Lost at times in the noise of the presidential race is the ballot question in four states on whether or not same sex couples will at last be confirmed in the same civil marriage rights enjoyed by their heterosexual counterparts without a second thought. Despite the massive anti-gay spending by the Roman Catholic Church and its surrogates, the National Organization for Marriage and the Knights of Columbus, and the associated dissemination of lies and untruths, some polls show marriage equality perhaps pulling off a winning vote. Also encouraging is the fact that in a number of these four states, leading newspapers are endorsing marriage equality and removing religion from the civil marriage laws. One, the Bangor Daily News says the issue comes down to one of basic fairness. Here are highlights from the paper's editorial:
Permitting gay couples to marry will uphold equal treatment required by the U.S. Constitution, promote family values and protect religious beliefs. The ballot initiative is a matter of fairness and, in the end, care for one another.
It’s a matter of equality. Partners raising their children together should both be able to make medical decisions concerning their children’s welfare. Partners should be able to benefit from the others’ pension. But, most of all, gay couples should have the affirmation that their home state respects their belief in marriage and their commitment to each other.
Maine cannot discriminate against gays and lesbians on matters of housing, employment, public accommodation, credit or education. It should not, then, be able to discriminate when it comes to the right of marriage. Some people may understandably oppose gay marriage for religious reasons, but — while the church has played a long and important role in marriage — they should remember that marriage licenses are issued by the state.
In his state of the union address in 1953, President Dwight Eisenhower spoke of ending discrimination against minorities. His words apply today:
“Our civil and social rights form a central part of the heritage we are striving to defend on all fronts and with all our strength. I believe with all my heart that our vigilant guarding of these rights is a sacred obligation binding upon every citizen. To be true to one’s own freedom is, in essence, to honor and respect the freedom of all others.”
Some argue that gay couples should be granted only civil unions. How, though, under the 14th Amendment, is separate ever equal? What is currently missing is the public recognition of the private love, of which the most accurate representation is marriage. People want to build supportive families. This is a good thing.
Voting yes on Question 1 represents commitment to human rights and respect of religious beliefs. History is shining a spotlight on Maine, as potentially the first state to legalize same-sex marriage by a referendum vote driven by proponents. We hope voters affirm Maine as a place where people value the rights of all their neighbors equally.
Kudos to the Bangor Daily News. Sadly, the truth is that the Catholic Church and the Christofascists hold nothing but contempt for the equal rights of other citizens. They care only about their own rights and, in my view, have open contempt for the religious freedom promised by the U.S. Constitution to ALL citizens, gay or straight, black or white, Christian or non-Christian. Their selfishness is breathtaking. Ironically, Eisenhower's granddaughter has left the GOP in part because the party no longer upholds the principles enunciated by Dwight Eisenhower.
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