Same-Sex State

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “New York Allows Same-Sex Marriage Becoming Largest State to Pass Law,” mirrors a pivotal change in public opinion in favor of these unions. No matter what your personal or religious viewpoint, you must be impressed by how far the gay rights movement has come and its impact on our society.

Negotiations over the bill were marked by the insertion of special protections for religious institutions to ensure they would not be subject to lawsuits based on their practices regarding the issue, and this served as an effective compromise to ultimately allow passage of the legislation.

No doubt many will be offended by the idea of same-sex marriage, and I must admit to a personal revulsion when witnessing two guys kiss, an event that I have been mostly spared from except in the movies. Yet, despite my born-again Christian beliefs, I do acknowledge that others do not subscribe to those views, and that it is in the nature of this great nation to allow many different opinions. And that I cannot impose my religious beliefs on others; God wants them to make that choice for themselves. And I do not see traditional marriage threatened by allowing civil marriages among same-sex couples.

So I must say kudos to the same-sex community for its persistence and ultimate success in getting this transformative legislation passed despite all the odds.