Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Rainbow

Hi there! Welcome to yet another blog.

Today I'm tackling a hotly-debated issue: Gay marriage. also known as same-sex marriage or gender-neutral marriage.

Gay marriage is legal in Canada, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Norway. It is also performed in in the United States in Conneticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Gay marriage will also be legal in New Hampshire on January 1st 2010, and the issue is in flux in Maine.

A lot of people disagree with gay marriage. Some of them say marriage is between one man and one woman, some say it goes against God, some say children will be affected, some say domestic partnerships and other things like them are just as good, and still others say gay marriage would open the doors for legalized polygamy and bestiality.

As for me, I'm for it and I'll tell you why.

First of all, gay marriage doesn't do a thing to heterosexual marriage. Gay marriage advocates aren't saying "Gays should get married but heterosexuals can't." Including people doesn't mean excluding other people. No one is forcing any religous institutions to allow gay marriages in their places of worship, no one is forcing anyone to go to gay weddings, heck, you don't even have to LIKE gay people. But two people getting married doesn't affect you in the slightest. So really, there's nothing to get into a kerfuffle about.

Second of all, not everyone is religous. And not everyone who is religous is anti-gay marriage. Although I cannot speak for other nations, in democracies like Canada and the U.S., church and state are seperate entities for good reason. We are patchwork cultures and to allow one belief system to take precedent over thousands of others simply isn't fair.

If you think homosexuality goes against God, that's okay. You're allowed to be. But you have no right to impose your beliefs on everyone else. Your beliefs are your beliefs and you are entitled to them as much as everyone else is.

Thirdly, in regards to children in the public school system being "indoctrinated" into the "gay agenda," I disagree with that. Children are merely taught to be accepting of different people and even if they do not agree with them, not to harass them or bring them harm. I don't see a problem with this. We've seen the effects bullying can have on children, we should do everything possible to help stamp it out rather than keep it going. If you feel so strongly that your children are being "indoctrinated" homeschool them or send them to private school. Better yet, teach them to think for themselves.

As for children of gay couples being affected I also disagree with this. A child's well-being has to do with if their parents treat them right and love them rather than the gender or number of their parents. If a child is raised in a loving home he or she should turn out just fine. Just because they are "missing a female/male role model at home" doesn't mean they'll grow up warped. Children's lives extend outside the home and the gender of their role models has squat to do with the lessons they pass on.

When it comes to domestic partnerships, civil unions, and other similar-but-not-quite "marriage" options for gay couples, to be frank, I think they're a bunch of baloney. And more than little offensive. They're basically saying "Here, since you want to get married so badly we'll give you something similar, but we won't let you get actually married because you're not as good as heterosexual couples." Ouch.

As for gay marriage opening the door to legalized polygamy and bestiality: That is quite possibly the biggest bunch of baloney I have ever heard. Whoever came up with this stuff needs a hobby.

I hear a lot of talk about the "gay agenda" being "well-advanced" up here in the Great White North and I'm still trying to figure out what this means. On July 20th, 2005, gay marriage was legalized in Canada. Much celebrating was done. Gays got married. They still get married. I do not see an issue here. Nothing bad has happened, Canada has not spontaneously "turned gay" or blown up, or anything. Pretty scary huh?

And my last, and most important reason for my support of gay marriage is this:

GAY PEOPLE ARE HUMAN BEINGS. PERIOD.

Love is love is love is love. Whose to say which love is valid and which isn't? Nobody. I've seen plenty of heterosexual couples who get married for all the wrong reasons and end up on reality TV shows trying to fix it. Two consenting adults should have the right to marry each other. It's their choice. It hurts no one. They deserve the legal benefits of marriage just as much as anyone else.

I am proud to live in a country that has gay marriage but I know there are many people who don't. I hope someday all free nations will allow gays to get married. Until then, feel free to come up North for a slightly chilly destination wedding ;)!