To the editor:

Those who support a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage rationalize their bigotry with the catch phrase “protecting marriage.” What exactly are they protecting marriage from? A 50 percent divorce rate? A 75 percent or higher rate of infidelity? Unwed couples living together? Single parenting? Perhaps real protection will require a ban on heterosexual marriage as well.

The fact is, they aren’t protecting marriage at all. The only thing they are protecting is their own narrow view of the world in which any diversity of human experience which makes them uncomfortable is legislated out of existence. If the religious right truly wanted to protect marriage, they would seek health insurance for all Kansans, so troubled couples could seek marriage counseling instead of legal counseling. They would fight for quality jobs at living wages so couples could make ends meet without having to work two jobs at the expense of their relationships.

Above all, they would not be marrying hatred with constitutional law. That is one marriage guaranteed to fail the test of time.

David Reber,

Lawrence