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Friday,
April 16, 2004 |
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Club
tackles gay marriage issue with debate
At
a Philosophy Club meeting, a TCU English professor shared
her reasons why gay marriage should be allowed.
By
Erin Baethge
Banning
gay marriage denies social justice to human beings and
is harmful to our society, said an English professor at
the Philosophy Club’s meeting Thursday night.
Speaking to an audience of 26 people who overwhelmingly
supported gay marriage, Linda Hughes, the club’s
guest speaker, said she is making the case for gay marriage
because homosexuals deserve the constitutional right of
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
“It’s harmful to not give gays the opportunity
to marry,” Hughes said. “Many gays unhappily
enter into heterosexual marriages because of the great
value Americans place on the institution of marriage and
on family.”
Hughes, who has taught at TCU since 1989, said she became
passionate about granting homosexuals equal rights after
she befriended a gay colleague in 1984.
“We can’t discriminate against people who are
born the way they are,” Hughes said.
It’s not fair that homosexuals can’t file joint
taxes and collect unemployment if forced to move because
another partner relocates or not have access to a partner’s
inheritance, Hughes said.
Hughes said two arguments are commonly used today to oppose
gay marriage: If gay marriages are allowed, then we are
sanctioning the gay lifestyle which is associated with
promiscuity, unsafe sex and drugs. And whether gay marriages
destroy the sanctity of marriage.
Hughes said these arguments exist because of people’s
fear of homosexuals.
“I think it’s based on an assumption that being
gay is evil or perverted,” Hughes said.
During her speech, Hughes examined how gays have been
perceived throughout history and gave examples of homosexuals,
such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Alexander
the Great, who have contributed to our society.
Homosexuality was not condemned in Greek society but started
to become unacceptable once it became an identity in the
1870s, Hughes said.
However, Hughes said our culture is continually evolving
and society’s acceptance of homosexuals has increased
during her lifetime.
Jeff Sebo, a junior philosophy and sociology major and
co-president of the Philosophy Club, said the club regularly
invites professors to speak at their Thursday meetings.
“It gives the professors an opportunity to say things
they can’t say in class,” Sebo said. “In
here, they can be biased, but in the classroom they can’t
share their personal opinions because that could influence
students.” |
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