To the editor:

Some of our city commissioners want Lawrence to be a progressive city, i.e., we need to recognize diversity and be tolerant of everyone. They suggest we can do this by having a registry of domestic partners, i.e., same-sex unions.

The citizens of Kansas decided in a state referendum that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. Now, how different can these two positions be? First, married same-sex unions are unlawful according to Kansas law. Secondly, it would seem that both married and unmarried same-sex unions want the same benefits as lawful married couples. The gays want someone else to pay for their choice to disobey the law.

Health benefits seem to be a big concern to gay couples and why not? AIDS statistics show that the gays are a major part of these national afflictions. I recall when the gays were fighting for Lawrence to include them in the nondiscrimination part of the local human rights ordinance, which eventually passed.

This obsession by gays to have everything that legally married couples have will never end unless the gays realize that they are seeking the wrong thing (actually, even many married couples are doing the same).

Jesus said, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?” This rhetorical question followed His comments that “If we were to follow Him, we must take up our cross daily and deny ourselves.” This truth is the only way for everyone to enjoy the benefits God has provided through His salvation in Jesus Christ.

Carl Burkhead,

Lawrence