If you question your position on same-sex marriage…
Gay marriage has been a hot topic in the news and media this past week. I’m glad that the LGBT community is getting so much attention and our concerns are being voiced on a national level, however, by Friday, I couldn’t even turn on my radio without hearing the phrases “same-sex marriage,” “political edge,” and “strategic.” Yes, this is a highly politicized issue. Yes, it questions people’s religion and how their religious views impact the way they govern. However, everything I’ve seen and heard has missed the point completely. This is ultimately about people. American families.
So, in order to wrap your mind around this topic, try to leave out religion and politics. To me, it just comes down to one question (and I wish everyone would try and consider it this way). Why is my marriage not equal to yours?
What if you were told you could not marry the person you loved even though you wanted to create a family together, buy a house together and grow old together?
What if when you try to accomplish your dreams together, you realize that it gets complicated financially and legally because there too many loopholes, cracks and terminology to stumble over – more so than other married couples endure. You are told that each year on your tax return, you must check the box that said “single”, thus denying your commitment to that person. What if you are told that you could not receive the same benefits that a “married” couple receives because you were somehow different or 2nd class? What if you had to pay higher tax rates and endure costly fees for lawyers and tax advisors? What if you had to be fingerprinted in order for your spouse to adopt your own children? What if you had to adopt your own children – the children you and your spouse brought together into this world? For a heterosexual married couple, it is assumed that the child to belongs to both parents – therefore second-parent adoption is unnecessary (even if they used a sperm bank or other means to conceive). Without marriage equality, a technicality like this forces my family to endure the extensive legal proceedings of second-parent adoption. What if you had to go to court and defend your family structure?
Love is supposed to be simple.
So why should there be one term for a union between man/woman and another term for a union between 2 men or 2 women? Why create this confusion and basically affirm that there is some sort of 2nd class situation for a large group of people?
Why does it come down to religion and politics? Please keep those things out of it. Because, despite those things, isn’t the foundation of marriage love, family, commitment and responsibility? My marriage to my wife values all of those things, minus the label and protection that the law denies us. My family deserves the same rights and benefits that your family enjoys – without debate.
We are an American Family
