The foundation of the Republican Party is built upon three principles: limited government, traditional family values, and a strong defense.
While conflicts and contradictions exist, gay marriage violates the first two of these premises, offering up an alternative institution which is opposed by the public.
America is a nation of faith and Republicans while they cannot declare a monopoly on religion best represents social conservatives. The GOP fight intolerance and pursue a debate with respect to all people as god’s children.
Furthermore one’s stance on this issue does not define a Republican. We are a big tent party which includes members of the gay community. The Republican Party remains open to all with a promise of opportunity and empowerment of the people not an expansive government.
Politically, Americans have consistently and soundly rejected attempts to legalize gay marriage at the ballot box.
Only five states (and the District of Columbia) allow gay-marriage and none of them approved the institution by voter referendum. These are New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and Iowa. Twelve states permit civil unions or some form of marriage rights for same-sex couples.
Of the previously stated, Vermont is the only state to have passed their gay marriage laws through legislation. Most instances in which gay marriage has been legalized have been as a result of intervention by the courts.
Activist judges and state supreme courts have seized this issue as an instance to impose liberal values upon the populations of their states because it is clear that the voters would not approve it at an election.
The most egregious example of this type of judicial overreach occurred in California where voters passed Proposition 8 in November of 2008.
Proposition 8 limited state recognition of marriages to heterosexual couples only to see it overturned by the U.S. District Court after it had been upheld in the California Supreme Court. The will of voters and the public is not being heard.
Americans reject same-sex marriage as a reflection of their socially conservative nature. Most major world religions view homosexuality as a sin and also see marriage as a contract between a man and a woman.
Legalizing gay marriage can also produce a slippery slope that can lead to even broader interpretations of marriage going beyond same-sex couples.
While younger generations of church-goers have opened up to the ideas of homosexuality this is not a complete and universal process that should dictate political action simply to keep up with the times.
There are major fiscal consequences not to be ignored. There would be cost to tax-payers if same-sex couples received the same benefits as married couples, or families and additional costs to implement the bureaucracy to facilitate them.
While these may be credible arguments some of the hateful and false rhetoric on this heated issue should be renounced.
Any links of homosexuality to AID’s or the spread of disease as a reason for opposing same-sex marriage should be condemned.
Claims that gay marriage will undermine our society are also ridiculous and desperate. Republicans must recognize that in order for our party to grow, elect majorities and pass meaningful laws we must be accessible to all.
This does not mean compromise on social issues but perhaps calming down in the way we express our opposition to some of the most emotional debates of our day. There may very well be a day for gay marriage in this country but let that come when the public truly stands behind it.
Charlie McCaslin is a junior history and political science double major. He is a member of SMU’s chapter of College Republicans. McCaslin can be reached for comments or questions at [email protected].
