Why is Gay Marriage Even an Issue?

I have been following the gay marriage debates with some interest since Bush made the topic a major policy item during his presidency.

Now, my gut reaction to the whole debate is that it makes no logical sense.

I understand that marriage was founded in a religious sense.

And that the church may define marriage in the context of a man and woman relationship.

I also acknowledge that religions (or cetain sects of religions) may not acknowledge homosexuality in general.

However - we do not live in a theocracy. So why should religious pricinciples that apply to one section of the population be applied to the entire populace? Does that mean athesists are not allowed to be wed? People of Islamic faith? Does that mean we do not recognize the union of Buddhists and Sihks? Marriage has evolved, in both a legal and a societal way. To deny a citizen the right of marriage based on their sexual orientation is akin to denying a citizen the right of marriage based on their skin color (which we have done in the past).

Since the constitution offers freedom of religion (and I assume this extends to freedom from having someone's religion forced upon you), I don't understand why this is even an issue period.

The idea of a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage is absolutely ludicrous. It flies in the face of everything we stand for as a nation, and I cannot fathom how the so-called "debate" has gone on for this long.

If you want to say Christian churches will not recognize heterosexual marriage, fine.

If you want to guarantee homosexuals the exact same rights as heterosexuals, and call it something other than marriage, fine.

But stop fucking with the constitution.

To read the commentary from the Washington Post global blog (which sparked this little rant), please click here:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/bill_emmott/2006/10/yes_its_their_human_right.html
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/christine_ockrent/2006/10/marriage_for_homosexuals.html
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/william_m_gumede/2006/10/denial_of_same_sex_marriage_is.html
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/miklos_vamos/2006/10/why_have_marriage_at_all.html
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/nikos_konstandaras/2006/10/a_touchstone_for_where_were_he.html
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/ali_ettefagh/2006/10/legal_problems_in_a_global_vil.html