Anna Glaser

Social 30-1

The President Sets a Precedent for Gay Marriage Laws Nationwide

In the United States of America, 41 of the 50 states currently define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The other nine states have taken steps to pass legislation allowing same-sex marriage, setting the United States on the path to becoming the 13th country in the world to fully legalize gay marriage nationwide. In 2005, Canada passed the Civil Marriage Act, making them the 4th country to join the ranks of legalized same-sex marriage. The progress taking place in the US is supported by President Obama in a friendof-the-court briefing in which he urged the California government to overturn Proposition 8 (which bans gay marriage). Obama claims that any attempts to ban same-sex marriage are inherently unconstitutional. Gays and lesbians have just as much right to wed as heterosexual couples.

For the past seven years Canada has served as an example of what happens when a country bands together and accepts their differences. Despite popular opinion, when the Civil Marriage Act was passed the sky did not turn orange, nor did pigs begin to fly. Aside from the actual conditions of the Act, nothing happened. Of the nine states in which gay marriage is legal, six of them border Canada and as a Washington campaign spokesperson said, Canada has been a good example for [the United States]. Canada's acceptance of same-sex marriage extends all the way back to 1974 when Pierre Trudeau said There's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation. In fact, Canada is so adjusted to the reality of same-sex marriage that stories about gays and lesbians in authority roles within society barely even ruffle feathers anymore. It's just the way it is.

Anna Glaser

Social 30-1

Of the 41 states still holding out on passing the necessary legislation, many of them oppose same-sex marriage on religious grounds. In the whole of the Bible there are only seven verses that comment on the nature of homosexuality. Leviticus 20:13 states that If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them. Protesters believe that the Bible says being gay is an abomination and that in order to live honourably one must abide by the Bible. To them I say this: If one opposes gay marriage on the grounds of religious intolerance, then it only seems fair that one must follow the Bible completely. This means living a drastically different life, for most people. One would not be allowed to consume excessive alcohol (Ephesians 5:6), have premarital sex (Corinthians 7:1-5), or swear (Ephesians 5:4). That doesn't sound too bad, right? How about not being able to cut your hair (Leviticus 19:27), wear clothing made of two different fabrics (Leviticus 19:19), gossip or lie (Leviticus 19:16 and Exodus 20:16), or eat fatty foods (Leviticus 3:17)? If you are going to discriminate, at least be fair about it. If you choose to live your life by the Bible's doctrine, go big or go home.

For those still opposed, it's time to get over it. Change is coming and you're better off jumping on the band wagon. For goodness sake, even the Republican party is on board now. A political commentator for the party, Alex Castel-lanos, commented in the shift of public ideals and said "the Republican Party can't be the party that thinks one of the biggest problems is that there's too much love in the world. That sums it up pretty well if you ask me. Change is happening all across the United States. For the first time in the past 30 votes,

Anna Glaser

Social 30-1

the US voters supported the change, not just the legislative body. Many places have granted gays and lesbians equal rights to parent children and own homes, and states are passing laws allowing civil unions between same-sex couples. It's not marriage, but it's something. As President Obama concluded his brief by saying, "[our country] is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law. For if we are truly created equal, than surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well."