The fact that two people in love can't legally get married just because they are of the same sex is one of the most frustrating things in the world today.
Last Friday, two females who obviously love each other held a commitment ceremony on campus. Instead of calling it a wedding, it is dubbed "commitment ceremony."
Love is supposedly one of the most beautiful things in the world today. So why does the government try to censor the love of people just because certain religions think it is wrong?
It's clear that some people think it is wrong to be homosexual, but the government should take a break from legislating morality in this instance. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, but when does someone else's personal life become the business of every bigot in this country?
Marriage is a religious practice, and this country is supposed to allow everyone to practice his or her own religion. If someone holds a religious belief that there is nothing wrong with marrying someone of the same gender, that decision should be protected under the First Amendment.
It isn't like people are sacrificing virgins at these weddings, and the government needs to step in to save them. It's the same as any other wedding: Two people are in love, and they want to spend the rest of their lives together.
For some reason, people seem to think it is reasonable to look at what their religion preaches and use that as a method of dictating other people's lives. This isn't "Bibleland," and just because you might think the Bible says homosexuality is wrong, it doesn't mean that other people aren't allowed to have their own standards of living.
There really is no point in tiptoeing around the obvious here. Same-sex marriages aren't recognized throughout this country because there is extreme bigotry directed at homosexuals. What's really confusing is why anyone cares.
Whether someone is born homosexual or chooses to be homosexual isn't important. It's one person's life, and it doesn't have any effect on some random hate-monger. If you hold the belief that homosexuality is morally wrong, keep it to yourself. While some people don't want to see homosexuals holding hands or kissing in public, other people don't want to hear hatred spewing from the mouths of their peers.
The hatred toward homosexuals is everywhere, and it is really just filthy to put up with sometimes. People say homosexuality is wrong and unnatural, but what is the point of that kind of negativity?
In the Feb. 18 edition of The State Press, broadcasting freshman J.J. Roper said, "homosexuality is wrong in general." It wouldn't be right to come out and accuse Roper of being a bigot and attack him, but his quotation is an example of this negativity.
What is so wrong about it? Roper claimed to be "very religious," but it's safe to assume that the reverend who married the couple last Friday is very religious, too. It's also safe to assume that he doesn't go around telling everyone that homosexuality is wrong. Even if you do think it is wrong and unnatural, what is the point of saying it all the time? Isn't this one of those things you can just keep to yourself?
Many of our legislators say marriage is sacred, and that it shouldn't be tainted by allowing homosexuals to get married. But if marriage is as sacred as they claim, why do so many of these representatives have mistresses?
Marriage really isn't that big of a deal anyway. What is more important is living a life without someone beating up on you every day just because you happen to be attracted to someone of the same gender. It shouldn't matter that some people are gay; they should have the same opportunity to live a happy life that every straight person has.
However, with same-sex marriages being illegal, homosexual couples aren't given the equal opportunities that heterosexuals have. According to Lambda Legal, same-sex couples are currently being denied more than 1,049 benefits and protections that heterosexual couples are given. If they are going to provide these benefits to straight people, then homosexuals should have them as well.
What it all boils down to is the philosophy of live and let live. If you find homosexual marriages to be offensive, vile and unnatural, keep it to yourself. It may sound silly or cliché to talk about equality and tolerance, but think of it as just minding your own business.
Chris Fanning is a journalism sophomore. Reach him at christopher.fanning@asu.edu.
