But reason and experience certainly have.Īs a young man, I wasn’t strongly inclined toward marriage or fatherhood, because I knew only homosexual desire. And with good reason: Neither religion nor tradition has played a significant role in forming my stance. I’ve always been careful to avoid using religion or appeals to tradition as I’ve approached this topic. Opposition to same-sex marriage is characterized in the media, at best, as clinging to “old-fashioned” religious beliefs and traditions, and at worst, as homophobia and hatred. Genderless marriage is not marriage at all. The notion of same-sex marriage is implausible, yet political correctness has made stating the obvious a risky business. I prefer to think of myself as a reasoning, intellectually honest human being. Because activists have made marriage, rather than civil unions, their goal, I am viewed by many as a self-loathing, traitorous gay. I wholeheartedly support civil unions for gay and lesbian couples, but I am opposed to same-sex marriage.
As a gay man, I’ve adopted them as my own, as I’ve entered the national discussion on same-sex marriage.
“I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will always eventually triumph, and there is purpose and worth to each and every life.” These words, spoken by Ronald Reagan in 1991, are framed on the wall above my desk.
