Wedding vows a needed right for all

Marriage is a basic human right and should not be denied to any individual. This is why many people think that banning same-sex marriage is discrimination.

At various times in U.S. history, other minorities have been prevented from getting married.

For example, African-Americans were not able to marry people of another race, because interracial marriage was legally prohibited in various states. This occurred until the Supreme Court ruled such bans unconstitutional in 1967.

A Hawaii commission created to examine marriage discrimination and concluded that banning gay marriage cut same-sex couples off from a host of tangible advantages, including health and retirement benefits; life insurance, income tax, wrongful-death benefits, and spousal and dependent support.

Liliana Vigil

This is the same discrimination the Supreme Court outlawed 33 years ago, yet is still in practice to this day.

Same-sex couples should be able to go to the town clerk to obtain a civil union license, just as opposite-sex couples obtain marriage licenses. A justice of the peace, judge or member of the clergy would then certify the civil unions, just as marriages.

Gay men and lesbian women in committed relationships want to be able to celebrate their love and fidelity in the same way that heterosexual couples do. But parts of our society will not allow that to happen.

Religious conservatives should welcome gay marriage as an endorsement of traditional values. They complain that gay relationships are "promiscuous," but then oppose allowing same-sex couples to join in a legal institution that promotes stability and long-term commitment

According to a recent American Psychological Association survey of more than 40 research studies on gay parenting, such children are likely to be just as well adjusted as the progeny of traditional unions.

The samples in many surveys are small, but the studies show that the children play with the same toys, have similar IQs, develop typical friendships, have a normal sense of well-being and are no more likely to be confused about their sexual identity than kids with straight parents.

What does impact the lives of children with homosexual parents is society's reaction.

Beneath the political ferment in Washington lies a trend in popular culture toward acceptance of gays and lesbians.

An episode of the 1989 television sitcom "Thirtysomething" showed two gay men talking in bed. The episode cost ABC $1 million in advertising revenue.

However, just five months ago, two lesbian characters on the NBC sitcom "Friends" married with barely protest from network affiliates. Gay and lesbian characters now make regular appearances in movies, television, print media and radio.

Most importantly, it's not about sex and it is not about what happens at the altar of a church. It's about the contract between a couple and the state. Marriage is a powerful legal and social idea that protects and supports intimate family relationships by providing a unique set of rights, privileges, and benefits. Those who can marry often take these rights for granted but for gay and lesbians these benefits are forever denied.

Liliana Vigil is a public relations major at Cal State Long Beach.