Letter to the Editor on Same-Sex Marriage

Sent by Reverand Dr. Linda Anderson
March 3rd, 2004

Sent to the Daily Freeman, Woodstock Tiems, Times Herald Record

March 3,  2004

To the Editor:

Thank you for your coverage of marriage between people of the same gender.  In your discussion of religious views on such marriages, the viewpoint of Unitarian Universalism was not mentioned and so I would like to add that voice here.  I serve as minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Catskills, on Sawkill Road in Kingston.  Unitarian Universalism began in the 1500's.

Unitarian Universalism has a long-standing and deeply held commitment to support full equality for bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender people, going back 33 years, to 1970.  In 1996 we called for legalization of same-sex marriage. The Unitarian Universalist Association has joined the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry in an effort to oppose any constitutional amendment that would ban same gender marriage.  Laws and constitutional amendments aimed at discriminating against anyone and limiting their rights as human beings are affronts to all.  Such laws have been used to separate and divide us and surely separation and division are not in the best interests of justice, understanding and peace.  Unitarian Universalism, grounded in faith as we understand it, supports the full humanity of all people, including everyone's ability to love and everyone's value in the world. 

Yes, the Bible does have injunctions against homosexuality but to invoke such passages with no reference to the context and history in which they appear is, in my opinion, to do disservice to the Bible whose overriding message is to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with one's God, loving both God and one's neighbor.  To hold up some Biblical injunctions while ignoring so many others appears as if the Bible was being used to further a human, rather than a divine, agenda.  How does same gender marriage threaten marriage between persons of different genders?

In any case, we live in a society that separates church and state and our constitution does not permit the religious convictions of some to be given a legal status that would apply to society as a whole.  Religious and secular views about same gender marriage vary widely.

I believe that we are part of an inter-dependent creation which has brought forth a wonderful diversity, including diversity in sexual and affectional orientation.  The future of our planet is best served by our courageous acts of love, kindness and compassion, especially when the ethical and spiritual examples provided by our faith differ.