Chris Kluwe made news off the football field when he sent a strongly worded letter to Emmett C Burns, a state delegate in Maryland, who condemned Brandon Ayanbadejo's stance for marriage equality. He is at it again with a You Tube video that voices support against an ammendment that was on the ballot in Minnesota that defines marriage between a man and a woman.
The issue of marriage equality is one in which the opponents infuriate me like few others. No state official and no stranger has any right to infringe on a contract between two people. I, nor you, have any right to tell anyone who to fall in love with, who to have sex with, or who to marry, unless the person you decide to marry has been coerced into the contract or is underage. If two adult males have a relationship and want to marry, it is their choice and it should be respected.
The only argument against gay marriage is the religious one. Gay marriage opponents have said at nauseum, "The bible says, marriage is between a man and a woman." The bible says a lot of things that have been ignored by law makers, and for good reason. Using the bible as a moral basis for law is wrong on so many levels. Here are some examples from The Holy Bible, published by Thomas Nelson Inc. in 1990:
"If a man meets a virgin who is not engaged, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are caught in the act, the man who lay with her shall give fifty sheckels of silver to the young woman's father, and she shall become his wife. Because he violated her, and he will never be allowed to divorce her as long as he lives." Deuteronomy 22:28-29.
Does that passage stipulate that rape victims should marry their attackers? Yes it does.
"All who curse father, or mother, shall be put to death; having cursed father or mother, their blood is upon them" Leviticus 20:9.
Should disobedient kids be put to death? According to commentator Matthew Henry,"let children remember that he who cursed father or mother was surely put to death." These attitudes have been taught to Christians who believe God is law.
Has Mitt Romney endorsed capital punishment for kids who disobey their parents? Would any politician in his or her right mind endorse a law that forces rape victims to marry their attackers? The bible also says gay people should be executed, and it condones slavery. You can argue about interpretations all you want, but if the bible is to be taken literally, then children should be killed for disobeying their parents. Scholars and those interested in the study of the Bible have either shown these passages as examples of God's callousness, or have dismissed them as non literal. Either way, those against gay marriage have cherry picked the bible to ignore such passages, by ignoring other passages like, "love thy neighbour." to justify the discrimination of gay people.
Those against gay marriage, have ignored rules regarding slavery, and the thought of a person being enslaved repulses us. So why is the bible referenced in regards of two consenting adults entering a partnership?
The bible is being used as an excuse to discriminate against gay people in a world where religion, for the most part, has been removed from public policy and morality. People have pre-marital sex, get divorced, take drugs, and live their lives without considering their religious beliefs. Many Christians commit the acts I just mentioned.
Rush Limbaugh claimed on his radio show that Obama has started a war on marriage. This is from a guy who has been married four times. Newt Gingrich is another who is against gay marriage. He served his wife divorce papers while she was fighting cancer, and has been a serial cheater. These two men, along with the likes of Ted Haggard have let their relationships go to stray. If you cheat, or have divorced multiple wives, you should look in the mirror and question whether you respect the institution of marriage, and not condemn those who want to marry the person they love.
The bible should be completely ignored when it comes to law. It is old, has a twisted view of morality, and is full of misogyny, homophobia, and genocide. All laws should be based on common sense. Does this act harm a person in any way? That should be the question, and when it comes to gay marriage, no harm is committed.
If you want to keep the sanctity of marriage, marry someone you can't live without, don't cheat, and don't divorce. That keeps the institute of marriage strong. And a man who is married to another man he has been with for twenty years, who he hasn't cheated on, has more respect for marriage then Newt Gingrich does.
Gay marriage will not devalue any straight couples' marriage. Straight couples will still be in love, and married no matter if a million gay and lesbian couples marry. Ellen Degeneres' marriage has done no harm to the institution. Kim Kardashian's 72 hour marriage, infidelity, and the multiple marriages of Jennifer Lopez have done the damage.
Gays being allowed to marry is a civil right. It is a personal choice that everyone should be allowed to make. Two men, or two women marrying has no detrimental effect on any marriage. And if you don't believe that, you have twisted morals, and no respect for human rights. All adults should be able to date, sleep with, and marry any adult they want to. That is a fundamental right, and gay marriage is a right we should all support.