at all of the statistics about the success of traditional marriages they seem to be doing a damn good job of their own, making a mockery of the institution of marriage. Then when one looks at the statistics of how many straight lay men and woman who have extramarital affairs doesnt look so good either not to mention many couples of the clergy who seem also not to have the greatest track record. So then, what do the opponents of gay marriage really mean by saying that same sex marriages would make a mockery of traditional marriage? One doesnt have to be a sociologist or have a degree in statistics to understand that allowing gay marriages to exist would hurt no one. In fact gay marriage would likely cause gays to have longer lasting relationships.
There has been a common complaint generally spouted out by the straight population, that gay relationships dont seem last very long. Statistics do however bear out one thing in regards to marriage verses just living together as a couple. Couples that are married verses couples just living together, do last longer if they are married. On the other hand, not allowing gays to marry will put a stop to homosexuality. Weve been around since the beginning of history and will surely be around till the end of our human presence on this planet. Perhaps this could be the answer in motivating gay couples to work harder at their relationships if they were legally bound by a legitimate contract, rather than just being able to just walk away as so often happens when a couple hits some rough waters as all relationships do at some point whether gay or straight. If certain religious groups are not in favor of providing a religious sanctity for gay marriage that shouldnt stop the government from doing the right thing. This ought to be considered a separation of church and state. Basic human rights ought never to be determined by popular vote. If it were OK, then African-Americans would still be in slavery.
Thank you,
Aaron Jason Silver
Saugatuck
