Just in time for Valentine's Day, New York State Senator Tom Duane has sent a love note to his constituents in Chelsea via a bill that would legalize homosexual marriages. New York's legislators are well aware of the firestorm of voter outrage that rained down on Vermont politicians who legalized same-sex unions in that state last year, so Duane's bill amounts to little more than grandstanding for the folks back home. Nevertheless, same-sex marriage is an issue that likely will not go away anytime soon, so it is worthwhile to initiate the political debate.
Marriage is a solemn union between two loving people, nothing less and nothing more.
If the couple is religious, the marriage may be blessed and recognized in a wedding ceremony performed by the appropriate clergy, and celebrated with friends and family. As a libertarian, I do not see a legitimate role for the state in any of this, regardless of the gender of the two people involved. Democratic assembly member Anthony Seminerio of Queens does not see it that way. Lifelong monogamous relationships of any kind are quite rare in the wild, but we higher orders of animals can rise above our baser instincts. That is, many of us can.