Papa, Can You Hear Me?

In addition, Cindy McCain has posed for the NoH8 campaign in support of gay marriage and even Laura Bush has said that gay marriage will come and that she’s “OK with that”. These women are certainly doing their part to break stereotypes that all Republicans or conservatives think the same and that there is room for differing ideas within a party.

These ladies are just a few in a large group of center-right people that are calling for our leaders to stand down on this issue. Gay Americans and their allies are not asking for special treatment, they are asking – nay, demanding – the same treatment as other Americans. Let us not forget that until the 1960’s interracial marriage was illegal and today most people wouldn’t give it a second thought. This is just another time in our history where we have to fight to break down barriers and open people’s eyes to the fact that they are denying basic freedoms and saying that one group is more superior and deserving than another. Domestic partnership laws and civil unions only recognized in certain states are not equality, they are just the same oppressions, but with a pretty bow on it. It’s not “separate but equal”.

If we want our leaders to change, we have to work on the ground to get others on to understand and fight with us.

One of the large dividing factors is the serious religious ties to the idea of marriage. Why do the people that use this as a reason not have a problem with atheists, agnostics, “spiritual” people, etc. getting married? Also, so often people cry out about “separation of church and state” when they feel religion is getting involved in government, but why not cry out the same when the government is so clearly involved in a religious institution?

If I were in a position of legislative power here’s what I would propose: First, rename the legal binding/recognition of a couple. Any consenting adult couple should be allowed to be legally bound and receive the benefits and recognition that go along with that. Instead of the state issuing a “marriage license” they would issue a “civil union license” or whatever we decide to call it. This would put everyone, regardless of religion or sexual orientation, on the same playing field and be afforded the same rights under the law, with insurance companies, etc. People have such strong feelings about the definition of the word marriage, so just take it out of the equation. Second, if a couple wants a religious “marriage” ceremony they can still have it – we just leave it up to the individual places of worship to decide what type of services they will provide.

As a Christian and a Republican, I proudly support gay marriage and believe more people need to publicly take a stand like the Bush and McCain women and so many others. Marriage for all is coming and we are going to need people from both sides of the aisle to work together and find the middle ground.