Who cares?

The IDS has lately given ample space to letters by David House, in which he trots out the same tired, old dog and pony show to explain why he believes homophiles should be denied equality before the law.

While House carefully omits any reference to God or religion, the thematic identity of his arguments with those proffered by the religious right betrays their Christo-fascist underpinnings. Underlying this is an overweening preoccupation with others’ sexual behavior and a frantic desire to control the same, which, to my mind, betokens something distinctly unwholesome. Frankly, I think it’s morbid.

I would ask Mr. House: What is it to you? Why does it matter to you?
True to his type, House employs bogus analogies to equate homosexuality with crime, mental illness and bestiality. Homosexuality is no crime. Anyone who is truly unable to distinguish between a human and a goat as the proper object of his affections has debilitating emotional problems and should seek treatment.

Marriage is not a “privilege” or a sacrament: it is a legal contract into which any two persons of majority may enter freely, by mutual agreement, regardless of their respective genders. The freedom of persons to make – and break – contracts is a right guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America and protected by the government – until we reach gay marriage, when equal rights suddenly become “special rights.”

It is a principle of constitutional law that a right must not be curtailed unless the government can show a compelling reason why this should be so. House cherry-picks his “evidence” but none have demonstrated the “manifest detriment” of same-sex marriage to the country.

Homophiles throughout the country respectfully request the removal of this egregious abridgement of their rights and happiness: forthright acknowledgement by our public institutions of their indefeasible right to marry partners of their choice. The gender of the person one might marry is no business of God’s or the government’s. Nor, Mr. House, is it any of yours.

Brady Hargrove
IU Staff and Alumnus