To the editor:

In defending the legalization of gay marriage, I most often encounter the following three arguments:

First, once I say, “Currently, homosexual couples lose rights automatically afforded to heterosexual couples,” opponents will counter with, “No, no. It’s not that they lose rights; it’s just they don’t gain any.” No matter how one puts it, homosexual couples still lose, or, rather, do not gain many protections and rights that come automatically with civil marriage.

The second most common argument against gay marriage is that homosexual couples cannot successfully raise children due to the lack of a male and female role model. This is despite the fact there are millions of single parents in this country alone that are successfully raising children. Along with that argument comes another, though not as often: “Homosexual marriages will produce homosexual children.” To that I say, “That is obviously a valid argument, because heterosexual marriages only produce heterosexual children.”

The third and final argument is the most popular among gay marriage opponents: “Gay marriages will destroy the sanctity of marriage.” If the institution of marriage is truly sacred, divorce would be outlawed. The validity of marriage should be based on the quality and depth of love, not the gender of each partner.

On a religious note, I often ask myself the following: What God can call himself “God” if all his children are not equal in his eyes?

Keenan Cox,

Lawrence