The Changelog

For some time, the issue of gay marriage has been simmering in Kansas. Gay marriage has been illegal in the state since the 1860s, but there are some conservative groups that want this ban to be written into the constitution. Tomorrow, the question is being put to voters, and is expected to pass. I intend to vote no.

I have several problems with this sort of ban:

• My marriage isn't effected by what someone else does.
  It seems that many supporters of the ban think that this destroys an important instutition. With a divorice rate of over 50% in this country, let me say just say that heterosexuals have done plenty to destroy it already. But whatever someone else does, it doesn't effect the promises my wife and I have made.


• This is not the proper place for the church.
  The supporters of the ban want it on religious grounds. Frankly, I don't know whether or not the Bible prohibits gay unions; I've seen convincing arguments from both sides. But actually, that question is irrelevant. The proper place for the church is not to force a set of morals on others. Rather, the church should illustrate the Christian lifestyle through example and encouragement, not punishment and force. Where is the constitutional amendment supporting tolerance, another of Jesus' teachings?


• Equal rights are being violated.
  There is no other common contract in this country where the sex of the parties matters. Why should it matter to the government? If two people wish to make a promise to each other, and receive the rights and responsibilities that the government provides with it, then they should be allowed to do so regardless of their sex. Nobody is forcing churches to sanction these marriages, and plenty of heterosexual marriages occur outside of any sort of religious setting anyway.