True Equality

Not that I have much sway on this topic at all, but I've been asked my stance multiple times in the last few days. So this is my two cents. Please, read it all before you attack.

I'm all for Marriage Equality. I too believe that love is love and that this is a civil rights issue. Some of my favorite people and greatest friends are homosexual. I love them the same as I love the rest of my friends, am happy for their accomplishments and deeply believe in everyone's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And that is all there is to it.

Or is there more?

Who are we kidding, there is always more. I have one problem with my own line of thought. We are talking about so much more than just one issue, both in the present and in the future.

You see besides being an advocate for marriage equality, I'm also a Mormon. A proud Mormon. I love my religion and what it does for me personally. I love the feelings of peace I get when I go to church, when I visit the Temple, and fulfill my callings. I served a two year mission for my church and loved my time doing it. I am all about sharing my faith because of how much it helped me. That being said, many members of my family are not Mormon, some of my best friends are not Mormon, and I would never force my beliefs on anyone.

There is so much more at risk with this issue for individuals of faith than we are immediately looking at.

The LDS church released a Proclamation regarding the family over 10 years ago. In it, the leaders of the Church define a marriage as a union between one man and one woman. This is important for many reasons. This is coming from a church that at one time practiced polygamy, or the concurrent marriage of one man and multiple women.

My biggest personal concern is the effect this heated issue will have on my personal future rights. I am not a bigot. I am not a hate monger. But I will continue to believe that homosexuality is a sin. The same way drinking, smoking, using illegal drugs, having premarital sexual relations, taking the Lords name in vain, cursing, and any other myriad of human behavior is a sin.

And I have news for you. I'm a sinner. I have temptations like everyone else. I'm far from perfect, and I always will be.

However, if marriage equality passes and my church continues to preach that homosexuality is a sin, we will be labeled as intolerant. Our rights to freedom of speech and freedom to worship how, where and what we may will be infringed upon the same way homosexuals right to marry are currently infringed upon.

Don't believe me? Just look at our history. Then look at this study done on the effects of same sex marriage in Canada.
Same Sex Marriage -- 10 Years Later

Anyone interested in assessing the impact of same-sex marriage on public life should investigate the outcomes in three spheres: first, human rights (including impacts on freedom of speech, parental rights in public education, and the autonomy of religious institutions); second, further developments in what sorts of relationships political society will be willing to recognize as a marriage (e.g., polygamy); and third, the social practice of marriage.

Understanding that this study may be skewed in one direction or another, this still presents a great point. If/when same sex marriage passes, my ability to speak out against it will be significantly hindered. I can be prosecuted for voicing my beliefs. My church can be fined and called intolerant, bigots, hateful and any other myriad of names.

Additionally, how involved will the government become in organizational law? Will they enforce laws requiring Mormon bishops to perform homosexual civil marriages? Will they require that the temple sealing ordinance be extended to same sex marriages? Can they do that? 

In my perfect world, we would be able to be tolerant of each others tolerance. We would allow same sex marriage as well as the ability to consider it to be against the laws of God. I could go to the wedding of my homosexual friends, support their love, and be happy for them while they simultaneously respect my right to believe that acting on those desires is wrong.

But this world isn't perfect. This country isn't perfect. We have a thousand important issues that need to be addressed besides this one. We face a time of change. We have the ability to shape our future. We have the ability to work towards a better world full of understanding, hope, and Love.

A friend of mine posted the following:

"Today I have heard from people who feel so strongly for both sides of the gay marriage issue. People on both sides feel both empowered by their cause, and threatened, belittled and undervalued by their opponents. I ask everyone, no matter what your stand on the issue, to remember one thing: People are inherently good, and proponents of both sides feel they are doing the right thing. Every person has a different story and, consequently, a different understanding. No matter what you believe, speak out, and effect change! But remember that we are all just trying to get it right."

I can not state my feelings in any more eloquent a way than that.

Let us understand each other, let us love each other, and let us build a better future for ourselves and our children. We have the ability to come together in a way never before seen to find the right answers and make this country of ours a great place for all peoples once again.

I truly hope everyone who reads this understands where I'm coming from. I do believe in marriage equality. I do believe in gay rights. I want my homosexual brothers and sisters to be able to find happiness and tolerance in this world. But I also want to retain my rights and I'm deeply concerned about where these roads will lead. I wish it wasn't a "your rights or mine" type of issue, but until we can come together in love and understanding, it always will be.

I am not conservative. I am not liberal. I am an American. I am human. Like every single one of you. I pray we can come together and find the right solution that will benefit all. Like my friend said, '...we are all just trying to get it right.'