Saturday, February 15, 2014

Send a Message to Them that Tells Them We Love Them

   If Utah wants to win its court case against same-sex marriage, it should be falling all over itself to pass the bill outlawing discrimination against those of same-sex affections. It should be moving its feet so fast it stumbles. Passing that law could send a message all the way to the Supreme Court about what Utah's feelings really are toward gays and lesbians.
   It loves them as people. And, it wants them to be treated right.
   That is a message if we don't give the the courts, anything else we say might be lost on them.
   You see, Utah's appeal of the marriage ruling has little chance at all if it comes off as an act of bigotry. America has rejected bigotry against native Americans, against blacks, against women and so forth. It is a march of history, one after another, the blocks of bigotry coming down.
   If you let this same-sex marriage question be framed as a matter of bigotry, you will lose, surely as America is America.
   I'm of the understanding we do love those of same-sex. I believe most Utahns do care about them, love them, and want them to be treated right. What is wrong, then, with a law that says we will treat them right in the workplace and in housing?
   I wish we were passing such a law with enthusiasm, saying, "Yes, of course. We will treat you without discrimination." Not only might it help send a message to the courts, but it might help send the same message to those of same-sex affection. We do love them, and we should want to show that love to them.
   Some will respond that if we are not discriminating, we must offer them marriage, as well. We should want to be in position to reply that not calling their partnerships marriages is not discrimination because it does not come with the trappings of discrimination.  We jump to afford them equal employment and housing rights. We want them to be treated right. We do not shun them. Not calling their unions marriages does not mean we do not give them their rights, and does not mean we treat them as a lesser people.
   If we want them to know, and the courts to know this is not discrimination, then let us jump to pass Sen. Stephen Urquhart's anti-discrimination bill. Let us say, "Yes, yes, of course, of course, we do want you to stand as equals with us."

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