In countries and states where same-sex marriage has been legalized, divorce rates climb and marriage rates recede. Marriage in this country is definitely not as strong as it used to be, but that does not mean we will or can just step aside and let what is left of marriage be taken away now.
Under civil unions, partners DO have the rights to living will and to insurance benefits together. If they are denied from any hospital room of their partner, it is illegal and should be addressed to that specific hospital or doctor's office. Life and death situations are definitely the right of the partner. Anyone who is violating that is breaking the law.
Scholars on both sides of the argument agree on one thing: legalizing same-sex marriages would be devastating for religious liberties. It is a fact. Research "Beckett Fund Conference" for more details on that. The disagreement is that people in favor of redefining marriage to include same-sex couples believe that giving up our religious liberties is WORTH THE PRICE for furthering the gay rights movement. So the question is not "Will we lose religious liberties?" The answer is yes. BOTH sides agree on that. One side just thinks it's worth it for a very small group to have some "dignity."
I am sorry that things have to come down to this, but I'm not willing to give up my religious freedoms and those of my children and future grandchildren because some people feel bad that they can't be called "married." If it was trying to take away their rights to living will or domestic partnership or financial benefits, I would be on the other side. I really would. Because those are rights that everyone should have, regardless of their gender preference. But to fight for a title at the huge expense of others' freedoms is just not acceptable to me. That is why I'm voting yes on Prop 8.
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3 comments:
I agree with the importance of strengthening marriage and family (my wife of 12 years and our two kids are #1 in my life).
But Prop 8 is not about my family, or your family, it’s about families that you and I will most likely never meet, like Richard’s:
Just for the record, here in a northern California county, on January 27th, my beloved husband died. We were registered Domestic Partners with the Secretary of State. Had been since 2001. But Domestic Partners really is 2nd class - no it really is no class here.
He died at home so the Deputy Sheriff acted as Coroner. He refused to recognize me as next of kin. He insisted we call a blood relative in New York State to choose a funeral home etc. He wanted to remove all of my beloved’s possesions from our home and ship them back East … including his wedding ring. It was a Sunday night so I could not get the County judge or attorney to set things right (as I did on Monday) I had to lie and weasle to keep our stuff in our home. Because I did not count at all. Our family did not count. We were 2nd class - no class. Because we were not married.
Don’t tell me that Domestic Partnership is just as good as marriage. And don’t tell me that I was not married in my heart AND in my church to my husband. The Court just recognized what is a fact … he and I were married … and it is a civil right.
You have no idea how much it hurt … still hurts … that in 2008, in California, my family was ignored when I needed it to be recognized the most.
This is a political issue, not a moral one. Religious freedom is very well-protected in our country and nothing about Prop 8 either enhances or threatens that freedom.
Richard pays taxes just like you and me, but couldn’t get a marriage license. As a matter of fairness and equality before the law, that kind of discrimination is just plain unAmerican.
It saddens me that so many in the church leadership are leading the members to believe that Prop 8 is about defending straight rights and straight marriages. Frankly speaking, nothing could be further from the truth.
Obviously, that situation should never have happened. The deputy acted outside of the law and the whole thing was handled illegally and incorrectly. But to say that this is not going to affect our religious liberties is just not true. Please read the link I have to Maggie Gallagher's article on the Becket Fund Conference. She interviewed scholars who are on both sides. Both sides of this argument have specialists and scholars that ALL agree that religious liberties will be profoundly affected. It also lists situations where they already have affected them in this country qnd others that have legalized same-sex marriages. That is not the argument. They are arguing over which should come first: sexual liberties or religious liberties. To say that one will not affect the other just isn't true. Please read the article. It really covers both sides.
Stacey, this guy Chino Blanco has posted so many of the same comments on other sites that it's not even funny. My friend just deletes them and keeps on writing. Good for you for being so involved.
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