Kansas is a perfect example. Public Policy Polling recently questioned residents of that state on the question. The poll was done between February 18th and 20th of 693 Kansas residents, and has a margin of error of 3.7 points. Note that when people were asked if they supported legalizing same-sex marriage, a plurality said no (48% to 44%). But when they were asked if they favored legalizing same-sex civil unions (unions that would have all of the legal rights and privileges of opposite-sex marriages), a clear majority (66% to 32%) supported that.
To me, this is a rather strange outcome. If you allow legal same-sex civil unions, and those civil unions have all the same rights and privileges granted to opposite-sex marriages, haven't you in effect legalized same-sex marriages? Of course you have. The only difference is the use of the word "marriage" -- a difference that has no real meaning.
Why does this difference exist, since it is only a semantic one? Some right-wing fundamentalists will claim it is because marriage is a religious (christian) sacrament. That simply doesn't hold water. Marriages existed long before any of the modern religious were established, and opposite-sex couples have long had the right to be joined in a civil ceremony -- and have those civil unions called marriages.
Others will tell you that if same-sex marriages are legalized, then some churches that oppose those unions will be forced to perform them. That is also ludicrous. No one is advocating making any church preform any ceremony they do not approve of, since that would be a violation of religious freedom. For example, there are churches that don't approve of inter-faith marriages, or marriages between a believer and a non-believer. But while those marriages are legal in all 50 states, no church is required or forced to perform them.
The same would be true of same-sex marriages. Some churches would perform them and some would refuse to do so -- but it would be left up to the individual church, and none would have to violate their own beliefs.
Personally, I feel there is only one reason for right-wing christians to cling to this semantic difference. It is a face-saving device. Many of them are beginning to realize they are advocating an untenable position -- a bigoted position that is unconstitutional and promotes granting some people more rights than others. They want to grant all Americans equal rights, but don't want to admit they have been wrong -- so they favor civil unions without the use of the word "marriage".
And Kansas is not the only red state that thinks this way. In fact, I would venture to say that is the position in most (if not all) of them. Here are some other examples of red state voters that approve of civil unions (without using the word "marriage"):
Hey, that's a better outcome than I would expect. That means that a sizable portion of people in red states acknowledge that gay people can exist!
ReplyDeleteNot to mention that it puts us in a good position once we manage to explain that legal marriage IS in fact a civil union ceremony, with no religious implications!
I guess we're going to be able to explain that. Otherwise, someone is going to be really mad when they learn that unbaptized people are allowed to get married, too.
Just another example of "religious logic".
ReplyDeleteThis attitude of "marriage" vs. civil unions" is attributable in large part to the religious rights unfounded assertion that same sex marriages threaten traditional marriage. We have all heard this bumper sticker comment but when pressed for them to explain how gay marriages threaten heterosexual marriages I have yet see anyone even attempt to answer this question.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it pathetic too that the people who support civil unions over legal marriage are likely the same people who support the Affordable Care Act while opposing Obamacare, not understanding they are one and the same? Some people are so easily manipulated and even exploited by a deceitful use of semantics.
Your face-saving angle is probably at least partially right. That said, many conservative Xns do thing the word "marriage" means something sacred/religious, and such mindsets won't change easily. And, legally, you have to call it marriage to insure equality.
ReplyDelete