To the editor:

The recent federal and state debates to pass constitutional amendments banning gay marriage are troubling to me. Opponents of gay marriage contend marriage is intended by God to be between a man and a woman, and legalizing gay marriage will undermine the sacred institution of marriage. Considering the high divorce rate in the United States and prime-time television shows that treat marriage as casual entertainment, I think heterosexuals have already succeeded in undermining this “sacred” institution.

The current debate about gay marriage is nothing more than another of many attempts to legally oppress homosexuals and send a message that they are not considered equal to heterosexuals in this country. If Americans go to the polls to vote on this issue, I hope they will keep in mind the messages their votes send to their homosexual family members, friends and neighbors.

Dylan Rassier,

Lawrence