By Allan Watson, Contributor
I would like you to know about two people I know. One has severe migraines and the other painful ailments. The later, for all practical purposes, is confined to a wheelchair.
Alone, I imagine, life for this couple is more than unbearable. In a country that is too lacking in a commitment, without reservation, to guaranteed health care, equality is an unimaginable luxury for some.
Except for the rich or those lucky enough to have suitable health care benefits, Social Security and Medicaid leave loopholes that often defy needed support. Ultimately, after church, family and friends, these two beautiful women have, for support, only one another.
Yet, as I witness their commitment, their covenant love to each other and their God, I find a wonderful union that lives within the light of their Creator and loves, unconditionally, each other and their God. Furthermore, these two are obviously loved, AND UNCONDITIONALLY ACCEPTED. By any objective analysis, these two are living examples of “Thy will be done on Earth”.
Nevertheless, they cannot access over 400 rights afforded to the majority here in Maine and over 1000 of those same rights “from sea to shining sea”. They are denied these rights for the simple (and unconscionable) reason that, lawfully, they are not afforded the opportunity, one with the other, to marry. It matters not that they meet the criterion, mutual, covenant love, as set by Divine, for marriage. The state of Maine denies their right and in doing so, denies their love.
Opponents of marriage equality are often persuaded by religious arguments. This is not a surprise. Ancestors of today’s discriminators voiced similar arguments in the past. Sincere in their belief, BUT WRONG, were those thousands of pastors who, misinterpreting scripture, led millions to believe that slavery was condoned by God. Sincere in their belief, BUT WRONG, were those thousands of pastors who, misinterpreting scripture, led millions to believe that denying rights to women was condoned by God. In addition, the same attitude, again misinterpreting scripture, led state after state to ban interracial marriage. These opinions (that often became the law of the land) were taken as truth, Divine truth. They are part of the dust of history now.
It serves no great purpose to engage in Biblical “proof-texting”. There isn’t an authentic Biblical argument against marriage equality. There isn’t a legitimate “other side”. Just as were the proponents of slavery and opponents of women’s rights and interracial marriage wrong, so are the opponents of marriage equality wrong. For those who must engage in Biblical “proof-texting”, I have done the work for you in my book, LIVING LOVE. As a conclusion to the question of religious objection, it must be noted that the specific law passed in the Maine legislature, which triggered this article, recognizes that there is religious opposition and clearly states that any religion wishing not to recognize marriage equality does not have to do so. The law would afford a myriad of legal rights and responsibilities allowed to all Maine citizens who wish to marry. This is a law of rights, not a law of religion.
The couple I introduced in the first paragraph now survive on love for and great expectations from each other. Why not extend to them (and thousands of other Mainers) the helpfulness of all legal rights? The title of this article asks, “Why I (whole-heartedly) support marriage equality. The answer is profoundly simple – there’s no reason not to.
