I married a guy a few weeks ago. Of course, I didn't get married to him. And I didn't marry him to another guy, because that's illegal. I married him to a lovely young woman and I'm sure they'll live happily ever after. But maybe not quite as happily as they would if they lived in a country where they could be free to make their own choices and guide their own lives.
And that is exactly what's important in the debate about same-sex marriage, and it's also the point that is always missed. I'm tired of hearing about what your brand of God thinks about gay marriage, or whether it's biological or a choice, or whether you're comfortable explaining the birds and the bees to your kids, or if it makes you feel icky inside. That's all well and good, but it's got nothing to do with whether or not it should be legal. That's the point, and that's what's at stake in this debate. The line between opinion and law. That's what's important about gay marriage for the vast majority of us who are not gay.
I happen to think that there is no rational reason why anyone should eat a Big Mac, but I'm not going to tell you that you can't do it and impose a fat tax on you when you get flabby. I wear a helmet every time I ride my motorcycle, but I don't need any cops to go after my wallet "for my own good" if I don't. And to be completely honest, yes, I think gay marriage is a little icky myself. When I think about it, I get the same feeling I get when I think about my parents getting it on. But that's not a valid reason for it to be against the law. I understand why some people don't like it. What I don't understand is why they think it's any of their damn business.
There is a reason why the phrases, "land of the free" and "home of the brave" go together. If you really feel like you need to be kept safe from the gays, then maybe this isn't the country for you. I lived in a Communist country for a while. There were officially no gays there. It might be more your speed. Me? I'll take my chances here with the big macs, and the gays.
