Thank You

From Good As You writer Jeremy Hooper, and general bad-ass word fighter, concerning the Crazy Christian's attack's on Gay Marriage rights in California:

Regardless of your views concerning marriage as it exists through the eyes of God -- and we humans certainly have many different opinions on the subject -- what we are actually discussing here is CIVIL MARRIAGE. Via reasoned court action, gay couples in California have been afforded the right to obtain a CIVIL marriage license. As for the religious component? Well that is, has always been, and will (hopefully) always remain an optional component when it comes to the obtaining, fulfillment, recognition, and dissolution of civil marriage contracts. No matter how valid one might find the religious aspect-- and in many faiths, the religious certificates, blessings, and customs are far more important than the civil -- it still will not afford a couple the civil rights, benefits, and protections that come from a state-issued marriage license.

Just like a heterosexual atheist couple can now marry without so much as acknowledging a Bible, gay couples can choose whether or not they want faith brought into their state-recognized marriage. Some will employ faith, and some will not. Some will desperately want to have a religious ceremony, but their faiths and sects will not allow for it. These are all valid religious matters worth discussing. They are not, however, a suitable basis for denying constitutional freedoms.

The issue of religious marriage? Yes, that notion is all about a particular book or books of faith. But the issue of civil marriage equality is no more a "biblical issue" than it is a "Curious George or Da Vinci Code issue"! The only way we are going to be able to have a grown up national conversation about marriage and its fair recognition is when we stop resorting to blatant untruths to support our points of view. At the very least, those on the "pro-family side need to extend the rest of us the courtesy of sticking to the matters at hand rather than the matters that are more politically viable for your side.

I'll second that.