I have found that the opponents of gay marriage use three basic arguments. They argue that homosexuality is against their religion. They say that allowing homosexuals to marry is against the sanctity of marriage. Lastly, they say that in a democracy, the will of the majority makes the laws.

If homosexual marriage is against a certain religion, that church should not be required to marry homosexuals. This is basic separation of church and state. However, just because the followers of a religion do not believe in something does not give them the right to deny it to others outside their religion.

Just because gay marriage is against the tenets of some religion, its followers have no right to deny marriage to others of a different persuasion.

In a nation where a million-plus marriages end in divorce each year (even in religions that do not allow divorce), why are people worrying about gay unions affecting the sanctity of marriage? If two gay men or two lesbian women decide to get married, how does that affect the sanctity of someone else's marriage? It doesn't.

The sanctity of a marriage is between the two partners in that particular union.

Not long ago we had laws that allowed for segregated schools and restrooms. Some of our citizens were denied an education, the right to vote and other more basic rights. These were bad laws based on bigotry but were nonetheless the will of the majority.

Any laws that allow, or worse, enforce bigotry, whether it is because of religion, sexual orientation or the color of a person's skin, are bad laws.

I firmly believe that any law that denies gays and lesbians the right to marry is a law of bigotry and, therefore, a very bad law.

David Kinney

Foxfire Village