Column:

Conservatives confuse religious values with political values

By Trevor Turner

Published Sept. 26, 2008

California's Supreme Court made a very controversial decision in May, by a vote of 4-3, to lift the gay marriage ban enacted in the state in 2004. As happy as I was to see progressive action happening in this country, I immediately became worried. I felt like I was experiencing déjà vu from 2004.

As you might recall, conservatives in the last presidential election came out in droves to vote for numerous gay marriage bans all across the country, including in Missouri. Gay marriage was one of the major issues, right up there with the war in Iraq. When California lifted its gay marriage ban, conservatives in the state immediately began drafting initiatives to November's ballot to re-ban gay marriage. I was very worried that conservatives where going to hijack this election with the gay marriage issues again, because unfortunately, when gay issues are involved, Democrats lose. But the economy, the war in Iraq and health care continue to dominate this election, leaving gay marriage the last thing on most people's minds.

But wait a minute, I thought we were living in the 21st century. So why does our country react so vehemently when some of our legislators want to grant gay American citizens the right to have their marriage recognized by the government? America is supposed to be the pillar of freedom and democracy in the world, yet our sexual freedom is extremely limited. We have been the leaders of progressivism and human rights, but now we are lagging behind the rest of the world.

The best example would be South Africa. In 1992 they ended apartheid and only 14 years later, in 2006, they legalized gay marriage. America ended apartheid in 1964, and we have yet to fully allow the right for all citizens to marry whom they love.

I won't deny that gay rights have significantly improved in recent decades, but America still has a long way to go. Gay people still cannot serve openly in the armed forces and in many states, including Missouri, they can legally be fired just for being who they are. In addition, gay people have no hospital visitation rights for their partners, many states do not allow gay people to adopt and they cannot give blood - a policy completely based on homophobia.

The arguments against gay marriage are ridiculous. The idea that gay marriage is a threat to family values is insulting. Gay people have the ability and desire to create a warm, stable family environment just like straight couples. Using Christian "values" as an argument against gay marriage is hypocritical, at best. This country was founded on the idea that a person can escape religious persecution. Using one's religious "values" to dictate a multi-religious society contradicts that foundation. Besides, not all Christians agree on the marriage issue, including the millions of gay Christians.

I don't see the harm in allowing gay marriage. I mean, maybe it's time to open up the discussion about marriage in general. With more than 50 percent of heterosexual marriages failing every year, maybe it's time to give gay people a chance to show how marriage is done right.