So an Iowa County Judge has ruled that the gay-marriage ban is unconstitutional. I have little doubt that the wonderful state of Iowa will appeal it and make sure to stick to their conservative roots, but I am touched and uplifted that someone in the Midwest has the good sense not to be a bigot.

There is a large, very, very large difference between what churches may consider marriage and what the government needs to rule. The only reason for marriage being defined as between a man and a woman is that the word in our culture has been used solely in conjunction with the church and the church states it must be between a man and a woman. Marry, coming from the Latin maritare means only to wed, marry, to give in marriage. I’m not seeing much talk about a man and a woman there. Now I haven’t checked the OED and some of my professors would find fault with that, but I’m not going to do that right now. I’ll get back to you.

Churches get to be restrictive--they do, after all, have a very strict set of beliefs. Those beliefs don’t include equality for all. But our government, our wonderful, corrupted government isn’t supposed to pick and choose who gets what benefits in our society. We did it with minorities, and we did it with women. Somehow the country has survived all of that. What is so damned threatening about allowing two people to marry? Why is it such a scary thought to give spouses, no matter their gender, equal privileges across the board?

I’m curious, honestly. I would like to know, why the government shouldn’t allow gay marriage. I would like to know why it is so scary that there should be a constitutional ban. And I would really like to know the reasoning behind all of those answers.

And at the end of the day when our country is done doing its best to keep happiness and equality from its citizens I would really like to know what is gained from sitting around and hating people. People that aren’t committing hate crimes. People that aren’t engaging in heinous illegal activities. When AIDS was discovered people stood up and said it was punishment from God. When Katrina hit those same people said it was the wrath of God. Well, I don’t want any part of that God. And I have to ask you--if consensual sex is so offensive that he murders millions of people and denies them earthly love and happiness, why do you? Maybe it’s time for some people in this country to rethink their religion and their hate.