Those on both sides of same-sex issue argue the moral high ground
Religion has a right to speak up because this is about morality. It is about the fight of individuals to be who they are and to be recognized as equals in the eyes of God, and therefore they should be equal in the eyes of the law.
- Rabbi Roy A. Walter of Congregation Emanu El
We believe that the Bible does specifically say in Genesis all the way through Revelation that marriage is very clearly a man and a woman. Engaging in what amounts to a social experiment to overturn that institution is simply not acceptable.
- Dave Welch, executive director of the Houston Area Pastor Council
Proposition 2 has, if nothing else, demonstrated that there are good, decent, and highly moral, religiously committed folks in Texas- who don’t feel it necessary to enshrine discrimination the marginalization of a minority class who more than anything else just wants to be left alone. Yes, there are a LOT of people in Texas, who, while no one could accuse them of “supporting” homosexuality or gay marriage, recognize that hatred is not a family value.
People outside Texas have no doubt been hearing an awful lot about Evangelical Republicans being in the forefront on this issue. Perhaps that is true, but that hardly means that those who use hatred and discrimination to push their version of Christianity are a majority in Texas.
In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s election, religious leaders have held rallies, given informal talks and preached on the issue. They have created coalitions spanning usual faith demarcations as they have drawn a connection between politics and religion.
Religious supporters and opponents of the amendment — which defines marriage as the union between one man and one woman and prohibits the creation or recognition of any similar legal status — fall into two very general camps.
Opponents…consider the amendment immoral because it codifies injustice against God’s children and sanctions discrimination….
Supporters of the amendment see the matter as one of biblical authority and a defense of traditional marriage.
“Biblical authority”? What else can this be than an attempt by Old Testament Evangelicals to force their narrow, hate-based view of those who live, think, and believe differently on all of us in Texas? Whose version of the Bible reigns supreme? And whatever happened to Christian charity?
“Traditional marriage”? Again, just another excuse for forcing marginalizing a minority class into permanent second-class status. You know, not everyone has to live or believe as you do in order to be a good and Godly person. Don’t believe in gay marriage? Well, no one’s forcing you to have one, are they? Yes, it’s a lifestyle choice that you may not support, but does that give you the right to prevent another person from living their live as they see fit? If two people love each other and make a commitment to each other, what purpose is served by denying them the legal rights that accrue to married breeders? Hey, it’s not as if us heterosexuals have done such a bang-up job with the institution of marriage.
Thankfully, there is an increasingly vocal segment of the relgious community in Texas who want people to understand that being committed to your religion doesn’t automatically equate to hating those who happen to choose a different lifestyle. Being a “good Christian” does have to mean hating homosexuals and working to deny them the rights that straight married couples enjoy.
If you believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman, fine. Teach your children that; that is your right as a parent. You do not have the right to use Jesus as an excuse for being a narrow-minded, hate-filled, judgemental @$$hole. Here’s a suggestion: try “live and let live”; you might find that loving your fellow man to be somewhat liberating. Many highly religious types in Texas already have.
If you live in Texas, please vote NO on Proposition 2 tomorrow. Hatred is not a family value.
