The presence of the LGBT community has become so commonplace in today’s society that we often brush it off like it’s the everyday news, because now it is. It’s everyday, routine, normal. The end of October was Ally Week, a week-long promotion of being an ally against anti-LGBT language, bullying and harassment. Maine Governor candidate, Michael H. Michaud, announced on Monday, Nov. 4 to being homosexual, making him the seventh openly gay member of Congress. Additionally, Illinois is on its way to becoming the 15th state to permit gay marriage. These feats should not go unnoticed, but in a way, the fact that some of these events are slipping under people’s radar is because the LGBT community is becoming more accepted.
The issue of gay marriage has always been a hugely controversial one, but as of lately, more states are beginning to allow same-sex marriage with N.J. being the most recent addition. Newly re-elected republican Governor Chris Christie opposed the decision but ultimately dropped his opposition and collaborated with the court in order not to waste additional N. J. tax dollars fighting it.
In a national survey last July, a Gallup poll found 52 percent of Americans would vote for a law making same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states leaving 43 percent who said they would vote against such a decision. This reinforced the knowledge that gay marriage is becoming more accepted today. However, what exactly are people accepting when they state this? When they say that they support gay marriage, many mean in the legal sense. The sense that they believe that these couples who have decided to make this type of commitment deserve the same rights given to straight couples making the decision to marry.
However this is where the moral line gets blurry, even within our editorial staff.
There has never been, and potentially will never be a fully supported definition of the word “marriage” when it comes to a same-sex couple. This probably sounds upsetting to many supporters, but if you look at the number of people who are still opposed to allowing same-sex marriage it’s not unreasonable to say. There are many who still view marriage in the traditional terms of woman and man, and that will likely not change anytime soon. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, just like most will argue same-sex couples are entitled to their rights. Our staff does not disagree with that. We collectively support equal legal rights to same-sex couples.
Yet, just as the entire nation is divided, we see the division of opinions even here in this small staff of people. Some have absolutely no problem with everything: the terms being used, the legal status and the actual marriage ceremony. Others look at it from both a moral and religious standpoint, understanding that though their religion may deem it a “sin,” they themselves commit sin everyday and who are they to throw stones. Still more find that although they believe in equal rights, it is the terminology that bothers them. “Husbands,” “Wives,” “Marriage.” These are still terms many can only view as traditional meanings between a man and woman.
It can’t be helped. People are raised in different ways with different morals, values, opinions and views. No one is necessarily wrong or right in his or her argument because this subject is very much opinion based. However, despite the differences, it can still be seen that varying levels of acceptance are met. “They’re people.” And all people no matter what race, economic status, background, education level or sexuality are just that; people. People with rights and people who deserve the same rights as other people. So no matter how the term “normal” is perceived person to person, the term “equal” shouldn’t change.
