Gay marriage is a contentious issue for many "religious" members of our wider human community. With God on their side, the Righteous Crusades continue. Many American church leaders, for example, are actively opposing and trying to overturn judicial rulings and legislative activity that has extended marriage rights to everyone, gay or straight. For example, the highest court in the state of Iowa just, over a year ago, ruled that equal rights are just that, and that they extend marriage rights to all. As fundamental rights are extended incrementally, and from place to place, to a traditionally marginalized minority, some pious folks' bile is being hatefully displayed, a distinct difference from the love and humility that one might expect based on the teachings of their various sacred texts.Marriage has traditionally been a preserve of the straight. Religious leaders and secular lawmakers have arrogantly held the moral and legal keys to this domain. In much of the world, unfortunately, they still do and nothing has changed in this regard. Pandering politicians and dogmatic piety stand, locked arm in arm, in fear of change, in fear of the pink nuptial.
State-recognized gay marriage is a contentious issue for many devout persons because they confuse state "sanction" with religious "sanctity." According to many of their various "sacred" rulebooks, male and female unions are the only couplings their God approves of, and therefore secular authorities need to adhere to those rules, too. And that's just the way it's always been. However, in modern, progressive societies, we don't legislate, or give state sanction, based on these sacred texts. In tolerant and open countries, we can't. Whose book would we choose? Whose interpretation? Instead, we distinguish between the secular and the sacred, and try to avoid the one encroaching on the other. Proponents of gay marriage are not demanding the right to be married in your church. Instead, we are demanding the right that your church not interfere with our rights to marry in our government courthouses, our public parks, our homes and gardens, and yes, even in those churches that do open their aisles to all God's children.
Where human progress and change confronts the comfort zone of long-established beliefs, you will find conflict as some try to romanticize the past, mythologize the status quo, and marginalize any calls for change. But, equality is about treating all humans with dignity and respect, providing equal rights for all regardless of sexuality or gender. It is not about mankind's ongoing "what's next" fear. As for your spirituality, believe what you want to believe and find happiness in what you will, but do not denigrate and oppress others as we all seek to live our best lives in our short time in this world.
Copyright (c) Robyn Whittaker. 2010
