Today the citizens of North Carolina are voting on an amendment to the state constitution that would not only reenforce the current law against same sex marriage but would go a step further in making civil unions illegal also.

Homophobes across the country, mostly conservatives, have claimed that extending marriage to gay couples somehow sullies the grand institution. Well for starters, let’s dismiss the so-called grandness of the institution. 50% of first time marriages end in divorce [1]. Clearly when it comes to marriage, heterosexuals have no idea what they’re doing.

On the contrary, it is conservatives who have sullied the institution of marriage by forcing their definition upon the tradition. When homosexuality was taboo, marriage was reserved for heterosexuals. Homosexuality has recently gained much greater social acceptance. The stereotype of the promiscuous pervert is gradually being replaced with example after example of long term relationships between people of the same gender who truly love each other.

I propose that since marriage has been tarnished by ignorant, and in some instances, mean spirited individuals the time has come for fair minded people to abandon marriage. Let marriage remain a religious ceremony and let the various religions discriminate in any way they please. But in secular society, let civil unions be the norm for all couples, homosexual and heterosexual.

I suggest a “movement” of sorts. I suggest that every heterosexual couple contemplating a lifetime commitment go to their local court house and demand a civil union. These civil unions must provide all the legal protections of traditional marriage. Such a movement would show solidarity with our gay peers.

When an institution becomes corrupted by exclusive bigots, it is time to abandon the institution. Leave traditional marriage to the churches and happily let their adherents cling to the fantasy of the God blessed union that in reality fails as often as it succeeds.

Respectfully,
Rutherford

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