Changes

As I'm sitting here tonight, I have an overwhelming feeling that I need to get down some of my feelings about a recent change that will, I believe, be forever marked in our history. Last week, our US congress decided that they it would be unconstitutional to not recognize same sex marriage. They left it up to each state to determine if same sex marriage would be legal or not. But the US government will now recognize these marriages.

As a Mormon who has grown up in Utah (traditionally a very conservative state), I've had trouble coming to terms with how I feel about same sex marriage. I know that marriage is supposed to be between a man and a woman. I know this. I believe this. But just because those are my beliefs, why do I need to force those beliefs on others who don't believe this. Also, what is so wrong about letting my gay friends be legally married to the man/woman of their dreams? They are capable of loving one person just as much as I am - so why should I stop them from being with them for this life?

As a Mormon, I also believe that marriage should be done in the Temple of the Lord by the hand of someone with the proper authority from God. This marriage is sealed for time and all eternity. That is the marriage that I am in, and one that my religion believes is correct. So, that being said, should I be against any marriage that doesn't occur in one of our Temples? Because, in my mind, a marriage between a man and a woman outside of the temple and a marriage between a man and a man or a woman and a woman fit under the same category.

So, in the midst of this controversy, I want to note my definitive opinion on the matter. I think that same sex marriage should be legal in every state. I think that a person should be able to be legally and lawfully married to the person they love - no matter the sex of their partner. It feels so wrong to me to discriminate against these men and women just because they are different from me. They are still people.

I think back to the time when blacks and whites were segregated in our country. We look back on that time and think how wrong it was. How could those white men and woman look at a black man or woman and not see an equal human being. It makes me sick to think that our society still has to deal with type of prejudice. To say that a man or woman is less of a person just because they aren't your same skin color is so wrong. And I like to think that most of our country now sees that.

My hope is that someday, our society will look back on this time in our history and wonder how we could ever have made same sex marriage illegal. It really is just a different form of prejudice with the same foundation - fear of those who are not like us.

As hard as it would be for a child of mine to struggle with same sex attraction (because of my religious beliefs), I sure hope that if that were the case, by the time he or she wanted to get married that they would be able to marry whomever they want. My hope for this country is that we will one day get past this prejudice and learn that people with same sex attractions are just like you and me.

I know what my vote will be if I ever get to take part in the decision whether same sex marriage will be legal in the state of Utah.

Just wanted to share my feelings.