This is a reply to Pam McTeer’s Feb. 6 opinion article denouncing same-sex marriage.
Marriage may be under attack, but only from incompatible spouses.
Early in McTeer’s article, she suggests that we all know right and wrong, “whether Muslim, Christian … few would consider homicide good-or rape … [or] incest … [or] burglary” and suggested that these laws come from fundamental, moral values.
Perhaps they do, but they regard an act of violence against an unwilling participant or party.
They are not laws that have necessarily stemmed from her Christian Bible, but rather laws protecting our individual freedoms as granted under the Constitution.
Like it or not, the U.S. Constitution-not the Christian Bible-is used to interpret laws of this land.
The U.S. Constitution clearly states that people should not be treated differently because of who they are.
Thomas Jefferson wrote that “[a]n equal application of law to every condition of man is fundamental.” (Thomas Jefferson to George Hay, 1807).
I concede that this country was founded on some Christian principles. The laws against sodomy, masturbation and upholding segregation are testament to that. Even the Declaration of Independence refers to the Creator.
I am saying that we all have equal and basic freedoms (including marriage). That is the principle of our government, albeit not the misogynistic Bible; even the Christians have to accept that.
McTeer then argues for “a boundary for marriage” and that same-sex marriage would set a precedent, possibly resulting in the recognition of polygamy as a fundamental, basic right. In short, she asserts that without a proper definition of marriage, all hell might break loose.
Well, here’s a rhetorical question: if the only thing keeping people from polygamy is the definition of marriage, and homosexuals have no such definition, then why aren’t homosexuals romantically committed to multiple partners? This would be the logical outcome of McTeer’s argument.
In my experience, homosexuals are either single, married or in a committed partnership; I don’t know any homosexuals who have a committed, romantic relationship to multiple partners.
That said, I don’t absolutely know the biology or the reason behind the desire of humans to form a life bond with one other person.
In subtle explanation, McTeer writes “our standards for marriage … have not been dictated by law, but by our … instincts throughout history.”
So, Ms. McTeer, very simply: Homosexuals are born with the instinct to develop committed partnerships with members of the same sex.
Scientific evidence supports that sexual orientation is an inherited trait, not just for humans, but for other taxa as well.
To exclude homosexuals from entering into legally recognized partnerships simply because of how they were born is cruel and unusual punishment, which is an affront to our U.S. Constitution.
In the final paragraphs of her essay, McTeer implies that gay Christians should either turn straight or choose another faith.
Conversion therapy has been denounced as “unethical” and “inappropriate” by the American Psychiatric Association, not to mention that it doesn’t work-less than 3 percent converted.
I might suggest to gay Christians to choose another religion or to enlighten those in the religion you practice. There are a few gay-friendly Christian churches.
McTeer writes that “[a]s a Christian, one cannot disregard the Scriptures … A believer cannot select parts of the Bible he likes and apply only that portion to his life….”
I’d ask people to read through Leviticus and other parts of the Bible, and ask themselves important questions such as:
1) Have I always honored my parents?
2) Am I an unwed virgin?
3) Do I intend on staying in the hospital for 10 days after giving birth?
4) Do I recluse myself while menstruating?
5) Am I being silent in church?
There are no laws regarding these Christian principles, yet.
And finally, McTeer states that “since the beginning, the world populated itself with heterosexual couples….”
Apparently, according to McTeer, marriage between a man and woman has also been “pure and right since the beginning of the world.”
These statements are quite untrue because homosexuality is nothing new and humans weren’t around at the “beginning of the world,” either according to the Bible or geology.
Homosexuals have been mentioned in the Bible, and certainly accounted for during the Roman empire. Thus, since the beginning of human time, the world has been populated with both homosexuals and heterosexuals.
Some formed couples, yet some did not. Because homosexuality is rare relative to heterosexuality, it is not surprising that such genetic polymorphisms have been preserved in our very large gene pool.
And for the homosexuals out there, there is an old adage in biology that the “rare has the advantage.”
Although I appreciate McTeer’s comments, and believe dialogue must be opened up between Christians and homosexuals, I would ask McTeer to rethink her statements before she writes them; responsibility and accountability are important for everyone.
Joseph W. Love is a graduate student in biological sciences. He can be reached at [email protected].