Words Like Locusts Flew From Her Fingers

Maryland Joins the Ranks of the Backward States

Md. Ban On Gay Marriage Is Upheld – washingtonpost.com
In reversing a lower court’s decision, the divided Court of Appeals ruled that limiting marriage to a man and a woman does not discriminate against gay couples or deny them constitutional rights. Although the judges acknowledged that gay men and lesbians have been targets of discrimination, they said the prohibition on same-sex marriage promotes the state’s interest in heterosexual marriage as a means of having and protecting children.

Say what??

Since when does heterosexual marriage have anything to do with having or protecting children? I’ve got a news flash for the judges of Maryland: LOTS of heterosexuals have children without being married. LOTS of heterosexuals who are married and have children wind up getting divorced, and many gay couples have children through adoption or with the help of a sperm or egg donor.

There is no evidence that heterosexual couples are better parents than homosexual couples. So, if it’s “in the state’s interest” to protect children, Maryland should legalize gay marriage. That way the children of gay couples will be financially protected if the couple later chooses to split up. (I’m talking about an order for child support in a divorce decree here, folks.)

I can’t even begin to guess what fairy tale world the Maryland Court of Appeals judges are living in when they make the absurd claim that denying the benefits and responsibilities of marriage to gay couples “does not discriminate against [them] or deny them constitutional rights.” Excuse me?? You’re denying them the right to marry! There should be an amendment to the US Constitution that guarantees the right of ALL adults to marry any other adult (or adults) they want. That’s part of the reason we have a federal government and a national constitution — to protect all citizens from unjust laws any of the states might come up with.

I’m disgusted and angered by the bigotry the Maryland courts have demonstrated.

While I’m on the topic of homosexuality, let me briefly talk about why people are gay or straight or bisexual or transgender or whatever. I was reading another blog (sorry — don’t remember which) where the person made a really good point — which I will reiterate here. In previous posts I’ve described how homosexuality is apparently the result of both genetic and evironmental factors. Human sexuality is very complicated and the honest truth is that we may never know exactly why people are gay. Opponents of equal rights for gay people will, however, tell you that homosexuality is entirely a chosen behavior. Okay. Just for the sake of argument, let’s say being gay IS “chosen”. So what? So what??? How would it being “chosen” be enough justification to deny gay people the right to marry? Obviously, what it all falls back to — and, of course, we already knew this — is that homosexuality offends some people’s religious sensibilities. It’s yet another example of government being informed by religion. That’s bad. What’s really kind of perplexing, though, is that we let Buddhists get married! After all, Buddhism is a “chosen” behavior that contradicts many of the Bible’s teachings. In fact, being a Buddhist probably breaks waaaay more Biblical injunctions than homosexuality. So… why are Buddhists allowed to marry? I guess it doesn’t matter that they don’t believe in the “One True God” — just as long as they’re not both men or both women. Hmpf. So much for “obeying God’s law”.

I believe that equal rights for homosexuals is one of the most pressing civil liberties issues of our time. Once gay people can get married (and divorced!) just like straight people, we’ll be well on our way to having a society where religion isn’t the final test of what’s right or wrong.