On Wednesday, a Texas federal judge from the U.S. District Court in San Antonio, Texas ruled the Texas ban on gay marriage unconstitutional. This ruling strikes down a 2005 amendment to the Texas constitution that defines marriage as “the union of one man and one woman.” The ban will stay in place until a higher court considers the case.
I see this case going all the way to the Supreme Court. Considering that the Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act it’s safe to say that it will uphold Garcia’s decision. Then, gay marriage will be legal in Texas. Finally.
Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a defendant in the case, issued a statement against the ruling. He said, “Texans spoke loud and clear by overwhelmingly voting to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman in our Constitution, and it is not the role of the federal government to overturn the will of our citizens.”
Banning gay marriage through any legal avenue, even with a majority vote, is ridiculous. No one can tell anyone else how to live their life or who to they should love, and it shouldn’t be the government’s place to do so. The Republican party wants government out of people’s lives – except where marriage equality is concerned. How does controlling who other people can marry benefit you in any way?
There is no rational argument for banning gay marriage. The so-called distinction between heterosexual couples and homosexual couples is completely arbitrary. Every couple is made up of two people who love each other. What their sex is shouldn’t matter.
If the state and national government can pass laws that restrict people’s freedoms, then “the land of the free” is a lie. Instead of protecting citizen’s rights, we seem to be free to restrict them. Banning gay marriage is an entirely selfish notion. A Texan is not affected by someone else’s life choices, so why should she be able to limit the choices other people have?
Opposing the legalization of gay marriage is like attempting to veto someone else’s dessert order in a restaurant. It’s preposterous. Adding it as a tenant of a party platform is even more ridiculous. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that a person can be gay and conservative. By opposing marriage equality, Republicans are pushing people and votes they may need away from their party. This fight against marriage equality is helping no one.
Thankfully, my generation seems to agree with me on this point. I look forward to a future where anyone can marry whomever they want, regardless of their sexual orientation. Those who oppose this future just need to get over themselves.
