Support same-sex marriage

Posted on February 14, 2007
Filed Under Oregon | Leave a Comment

This week, I*) hope the people of Eugene will join me in honoring Freedom to Marry Week, in recognition of the desire of all committed couples, gay or straight, to have their relationships recognized - not in a symbolic way, but in all ways legal, spiritual and philosophical.

As citizens, we all expect similar rights and benefits. When we pay our taxes, we expect a reasonable return on our investment. When we vote, we expect that our voices will be heard. When challenges arise, we hope that someone - police officers, firefighters, doctors, nurses, teachers, friends - will be there to lend a hand. We do not deny support to a person based on our biases against whom that person may happen to love.

Marriage provides 1,138 legal protections to which same-sex couples do not have fair access - including health benefits, Social Security, pension and retirement account rollovers, veterans’ benefits, hospital visitation, child custody rights and many more. That makes at least 1,138 ways that gays and lesbians are discriminated against.

Here in Eugene, we’ve taken a lot of steps to limit discrimination against all people, but we still have a ways to go. And our state must go even further. Because same-sex couples are now prohibited from marrying under Measure 36, approved by the voters in 2004, enacting civil unions is the best way to bestow benefits, protections and responsibilities on gay couples similar to those granted straight couples through marriage. Our Legislature and governor are poised to pass civil unions legislation this session. We must support this by contacting our legislators and thanking them for doing the right thing. It’s most certainly time. Read more….

*) Kitty Piercy is mayor of Eugene

 Source: The Register Guard

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