Gay marriage: gay or nay?

Freedom of equality

By Rachel Gerber

America is a country of freedom and equality - supposedly. Marriage should be a constitutional right for any citizen to enjoy.

With the separation of church and state, religious views should not get in the way of our country's view on love.

Years from now, our children will look back on this time in our lives and view it as a period of progresion.

Homosexuals are being denied rights and are persecuted similar to minorities who have struggled in the past.

The tax argument is null seeing as how heterosexuals have the same capability to abuse it. It is unfair for those who have not been exposed to homosexuals to have a negative opinion simply because homosexuals may lead a different lifestyle.

I attended a larger high school and was exposed to homosexuals on a daily basis. Coming to Augie, I was surprised to find so many who had never met a gay person.

It seems to me that those who view the homosexual lifestyle as flamboyant (which, of course

is stereotyping in itself), choose to deem it unnatural.

However, as Americans, we value of the undefined pursuit happiness. This lack of definition makes for an opportunity for each individual to become whoever he or she pleases, without causing harm.

Diversity offers a new perspective. This new view is needed, especially in a society in which healthy relationships are few and far between.

Love is denied and unrequited every day. The struggle to find love is the theme of millions of movies and songs in our entertainment industry.

Gay or straight, those who believe they have found their soul mate should not be dismissed based on hatred and ignorance.

With 50 percent of heterosexual marriage ending in divorce, I'd like to see another version of love that ends happily.

Religious institution

By Jake Shama

The concept of marriage has been put under a lot of stress in recent years. Some see it as a dying institution.

Many are trying to make more inclusive while others strive to restore its biblical roots, and everyone with an opinion is trying to make the government enforce their belief.

However, the government cannot solve this problem. Although many may disagree, marriage is a strictly religious institution originally established by God. Therefore, the government has no place in the matter.

Holy Matrimony, or marriage, is still a sacrament in the Catholic Church, and a pastor is still the

primary person to perform the service in all denominations. This is the way it should be.

If two people want to be truly married, then they should be bound together in the eyes of God.

If they do not want to accept this responsibility, then they should have other options.

Many have been married by government, military or other secular officials outside of a place of worship.

Services such as these should not be specifically designated as marriages unless there was an approval by the local pastor and the bride and groom accept the bond with God.

If two people do not fulfill these requirements, they should be allowed to be legally joined in a domestic partnership instead of marriage.

This includes all people who cut God out of their service, heterosexual or homosexual. In this way, legal benefits from marriage can still be acquired, but the decision of who is allowed to be actually married is lifted from the federal government and placed upon the churches.