Solutions

Gay Marriage


 

 

Let’s start off with a simple statement of fact. Most people are heterosexual, and a smaller number are homosexual, and some are both. This means that heterosexuals are the norm. Norm, short for normal, is the usual or majority position on a belief or subject. This also means that people who fall into the other groups are abnormal, or not of the majority. Now note, this does not mean they are evil or wrong just different. The fact that their life style choice is different from the main group is not a moral judgment, or a reason to condemn, but a type of life style. There is no more reason to discriminate based on this than to judge based on skin color or religion. Now I understand some people’s faith defines marriage only as the union of a man and a woman. I missed this quote in the bible and I do not remember it as one of the commandments. Feel free to correct me, chapter and verse please, for while I’m fairly bright I’m not a bible scholar or omniscient. And yes, if you can convince me on this point I will mention it in a follow up column. So a quick recap homosexuality is a valid life style choice, not a moral position, or sane insane issue. As a Christian and an American I was raised to believe in tolerance towards and equality for all regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexual persuasion. So how do we solve the Gideon knot of gay marriage? What are the options and just as important how to implement them. There are three options that come to mind. So look at each for problems and then decide.

The first possibility, legislate that churches recognize and perform gay marriages. No, this would be a sorry attempt and clearly violate the separation of church and state. Also as we have seen, on many occasions, laws to change morals, beliefs, and tolerances are often failures. Sorry but people, like societies, need time to grow and accept.

Second, leave it to the states. Again no, honestly can you picture all fifty states rewriting their laws to be similar enough to pass from one state to another? Also what if some states fail to pass a law? Would this mean to enter a state with- out a gay marriage law is to be automatically divorced? Or would the marriage be annulled till you leave that state? Oh, by the way, we still would have that pesky separation of church and state issue.

Well, it’s down to the third and final option, a federal law authorizing and defining a civil union such that both gay and straight human couples can marry and live under it no matter the prevailing state laws. As a civil law, the church and state are still separate, but provide a mechanism to prevent discrimination based on personal preferences, and church dogma. This law would need to speak to the issues of community property, spousal support (if any), custody issues, rights of survivorship, divorce, death of a spouse, and any other possible problems. To my homosexual friends and acquaintances sorry I could not get you through the church door. And to my friends and acquaintances’ of faith, the term marriage is protected and defined as man to woman. Yes, neither side will be happy or satisfied, but the rights of all would be protected, and a form of discrimination removed.

ROY POKLADNIK, a teacher and problem solver welcomes comments and suggestions for topics . He may be reached at : roypokladnik@gmail.com.


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