Support same-sex
marriage
By Kitty Piercy,
Guest Viewpoint, registerguard.com on the Web, February 14, 2007
Eugene, Oregon -- This week, I
hope the people of Eugene will join me in honoring Freedom to Marry Week, in
recognition of the desire of all committed couples, gay or straight, to have
their relationships recognized -- not in a symbolic way, but in all ways legal,
spiritual and philosophical.
As citizens, we all expect similar rights and benefits. When we pay our
taxes, we expect a reasonable return on our investment. When we vote, we
expect that our voices will be heard. When challenges arise, we hope that
someone -- police officers, firefighters, doctors, nurses, teachers, friends --
will be there to lend a hand. We do not deny support to a person based on
our biases against whom that person may happen to love.
Marriage provides 1,138 legal protections to which same-sex couples do not have
fair access -- including health benefits, Social Security, pension and
retirement account rollovers, veterans' benefits, hospital visitation, child
custody rights and many more. That makes at least 1,138 ways that gays and
lesbians are discriminated against.
Here in Eugene, we've taken a lot of steps to limit discrimination against all
people, but we still have a ways to go. And our state must go even
further.
Because same-sex couples are now prohibited from marrying under Measure 36,
approved by the voters in 2004, enacting civil unions is the best way to bestow
benefits, protections and responsibilities on gay couples similar to those
granted straight couples through marriage. Our Legislature and governor
are poised to pass civil unions legislation this session. We must support
this by contacting our legislators and thanking them for doing the right thing.
It's most certainly time.
But in this week of celebration of the freedom to marry, I can't help but think
bigger. While civil unions represent a significant advance, they are not
the same as full and equal marriage rights.
This isn't just about adult couples in committed relationships. The
freedom to marry deeply affects the families -- and especially the children --
of these couples as well. All children deserve the right to insurance
coverage, Social Security, emergency care and inheritance rights, no matter who
their parents are. All families benefit from knowing that their family
members are safe and secure.
If you're a parent, you no doubt hope that your children can grow to adulthood
with a sense of freedom to make their own choices. You probably hope that
your children will find soulmates and begin families, and assume that marriage
will be the most supportive environment for commitment.
Now consider that there is some chance the child you love may grow up to be gay,
lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Would that really change your hopes and
dreams for your child?
Maybe it is time to start working for the fairness and freedom that all loving
parents want for their children -- no matter who they are. And do we
really want to teach children who aren't gay that it's OK to look down on others
who are different? Or do we want to prepare them to thrive in a diverse
world, in a country that treats people equally and with respect?
Yet every day throughout the United States, committed same-sex couples are
struggling to end their exclusion from legal marriage.
Straight people may find it difficult to engage with an issue that seems to have
little impact on their day-to-day life. But all people, straight or gay,
have a stake in this struggle. Some feel that it is as wrong to
discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation as it is to discriminate due to
race, religion or skin color. Some feel strongly about marriage equality
because of friends, family members, neighbors or co-workers who are deeply
harmed by discrimination in our marriage laws. One thing I know for sure
is that all of us value fairness. We understand that if one person is
treated unjustly, it could just as easily be us next time.
Marriage equality is about love, commitment, inclusion and fairness. It's
about holding to the principle that we are all created equal and as Americans we
all deserve equal protection under the law. Here's what it comes down to:
The issues of freedom and fairness are at the heart of what makes America great
and what makes American life the envy of many around the world. They are
what we live for, fight for and die for. But these are meaningless words
if they cannot be lived by all.
It is now that Oregonians are asked to stand up and be counted as believers in
freedom and fairness -- so count on me.
Kitty Piercy is mayor of Eugene.
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