A Snap Shot View of Why Same Sex Marriage is Required under the U.S. Constitution

As the debate over same sex marriage continues to rage around the nation with Christianists and their whore like sycophants in the Republican Party doing all in their power to engender anti-gay haired. one member of Congress has expressed why these theocrats and political whores are wrong. He in a relatively short op-ed describes more or less precisely why I believe that the U.S. Constitution requires same sex marriage both as a matter of equal protection under the law and as a matter of freedom of religion. For too long the nation's laws have been skewed to support only one particular set of religious beliefs. This needs to stop NOW. Congressman Jim Langevin's op-ed is in the Providence Journal. Here are some highlights:
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For many years, I supported civil unions as a reasonable way to achieve consensus on a divisive issue, providing rights and protections to same-sex couples while respecting the deeply held beliefs of those not comfortable with the idea of marriage rights.
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Then, three years ago, I attended the commitment ceremony of a longtime staff member and his partner of nine years. Before their friends and family, they professed their love, commitment and respect for each other. Their sentiments were just as moving, heartfelt and sincere as any of the vows I had heard at other weddings, yet I realized that their union would not be treated the same under the law. That difference struck me as fundamentally unjust.
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Based on my own experiences and my firm belief that all Americans should be treated equally under the law, I am now convinced that affording full marriage equality rights to same-sex couples is the only fair and responsible approach for both Rhode Island and the nation. If our nation expects to provide equal protection to all, then our civic institutions must reflect that noble goal.
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As a U.S. representative, I take seriously my constitutional responsibility to protect the rights and liberties of our citizens. Marriage equality is consistent with that view because it safeguards basic civil rights and provides appropriate legal protections so that all loving and committed couples may care for each other. At the same time, our nation’s fundamental freedom of religion dictates that religious institutions should be allowed to define marriage as they deem appropriate.
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[I]n the same way racial discrimination became a shameful part of our history, one day our nation would look back in disbelief at a time when we denied our fellow citizens basic civil rights based on their sexual orientation. I now believe that day is within our reach.