The gay marriage debate

So, the Supreme Court is looking into the issue on gay marriage. While it's looking like they aren't going to do a single thing either way, I am following this topic very closely and here are some of my thoughts.

Gay Americans and African Americans

The gay community is comparing their rights to that of the fight African Americans did for their rights. This morning on NPR I heard a gentleman make a speech about how he was in the same place 50 years ago fighting for his rights, but the fight of the gay American is not the same at all.

Well, sir, how is it not? First, African Americans were treated as second class.

So were gay Americans.

Then African Americans were told they were separate but equal.

Gay Americans aren't even getting that. They are getting separate, and a consolation prize, which to me does not say equal. It says, "There's something about you that makes you different from me so you get something different than I do."

I'm sorry, but we live in American where everyone should be entitled to the same rights and privileges.

Marriage is a protection of the family

I hear this one a lot. The anti-marriage side says that marriage is a protection for children and that children have a right to a mother and father.

Well, I grew up with just a dad, as my parents divorced when I was very young. Should divorce be illegal now? Should I have been taken away the second they got divorced?

When my husband and I got married we had no plans to have children. We didn't even want children. Should it have been illegal for us to get married? Should we have had a "civil union?"

What about widows and widowers with kids? Once their spouse dies should their children get taken away? Or do they get a pass because they tried?

What about single parents who chose to be single parents? Is that going to be illegal next? If someone gets knocked up accidentally do their kids get taken away?

Frankly it just doesn't make much sense. It's like saying, well, kids have a right to mother and a father, but if there is just one parent, as long as that parent is straight, it's okay. There we go with that unequal thing.

I think that a kid has a right to a parent or parents of any sex, gender, or race who will love and take care of that kid.

What's better?
- Two gay men who adopt a child who needs a home. These two men are loving, committed, and great parents. They treat each other and their child with respect and provide that kid with a great home and a great education.
- Two drug addicts who are married but abuse their kid and neglect it. They spend all of their money on drugs and alcohol and forget to feed the child. The child lives in filth and squalor and never goes to school.

Well, I think we all know which life the child should have a "right" to.

What's so magical about a mother and a father? What if the mother is a horrible person? What if the father is? What if one of them beats the kid? Wouldn't two solid, good people in the home that are the same sex be better than two of different sexes with one who is cruel?

And civil unions don't stop gay couples from having kids so the point is pretty much moot anyway. It's so illogical, such a fallacy. They say, we can't call it marriage because marriage protects families - so we'll call them civil unions and they can still have kids but those kids won't be protected federally. WHAT? Come on now, people. How do you not see that this makes no sense?

There's not enough evidence

This is another fun one. There's not enough evidence that gay marriage isn't harmful to children. But there's PLENTY of evidence that straight parents screw up their kids and have since the dawn of time, so let's just move on, shall we? I'm sure all parents are going to screw up their kids. It doesn't really matter what sex they are.

Gay marriage will lead to polygamy

I hear this less often than the others but I do hear it. And my thought is, who cares? Make polygamy okay too. Who are you to say who another person can love?

If a woman wants 67 husbands and they all agree, or a man wants four wives and they all agree, who cares?

Granted, it's not for me. I wouldn't share my husband, children, cats, house (anything really) with another woman but that's my choice. And I'm happy I have that choice. Shouldn't other people have the choice to do what makes them happy?

Frankly, I think eight moms might be better than a latch-key kid, but, hey, there's probably not enough evidence.

Conclusion

The people who are the side of anti-marriage are on the wrong side of history. Their arguments are illogical and inane and I truly don't get it. They need to stop bringing "children" and "family" into it. These ideas are just used to block their bigotry and fear.

And, I'm very frustrated that the Supreme Court seems to think that they don't have a place in this yet. The Court stayed far away from the Civil Rights issue until finally they stood up and did something. Did they learn nothing from that? Did they learn nothing from history?

I'm embarrassed that it's 2013 and we are still having this discussion.