Stay out of my bedroom

Many today are pushing for a smaller government. They don’t like the Feds stepping in to bail out companies, change health care or tell them what they can and can’t do in their own homes.

Yet it is many of these same people who are telling others what they can and can’t do — get married. Or more accurately, who can and can’t get married.

What goes on in people’s beds between two consenting adults is none of anyone’s business.

Why do people care so much about others’ lifestyles that they’re trying to push hurtful laws through the legislature?

Indiana politicians are guilty of such hypocrisy.

This state is one of 12 that actively prohibits gay marriage, and legislatures are trying to add that marriage can only be between a man and a woman to the state constitution.

Why does it matter to people that others want to be married? To have the same rights as everyone else? To have equality this country blathers about but doesn’t actually offer?

Gay people deserve the same as everyone else.

They should be able to adopt children into loving homes. They should be able to share insurance.

They should be able to visit each other in the hospital and make decisions should the worst happen.

They should be able to get married.

Civil unions, which aren’t legal here either, aren’t enough. One religion — or two or three — doesn’t have the word “marriage” trademarked.

If going to the courthouse and standing in front of a judge is called “marriage” for heterosexual couples, it should be the same for homosexual couples. A religious ceremony has nothing to do with it.

Studies show a growing number of people agree with me. Not only are Indiana-based companies, such as Lilly and Emmis Communications, speaking out against the state’s constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages and civil unions, but according to the Pew Center, more and more people support gay rights.

Public opinion is about the equally divided, whereas a mere 10 years ago, a “solid majority” was against gay rights.

This trend toward acceptance is especially strong among the “millennials,” or those born within the last 30 years; two-thirds of this group supports gay equality.

If I had to guess, I’d say when my generation is the dominant group in power, things will change — if they don’t before then.

What does legislating people’s personal lives bring except a lot of pain? Do people feel satisfaction by forcing their religious beliefs on others? It would make me feel dirty.

If certain groups really want to change the way government operates — smaller government, less invasive — they should start by changing their own actions and stop being hypocrites.

­— hanns@indiana.edu