Marriage has three distinct forms, civil (legal entitlements), social (recognized by spouses' social network), and religious (defined by spouses' religious affiliation).
Gay marriage advocacy seeks to align civil with social marriage. The issue is equality under the law.
Gay marriage opponents defend inequality with flawed arguments of religion and procreation. One man/one woman is the minimum requirement for reproduction; it is not the superior template of human relationships. The ideal environment for raising children includes loving, supportive adults, not necessarily "mom" and "dad."
Furthermore, anyone who likens homosexuality and poly-relationships to incest, bestiality, and pedophilia is a fool and a menace to society. Religious "values" are no excuse for ignoring the distinctions between inbreeding, animal abuse, child rape, and the consensual intimate relationships of adults.
The Declaration of Independence argues for man's broad innate liberties which the Bill of Rights further clarifies. One such assumed liberty is reflected in the civil recognition of heterosexual couples as a legal entity sharing property, income, and life; granting heterosexual civil marriages requires equal civil recognition of any two or more persons sharing property, income and life. Civil law does not dictate religious philosophy; the reverse should also be true.
Mike Wilson, Richland
