Gay, Straight, or Just a Little Twisted...

Disclaimer:  Many of you will choose to be offended by what I have written in this post.  That’s okay.  Please read to the end before you get completely ticked off and decide to take me off of your reading list and/or your facebook friends list.  Remember that I only intend to get your wheels turning and get you thinking outside of the box a little bit. J 

So, with all of the hullabaloo these days about gay marriage and gay rights and all that, I figured I would deposit my two cents worth on the subject.  I will be the first to admit that I used to be completely against gay marriage.  Not really sure why, I just was.  In the uber conservative state that I live in, I guess it’s just in the air that that isn’t the way marriage is supposed to happen.  I am proud to say that I have changed my mind on that matter J

Before I get too carried away, let’s just see how Webster defines marriage:

Marriage: (noun) the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law; the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that described above; the institution whereby individuals are joined in a marriage; an intimate or close union

This is pretty straight-forward.  So, for everyone that still thinks that allowing gay people to have legal rights to marriage is taboo, the definition of the word itself gives them that right.  Beyond that though, don’t we all have the right to have choose a mate to have a legally recognized, intimate relationship with, regardless of their gender? 

Now, being from Utah, I know that I will have friends and readers coming out of the woodwork to argue with me on this.  Being of the pre-dominant religion in this state, I fully expect it.  I’m okay with that.  I believe that the world is not as clean and clear-cut as people of this religion often make it out to be.  Just because someone is different or has a different preference than what we are taught is “right” (I really don’t like using that word in this context…) doesn’t mean that they should be denied the same rights as everyone else. 

For those of you that still want to argue with me, let me ask you a question, actually 2 questions: #1—why should it matter to you who someone else wants to marry? (it doesn’t affect you in slightest…unless they are trying to marry your partner, in which case, it’s probably a pretty big deal to you) #2—if you were lucky enough to be sitting with God at the judgment day parade helping him decide who to vote into heaven, who would you vote for: the guy who cheats on his wife & neglects his kids but shows up to church every Sunday to put on a show that he is a model husband?  Or, the gay man who has been in a faithful, committed relationship for many years, treats his partner with love and respect and does his part to treat others the way he would like to be treated?  I know who I would vote for to go thru the pearly white gates and it wouldn’t be contestant #1…

Think about it…it’s no different than back in the 1800’s when our pioneer ancestors were being persecuted in the Midwest because their religious views were different than the majority’s.  They simply wanted to be allowed to live and practice their beliefs as they saw fit without disruption from those who believed differently.  They were all but forced to move west simply because their beliefs were not “right”.

Fast forward a couple hundred years (almost) and you have the same principle at work.  Gay people just want to be able to live their lives as they see fit without ridicule and disruption.  That thought is what changed my thinking on this matter.  I have been married to my husband for over 9 years now and although we have had a lion’s share of trials, we are happy and still in love with each other.  The law recognizes us as married and affords us all of the benefits that come with that recognition.  Why shouldn’t people in same-sex relationships be allowed to have those same benefits?

I have several gay friends and they are some of the most amazing, talented, loving people I know.  Some of things I love most about them are that they know who they are and they are comfortable with themselves.  They don’t put on a show for anybody and they aren’t judgmental.  Of course I know “straight” (again I hate using that word…maybe “non-gay” is better…) people like that as well but it seems that judgmental-ness runs rampant in many “straight” people.  That is a discussion for a different day though… 

Anyway, the point is that regardless of one’s sexual preference, we all have the right to be loved, to be happy, and to enjoy our lives without fear of ridicule, persecution, and hate from others.  So, whether you are gay, straight, or just a little twisted (in your thinking that is), I say “to each their own”.  Life is too short to be held back by other people’s judgments.  Be true to yourself and live the life YOU choose to live…

And just for fun, let’s see how Webster defines gay:

Gay: (Adj) 1a: happily excited : merry <in a gay mood> 1b: keenly alive and exuberant: having or inducing high spirits <a bird's gay spring song> 2a: bright, lively <gay sunny meadows> 2b: brilliant in color 3: given to social pleasures

Interesting isn’t it J