Talking about Gay Marriage

You're all sitting there, secure in your rights as an American. But even in the year 2000 gay and lesbian people living in America today are not protected from discrimination and are denied the most basic rights under the law. Today in America, you can be fired from your job simply for being gay or lesbian. No federal law protects people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Despite different opinions about homosexuality, the vast majority of Americans believe that gay and lesbian people should not be singled out for discrimination or denied basic human rights. A fundamental American value holds that every person should have an equal opportunity to a good job, a decent home and a loving family.

Currently, gay and lesbian people are denied the opportunity to share in the rights and responsibilities of marriage in all 50 states.

Making a commitment to a lifelong relationship is a fundamental human need that should not be denied to anyone. Marriage is a basic human right. Adults should be free to make a commitment to the person with whom they wish to spend their life. The government sho

uld not interfere in these personal matters. Marriage ought to be a matter of individual personal decision. It is probably the most important personal commitment that two people can make. If two gay people want to get married and take responsibility for each other for better or worse, in sickness and in health, why should anyone else interfere? The decision of whom to marry should be left to individuals not dictated by the government.

Rights that married people take for granted-such as the ability to visit a sick or injured spouse in the hospital-are denied to gay and lesbian people. Because their committed relationships are not recognized by law, hospitals and other institutions and even their neighbors do not have to respect the basic human rights of gay and lesbian couples.

So think about that next time you go to visit a sick loved one in the hospital. How would you feel if you couldn't see them, and then was told to go pick up their body at the city morgue?

In Hawaii, two gay men had been in a committed relationship for 20 years. One Friday night, one of the men had a stroke and was taken to the hospital. When his partner arrived, the hospital refused to let them see each other-even though

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Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)