28th Amendment: Ditch hitchin’

With all the debate circulating about the legality of marriage outside the traditional variety, it seems the most obvious choice is being overlooked. People have become too caught up in definitions and nomenclature in this highly litigious society of ours. For that reason, I propose a simple, all-inclusive ban on marriage as the 28th amendment to the Constitution.

A marriage ban would be the great equalizer. Whether gay, straight, single, polygamous, bisexual, everyone would be the same. If no one has the option of getting hitched, then everyone will have to deal with the situation on equal terms. No group will have to fight for the acceptance of others.

If you’re worried about the insurance benefits, powers of attorney and the tax matters that come with marriage, then you just need to relax. Contact a lawyer. Many of these subjects can be legally addressed in a marriage-free context.

If you still want to have a ceremony in a church or botanical garden to tell your friends and family that you and your significant other will be shacking up for the long haul, go right ahead. No one wants to stop you from doing that. Just don’t expect the Man to be paying much attention.

All people are created equal, according to this fine country’s greatest leaders. If marriage is a right, then everyone should have it. Since we’ve been treating it as a sacred privilege and taking it for granted more and more these days, we’ve done nothing but prove that no one is entitled.

E-mail: erbcox@indiana.edu