Public opinion does not justify a constitutional marriage
amendment
To the Daily:
I am writing in response to Thursday’s front-page article
(Critics of same-sex marriages speak out, 03/04/04) in which
Robert Raham, co-chair of Young Americans for Freedom, supported
his opposition to gay marriage with, “marriage should be
reserved for a man and a woman.” Then, La Croix used the
defense, “I don’t feel it’s acceptable to put marriage
to the same status as (gay marriage).” That is the extent of
the argument against marriage for committed homosexual couples. It
is strikingly similar to 1960s opposition to interracial marriage.
Again, the argument for the continuation of outlawing interracial
marriages was that some people simply did not want them. I
challenge Raham and La Croix to use that reasoning while discussing
marriage with their homosexual lawyers, doctors, professors,
relatives and friends. Moral opposition, or even opposition without
reasoning, does not justify the denial of rights. Marriage for
homosexuals is a matter of ethics; it cannot be denied because a
plurality is afraid of granting equal rights to other minorities.
Morals and ethics are separate. One’s morals may not permit
homosexual marriages, but that is of no consequence, because ethics
demand equality.
John Wooster
LSA freshman
Reader: Where is the threat in gay marriage?
To the Daily:
I pride myself in being able to see and understand views that
are the opposite of mine. With the now ubiquitous issue of gay
rights, however, I find myself unable to find any argument for the
constitutional amendment declaring marriage to be only between a
man and a woman. For example, in yesterday’s article
(Critics of same-sex marriages speak out, 03/04/04), a
reason for supporting the amendment comes from Young Americans for
Freedom member Jeston La Croix, whose main argument is “I
don’t feel it’s acceptable.” It seems to be one
of two arguments that were presented, along with “God said
so.” Neither of these arguments lead me to give any credit to
those making them.
My second point about this issue is about the media, which
announces that most Americans are against any kind of gay marriage
or civil union. I have many conservative, Republican and religious
friends, and when I ask them about this topic, they all say things
like “Oh, I don’t know, I guess it doesn’t matter
to me” or “I haven’t really thought about it that
much.” It seems to sound like it is not true that most
Americans are against gay marriages; rather most people think,
“It doesn’t bother me, so who cares if they get
married.”
Until the Bushes and Jerry Falwells of this country come up with
a reasonable explanation of why gay marriage is
“wrong,” an amendment, like the proposed one, should
not even be considered.
Max Ross
Engineering sophomore