by Bailey Porter
Managing Editor
As recent events in San Francisco and Massachusetts spark national debate, the majority of University of La Verne students have come out in support of legalizing gay marriage.
In an informal survey conducted on campus last week, seven out of 10 students here said they favor affording same-sex couples all the legal rights that heterosexual couples enjoy.
“Everybody should be able to choose who they want to marry,” said Crystal Murguia, a freshman behavioral science major.
Brandon Jones, a senior accounting major, said marriage should not be politicized.
“They’re still individuals and humans and nothing is said about a man and a woman,” he said. “Why should it be different with two men or two women?”
But while San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom with the Massachusetts Supreme Court agree that denying marriage licenses to gay couples is unconstitutional, those who favor legalizing gay marriage are still in the minority nationally.
Most Americans, however, support civil unions for gay couples, recent surveys find.
David B. Cruz, professor of law at the University of Southern California, said that there are fundamental differences between civil unions and the marriage licenses that heterosexual couples can obtain anywhere in the United States.
Civil unions give gay and lesbian couples many of the same rights at the state level, but they do not trigger many of the federal rights available to married heterosexual couples.
Because the events in San Francisco and Massachusetts are happening in an election year, both democratic frontrunner John Kerry, who is from Massachusetts and President George W. Bush have had to address their views on the issue:
Kerry supports civil unions, but opposes gay marriage,while Bush is seeking a constitutional amendment to define marriage as an institution between men and women.
Meanwhile on campus, Corina Dubon, a freshman psychology major, agrees with the Massachusetts court decision.
However, she said it is a necessary part of the election debate because people who oppose same-sex marriage will want their voices heard.
“I don’t necessarily support gay marriage. I think civil unions are alright because it’s not dragging the “m” word through the mud so to speak,” said Tom Anderson, a freshman journalism major.
Joy Helou, a senior biology and chemistry major, said that because the constitution keeps religion out of politics, the decision to marry should be up to the individual.
However, this debate does have a place in politics because it will give the American people the chance to voice their opinions, she said.
“They make a big deal out of it when they shouldn’t be. They’re blowing it out of proportion, but maybe they need to to see what the people of America want,” she said.
On May 17, gay and lesbian couples will be able to marry in Massachusetts.
Opponents of same-sex marriage have drafted bills that would make marriages between homosexuals void.
“We do not uphold same-sex marriage,” said Brian Parcel, pastor at Westmont United Methodist Church in Pomona, Calif.
The United Methodist Church has been the center of media attention in the past few years because of its unwavering stance on the issue of homosexuality.
In recent years, however, members of the denomination have worked to change this causing division in the church, he said.
The two aspects of church law forbidding clergy to perform marriages for homosexual couples and the ordaining of practicing homosexuals has led some clergy and laity to protest the laws and do it anyway, he said, leading to reprimands or revoking of ordainment.
Cruz said that it is clear that many people base their opinions of the definition of marriage on religion, but the government cannot make justifications in the same way.
Cruz said under the separation of church and state and with examination of equal protection and due process, courts determine whether a law brings harm or discrimination against individuals.
“Religion cannot always be used to engage in secular, rational argument,” he said.
Vermont’s law is constitutionally objectionable, Cruz said.
While civil unions provide the same rights as marriage, they are presented as a separate institution.
Cruz said he believes this shows the inferiority placed on homosexual couples as second-class citizens when the constitution only recognizes one class of people.
Parcel said the issue of same-sex marriage should be removed from politics and be considered individually and not by the government.
“I don’t think the state should legislate morality,” Parcel said.
Derek Keepers, a freshman psychology major, said he feels many people “have trouble differentiating between what’s spiritual and legal or political.
“As citizens we should only be responsible to the political or legal decisions.”
Murguia said it is time for each state to re-examine marriage.
“Views on everything have changed since back then; gays and lesbians were not tolerated but also women had no rights and blacks were slaves,” she said.
“I think people should have the right to choose – whatever makes them happy,” said Charles Turner, a junior history major.
Sophomore communications major Julie Sanchez-Alvarez does not oppose same-sex marriage because it does not effect her.
It will be interesting to see how the multiple sides of the issue play out in politics this year, she said.
