Gay Americans are Entitled to the Same Religious Freedoms as all Americans

I am not an attorney. I am an American citizen who loves my country and thinks we have a darn good thing going with the freedoms and protection we enjoy, as established in the Constitution, especially in the Bill of Rights. Also, I am a Methodist...just like George W. Bush.

I remember learning the First Amendment in school and I remember marveling at how important our forefathers must have deemed an ability we now take sorely for granted- the ability to practice our faith-whatever faith we choose no less-openly, freely and in whatever form we wish, so long as we do not infringe on the rights of others.

If someone has religious beliefs that they genuinely feel prohibit gay marriage, I respect their right to hold those beliefs, as should all Americans. We are all free to believe anything we want. Our beliefs only become a problem when they infringe on the rights of others.

Most gay Americans have been raised in the very same Judeo-Christian traditions as the majority of straight Americans. Many of them continue to observe their faith through active practice, prayer and celebration of sacraments, just like many straight Americans. There is not a movement among gay Americans and their friends to force clergypersons to marry anyone they cannot join together in good conscience, the gay marriage movement is about allowing gay people to engage in a religious sacrament administered by a willing clergyperson that allows them to fully observe their faith.

Gay Americans are entitled to the same protection of their religious freedom as all Americans.

Aren't they?

Because many people find the idea of gay marriage "unsavory," they exercise a knee-jerk reaction and vote against it. The trouble with Americans who "don't agree with" gay marriage voting against it, is that "gay marriage" per se is NOT what they are voting against. They are voting against equal protection of the religious freedom of Americans that they don't agree with. They are voting to suppress the very legal rights of their fellow Americans.

I think most Americans are really great people. I truly do not believe the average citizen has any desire to deny rights to anyone.

No one on either side of this debate is asking anyone to marry a gay person against their will. No one is attempting to force reluctant clergy to marry gay couples. No one is asking anyone to give up their personal convictions.

Most Americans wish to see that their own Constitutional Rights are protected, and it is the duty of every American to protect his/her own rights by protecting the rights of others- Even others they find "unsavory".

*The First Amendment of the US Constitution reads as follows, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."