Aloha Civil Rights?

Yesterday, the governor of Hawaii vetoed that state’s civil union bill. You can see the article on The Advocate for more details, but one line from her statement really got me thinking. Explaining her reasons for the veto, Gov. Lingle said, “The subject of this legislation has touched the hearts and minds of our citizens as no other social issue of our day. It would be a mistake to allow a decision of this magnitude to be made by one individual or a small group of elected officials.”

The Iowa Family Policy Center has titled their anti-equality campaign “Let Us Vote.” Their website says that it “is your right to vote on the definition of marriage.” It is interesting to me that this group has decided to headline their argument with a pronouncement of a “right.” What that quote translates to me is “it is your right to vote on other people’s rights”, or “it is a Conservative Christian’s right to vote on the religious views and practices of other Iowans” or “it is OUR right to vote on THEIR life.”
Does it bother me that a gay teenager has to sit through a church sermon telling him God hates him? Yes, it does. On a theological and moral level it bothers me deeply. Do I want the Iowa government to legislate that a minister can’t do that? No. What I want is for the Iowa Constitution to be upheld, both in its guarantee of equal rights and its protection of religious freedom.

My church and denomination affirm the value of all people, regardless of affectional orientation. My church performs same gender marriages. We believe that marriages, like the other covenant relationships we enter into as people of faith, are open to all people. The Iowa Family Policy Center can tell us we are wrong; the government of the state of Iowa cannot. The churches and ministers who support the IFPC can choose to not perform same gender marriages in their churches. For that matter, so can the churches and ministers who support the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa. Churches get to control what goes on at the altar. What the churches cannot and should not control is what goes on at the courthouse. The Supreme Court did their job; they interpreted the Constitution and now the equal protection that has always been the law of the land is recognized and is being upheld.

What do you think is a good argument to NOT vote on equality? When opponents of civil marriage confront you on the issue, how do you respond? Many of us have religious reasons for our support. What are your civil reasons?