This morning I did something unusual: I turned on the TV to the Today Show. I wanted to get the weather forecast, instead I caught an interview with Miss California, the controversial Miss America contestant who answered Perez Hilton’s question on Gay Marriage with a brutally honest “marriage should be between a man and a woman, no offense to those out there.”
I’ll cut to the chase: I’m for Gay Marriage.
Now I’ll tell you why:
I am a 28-year old immigrant from a country that is Catholic in its majority. I was raised going to Church and my mother wouldn’t be my mother if she didn’t thank God every other sentence. I got religious education at school and I was the only one in my family who actually *chose* to continue to go to Church with my mother after turning 16. I realized that I feel at home in Catholic Churches after giving other denominations a “try.” My being Catholic was both instilled since birth and a choice I made once I was able to answer the question of which religion I’m most comfortable in, later in life. I am proud of my beliefs.
One of the causes that have made Catholicism (and Christians in general) so looked-down upon in America is the issue of Gay Marriage. If there is one thing I learned from Jesus is that we should love our neighbors like we love ourselves, that we should treat others the way we would like to be treated, and that we are all His equal sons and daughters. Where in these teachings did He ever say that gays are an abomination? Jesus would have NEVER told us to treat a certain group differently or to create different laws for them.
The official stand of Catholicism in this issue may differ from my personal view, but where the heck did the government get off getting in the middle of this argument? Have you ever heard about the separation of Church and State? Why is the government all of the sudden taking sides with a particular Church/set of beliefs? The government should be advocating EQUALITY for all its citizens, not cherry picking the laws based on people’s religious beliefs.
I would propose to leave the religion-specific marriage rituals with the Churches and continue to grant them their constitutional right to uphold their beliefs. As for governmental rights of married couples, eliminate any discriminatory statute (such as “between a man and a woman”) and allow unions between two people with the full support of the law.
As for Miss California, I applaud her standing up for her right to free speech and not to lie just to win a contest. This IS America, after all.
ina