Here are today’s dispatches from the crossroads of faith, media and culture.<\/p>\n
1. Cultural shift continues as New York okays gay marriage. <\/strong>The cable networks scrambled to cover<\/a> the state legislature’s historic vote on Friday night leading to at least one ironic segue<\/a> and, of course, Hollywood was all atwitter<\/a>. Proponents of gay marriage reasonably argue that the state has no business telling consenting adults who they can and cannot marry. Opponents, meanwhile, see “marriage” as a word with distinct religious connotations.<\/p>\n This leads me to suggest that it’s time for the state to get out of the sacrament business<\/strong>. Laws regarding secular marriage licenses were written when issues like gay marriage were far off the radar screen. In case you haven’t noticed, times have changed.<\/p>\n Why can’t the federal government issue civil unions that would have nothing to do with sexuality (a private matter)? Such unions would extend legal, financial and insurance rights to partnerships involving both gay and straight couples, as well adult unmarried siblings, relatives or friends who could benefit from such legal arrangements. They really don’t have to have anything to do with who’s having sex with who — again, none of the government’s business.<\/p>\n In order to cover everyone, and since the reasonable argument for legalizing gay marriage also reasonably applies to polygamy, the unions could include up to three people. That would prevent the number of people involved in a single civil union from becoming legally unwieldy. Once four people are involved you would need two separate civil unions.<\/p>\n As for marriage, people would still find that in churches. If you believe in gay marriage, go to a church that believes in gay marriages. If you don\u2019t, go to one that doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n This proposal, I think, would prevent the national resolution of the issue from becoming bogged down in endless state legal battles, would take into account the concerns of everyone involved and re-enforce the legitimate separation of church and state in a reasonable way.<\/p>\n You’re welcome, America.<\/p>\n
\nIMHO: <\/strong>The gay marriage train is leaving the station and it’s about time we deal with the issue on a national basis so that all states can deal with the issue in a unified fashion. As a person with gay friends and friends who oppose gay marriage (and who finds neither side evil), I’d personally like to see a national law that would take the concerns of both sides into account.<\/p>\n