200 Words on Marriage

Historically, the institution of marriage was not an equal partnership between a man and a woman. Marriage has rarely been about love and devotion, but rather power and economics. Traditional marriage (still practiced in much of the world) robbed women of their liberties, forcing them into unions from which there was no escape. Today, marriage is not only a solemn pledge, but also a social and legal contract that provides each partner with status and rights (and obligations) not available to single people or so-called domestic partners. That such rights and benefits cannot be extended to all women and men is a ludicrous notion for a society based on equality.

The only people who can devalue your marriage are you and your spouse. Marriage is not under attack by gays and lesbians, but by people who marry for the wrong reasons, fail to honor and respect their partner, or forswear their promises and commitments. The marriage of two loving adults should be celebrated, nurtured, and defended regardless of their gender, class, or race. There are too many loveless heterosexual marriages plagued by abuse and infidelity to deny marriage from devoted homosexual couples who genuinely love and respect each other.