Adamant Opposition

Liberal: Student voices support for gay rights I am adamantly against (the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages). Constitutional amendments have traditionally been to expand rights. The proposed amendment would not only limit rights, it would blatantly take them away. It would be writing intolerance and discrimination into the Constitution, and I do not feel that is a direction this country needs to go. Also, I feel it's an encroachment of the federal government onto an issue that should be left to the states to decide and a dangerous increase of the sphere of federal government influence. "There would be a large backlash if the amendment was passed. A lot of people in this country would be outraged and would make that very obviously known. There would undoubtedly be many demonstrations and people up in arms about it. "The right wing is trying to deny citizens of the United States of America full and equal rights under the law. Republicans, and the right wing specifically, are concerned with what they deem 'traditional values' and 'family values.' They are just frightened of change and unable to see how their actions are violating the rights of others. There is a huge connection and influence of the right wing by conservative Christianity, and I feel that religion and politics have been mixed. And this attempt to legislate bigotry is the result. "I do not believe homosexuality is immoral. I believe that the constitutional amendment would threaten the moral fabric of this country. I believe that denying anyone equal rights in this country goes against what this country was formed to uphold. "This is a civil rights issue, not a religious one. What the Bible says, or what any religious text says for that matter, should not have any influence on what happens within the policies and laws of this country. The Bible can be used to defend lots of things, including the subjugation of women. "There was no concept of a 'homosexual' back when the Bible was written. That's a recent development. Marriage is an institution created by man and an institution that has evolved over time. Originally, the wife was seen not as an equal but as the property of the husband. For a long time, interracial marriage was illegal in this country. It is an evolving institution, and I feel that this evolution to allow same-sex couples to marry is the next logical step and a just one. "I think the argument that it goes against nature is largely unfounded and bigoted. Homosexuality has existed in all cultures for all time. "I feel that to give a right to only a specific and limited group of people while denying that same right to other groups of people is discrimination and that it goes against the ideas of freedom this country was founded on." Sarah Relyea,
20, is a sophomore
majoring in gender
studies. She is in favor of
the recognition of same-sex marriages. -- Contact staff writer Andrea Opperman at acopperm@indiana.edu. Conservative: One student favors Bush's view I'm adamantly against (same-sex marriage). Well, I think it destroys the moral fabric of our country. "Our country was founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs. Judeo-Christian beliefs don't permit such kinds of behaviors as homosexuality. And that's why I'm against it. I think marriage is a sacred thing between a man and a woman. (Same-sex marriage is) an abomination. I don't think there's just really any way to interpret it other than the fact that it is a sin to practice homosexuality. "Whether you believe in God or not, people are not intended to be homosexuals. If you put God aside and think about the way nature works, two men cannot produce a child naturally, and two women cannot produce a child naturally together. "I think it's wrong to practice homosexuality. People could be gay if they choose to be gay, and they could be straight. But it can be prevented. Just as heterosexuals, they can prevent their sexual actions. Heterosexuals are encouraged to not engage in sexual activity until marriage. "The Constitution has a clause in it called the Full Faith and Credit Clause, which means that if you have a driver's license in the state of Indiana, then your driver's license is going to be valid in Missouri. If you have a marriage license in Indiana, then your marriage license will be recognized in Missouri or California. So if one state like Massachusetts or Oregon decides that they want to have gay marriages, then Indiana doesn't have to marry gays, but they have to recognize those. "Should I be able to share insurance and social security, my tax dollars to a perverted lifestyle? Absolutely not. This lifestyle should not be rewarded. Marriage is a reward. It's looked high upon in our society. I don't think they should be rewarded for that lifestyle. "The main Christian belief is to love your neighbor. These opinions I have, they don't mean that there's anything about hating homosexuals. I hate what they do. God hates what they do. God does not hate them -- he hates what they do. God hates things that I do, and He hates things that you do. God hates sin. "But He forgives it. I don't want to speak and say I'm a judge of others because I'm not going to tell you that some are going to hell and some are going to heaven. If you repent in your heart, you'll be forgiven. But if you lead that lifestyle your whole life and you're not dependent and you think it's okay, you're going down a spiral in our society. "People like me are looked at as bigots. If I didn't have my stance, I'd feel I was committing a sin. However, it's not about bigotry or hate. It's about what my religion teaches and what I think society should do. Nowhere have I said that I hate gays or I think that they should be treated as second-class citizens. I think their behaviors are abominable, and I don't think they should be rewarded in society. They are citizens like anybody else. I don't hate them. I feel sorry for them. It's not about hate. It makes me sick, and I don't like it. But it's not about hate." Michael Feldman,
21, is a sophomore
majoring in criminal justice.
He is opposed to the recognition of
same-sex marriages. -- Contact staff writer Andrea Opperman at acopperm@indiana.edu.