Because Discrimination Should Matter To Everyone…

Cross posted @ the Atheist Oasis

Well, the good news is in: New York’s now the sixth state to ratify same-sex marriage. Among other pleasant surprises:

“New York's Republican-controlled legislature cleared the way Friday to legalize same-sex marriage with a 33-to-29 vote, sending the bill to the governor's desk for his approval.”

A question that does spring up from time to time, is why do atheists weigh in on this topic? More often than not, it’s that generalized ‘hey, you’re not gay, why do you care?’

There’s plenty of reasons to care. For one, there’s the issue of sympatico – if you’ve ever been discriminated against, it’s an ugly feeling; and if you’re any kind of human at all, you shouldn’t wish that sort of nonsense on anyone else. For another, the anti-gay arguments against this sort of union is primarily religious. By forcing a religious belief on others, it’s a clear violation of the Separation of Church and State. And even more fundamental rights than constitutional ones. It is safe to say, there aren’t any secular arguments against it.

It’s even safer to say, that Christianity has carried the homophobic torch for some centuries now. It’s an old, rotted tradition that should be scrapped, along with the institution that implemented it.

Of course all the homophobes are up in arms about this (even the ‘polite ones’) – including one who has a lesbian granddaughter. I can’t abide the Westboro Bozos, but at least everyone knows where they stand on this, and they aren’t talking out of both sides of their collective mouths. The ‘I have friends/family who are gay’ excuse doesn’t bail people out.

If you tell one subset of people that they aren’t allowed to do something that everyone else can, that’s discrimination.

That’s a fact, not an ‘opinion’.

Till the next post, then.