Earlier today, just when I thought it was safe to go back to regularly scheduled weight loss programming, I got the news that Proposition 8 passed in California.  I’ll admit it.  I had hoped that it wouldn’t, but there you are.  As you can imagine, to say that I am saddened by this would be one massive understatement.

I understand that some people think it’s “just plain wrong,” but I never understood how it could be considered a threat to “more traditional marriages.”  How can someone else’s loving relationship have any impact whatsoever on your own?

As other, much smarter, pro-gay marriage people have stated before me:

The greatest threat to the sanctity of marriage is divorce.

I personally believe that being gay is not a choice.  I’ve seen what some of my loved ones have gone through and how they have been treated and as one has said (to paraphrase):

Why would I choose to be treated like this?

I also believe that marriage has two foundations.

• Religion and the church

• Legal union

As far as the United States Government is concerned, marriage is merely a legal union between two people.  They join their lives together legally and financially.  Among other benefits, they have the right to merge their finances, and have their voice heard in the event of a medical emergency.  You agree to take on the responsibility for the other person.

We each place our own personal religious beliefs on our own idea of what marriage is.  Some people are religious and some are not.  Some get married in churches and some get married at City Hall.   Some people believe that marriage is an equal union between two people.  Some people believe that a woman should be subserviant to her husband.

Most arguments against gay marriage are based on such religious beliefs.  However, the United States Constitution is very specific about upholding religious freedom.  Many people with such arguments also argue that the United States is a Christian nation.  While the founders may have been Christian and the majority of those living in the U.S. may be Christian (I don’t know stats for sure), the whole purpose of founding our nation was that our ancestors wanted freedom to practice the religion of their choice.

If you don’t agree with gay marriage, don’t marry someone of the same sex.  But please don’t deny another person the opportunity to love whoever they please, follow their own religious beliefs, and enjoy the same freedoms, rights, and legal benefits that you are so lucky enough to access to.

Besides, based on the majority of the relationships I’ve seen in my lifetime, the gay ones seem to be the healthiest and most functional.

Now that my little emotion-filled rant is over, I can’t promise that I won’t bring up my political beliefs again - this blog is about my life - but I promise the next post will actually be about weight loss.  And, as long as you respect my opinions, then I will respect yours.  Let’s all play nice.