Recently in California, a ruling was passed on gay marriage, removing the ban and causing gay couples all over the state to celebrate. The judge’s ruling was intelligent and moral – I could not agree with it more. However, many people have risen up indignantly to contest this ruling.

Some devout Christians state that homosexuality is against the will of God, and therefore it should be banned as immoral. However, the Bible also states very clearly that those working on the Sabbath day should be put to death (Exodus 35:2), eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), and that one may possess slaves both male and female provided they are both bought from neighbouring countries (Leviticus 25:44). Therefore, should eating shellfish and working on the Sabbath day be made illegal? Should we allow our people to possess slaves from Mexico and Canada? And what of other religions? One bans the eating of pork, another bans the eating of beef. Therefore, should we shut down every cow and pig farm that exists in the United States? The first immigrants to the United States came for religious freedom; they came so that the principles of some religions would not be forced upon them. Since then, we have upheld our nation as a place of dreams, freedom and most importantly, a separation of church and state. It is understandable that some Christians may object to the idea of gay marriage, but they have no right to force the principles of their religion on others.

Others argue that gay marriage weakens the link between marriage and procreation. However, this argument is like an island – it cannot be linked to anything else but itself. Although it may be true that gay marriage weakens the link between procreation and marriage, opponents of gay marriage have made no move to ban marriage between heterosexuals who choose not to, or cannot, have children. The argument’s inconsistencies fail to make it effective.

On the other hand, the arguments for gay marriage are based on subjects more solid than faith and long-standing prejudices: they are based on the rights our Constitution promises us. The rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” stated in the Bill of Rights can alone defend the right of those who choose gay marriage.

Whether homosexual love is a choice or a natural occurrence, we may never know. What we can be assured of for now, though, is the fact that homosexuals have as much of a right to marry as any of us.