I've always seen my marriage contract as an agreement between my government and my family. Not as an agreement between me and my wife. Whatever we agree on between ourselves is for us decide. Where we need legal protection is at tax time, or in case one of us dies, or becomes very sick, or makes a million dollars, or whatever. The marraige contract defines us as a legal unit. The fact that same-sex couples are denied these protections is a terrible act of bigotry on the part of my government. Gay rights is the last remaining civil rights issue that doesn't have laws requiring equal treatment.

The only time I give a damn about what organized religions think about anything is when they get their strange ideas passed into law, as they have with gay rights. They are really worried about what other people are doing in bed -- what a bunch of perverts! They can believe whatever incredible things they like, but I just wish they wouldn't try to foist them off on the rest of us.

Alex, if you are still reading this, I am not intending this as an attack on you. Well, perhaps a challenge. I know you to be an intelligent, interesting, sincere, sensitive, caring, and witty man. I like you quite a lot. I do not think you are in any way a bad person. But you belong to an organization that practices and supports bigotry.

John Peekstok