There are many things that I do not understand. Some of those being complex concepts needing years of intense study to even understand the terminology. But there are other things I just can't get my brain to grasp.
One of the things most confounding for my brain is the opposition to marriage equality. (Or gay marriage, if you insist on calling it that. Although, homosexual people don't have gay driver's licenses or gay prescription glasses so calling it gay marriage is a bit silly.) I honestly cannot think of one reason NOT to support marriage equality. No one, other than the two individuals actually getting married, would be affected in the slightest. Not allowing something just because you don't like it is one of the most ignorant and selfish things I can imagine.
Allowing same-sex marriage doesn't force anyone to engage in a same-sex marriage anymore than allowing smoking forces someone to smoke. I can understand, but don't agree with, the people who demonize smokers. Smoking in public affects everyone around. Same-sex marriage does not. You can't "catch" gay.
Allowing same-sex marriage also does not cheapen "traditional" marriage. Traditional marriage vows have already been cheapened by the actions of husbands and wives for centuries.
I don't want to delve into religion but the VAST majority of opposition that I've heard against marriage equality is rooted, partially if not entirely, in religious beliefs. Basing laws on a particular religion is not only narrow-minded but also illegal.
And the argument that it's "gross" or "unnatural" is just stupid. First, denying a gay man the ability to marry his partner doesn't make him question his sexual orientation. He will still be gay, but not allowed to make the same public commitment his straight friends can. Second, homosexuality has been around as long as humans have, maybe longer. To call it unnatural is ignorant and would be akin to calling red hair unnatural just because it's not as prevalent as blonde hair. Third, universally banning something because a minority find it unappealing is insane. By that rationale I would like to ban mayonnaise because it is both gross and unnatural. Screw you and your turkey sandwich, I think mayo is gross and I can't get plenty of people to vote with me on that.
North Carolina passed a disgusting amendment yesterday. One that says some residents of their state are entitled to more basic human rights than others. I don't even pretend to understand what it's like to be denied a human right based on a prejudice. I'm a heterosexual, white male in the United States. The world is built in my favor. But I seethe when I hear of human rights and freedoms being selectively distributed.
President Obama spoke out today in support of marriage equality and is getting lots of reaction from both camps. I'm glad he made his view public but I do think it's ridiculous that it's such a big story when our president reveals he's not a bigoted asshole about something.
Contrary to how North Carolinians voted, gay Americans are actual humans who deserve actual human rights. Do we support rights for all American humans or do our rights change based on our zip code?