I never would have dreamed that New York’s highest court would be so callous and insulting to gay people. Not in this day and age- not in this area of the country. New York just reminded us that we’ll have to go through a long period of conflict and confusion before we make it to civil rights for everybody- again. When Massachusetts became the first state to legalize gay marriage in November 2003, gay rights advocates imagined a chain reaction that would shake marriage laws until same-sex couples across the nation had the legal right to wed. Nowhere did gay marriage seem like a natural fit more than New York, where the Stonewall uprising of 1969 provided inspiration for the gay rights movement and where a history of spirited progressivism had led some gay couples to envision their own weddings someday.

I discovered this top ten list, which I am guessing the New York supreme court apparently believes is true…

1. Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning.
2. Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.
3. Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.
4. Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn’t changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can’t marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.
5. Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Britany Spears’ 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.
6. Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn’t be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren’t full yet, and the world needs more children.
7. Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.
8. Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That’s why we have only one religion in America.
9. Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That’s why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.
10. Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven’t adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans.

I know my readers are intelligent enough to find the humor in that list-

We all have our own personal feelings about the matter, I suppose. I always thought marriage was based in faith; or so my religion taught me. Then I suppose I would be of the opinion that all marriage should always be between the opposite sexes; however, there are many legal implications that come along with marriage, despite religious orientation- for example, tax rates paid to the goverment. Therefore, the government must recognize the separation of church and state, should it not?
My faith also teaches me tolerance, forgiveness and love. I don’t believe sexual orientation is some sort of personal choice- it’s just something you feel- something you can’t control. We know this now to be true. Having said that, it is clearly a violation of someone’s civil rights to prevent them from being legally wed to another individual, simply because it doesn’t conform to some religious notion. Furthermore, it’s hypocritical to even use ‘moral’ reasons (clearly based in biased viewpoints influenced by religion) to deny people equal rights.

Well, that’s how I see it anyways- I’m straight, and personally don’t understand what makes people gay- but I respect everyone’s personal feelings, and feel it’s not my place to judge anyone on what they feel inside. I also believe that sexual orientation has no reflection upon character. We are all different and unique as much as we are all the same. Black or white, gay or straight, tall or short- it’s not who you are, but what you do that defines you, is it not?
If that list was too much sarasm for you, try:
New York Times: For Gay Rights Movement, a Key Setback

Filed under: Society