Now they can be as miserable as the rest of us – and that is a good thing.

I’m not a partisan guy. I don’t choose my friends based on party affiliation. I don’t defriend people on Facebook who simply disagree with me on one particular issue. As a result this mentality yields friendships on both sides of the marriage equality issue. Both sides have often heard my many jokes on how everyone should have the same right to be miserable when it comes to the marriage issue. I have also joked [with some seriousness] that some probably fear same-sex couples might be more successful with it when it comes to divorce.

But the bottom line is for heterosexual people – this is not about us. You can still have your personal beliefs. You will not be forced to marry the same sex. Your liberty is unchanged. You only have to share it now just like the air you breathe.

With regards to personal and religious beliefs about marriage: When marriage was an institution governed only by the church, religious sects governed who could and could not marry. This became a civil rights issue the moment that secular governments got involved with the institution and starting licensing the rite and essentially turning it into a legal entity. Judges and Magistrates who perform marriages are performing a civil service much like your local secretary of state signs off on a corporation. They are not religious positions – they are civil positions and this notion of religious infringement conflicts with their duties in government. They should quit if this cannot be reconciled. Bear in mind, however, I do believe Pastors, Rabbis, Imams, etc. have the right to exercise a religious exemption to performing these ceremonies.

Just because I have not been all that great a fan of marriage due to failures on my part with two marriages does not mean I am against marriage. While I discourage all of my friends to get married unless it is an absolute necessity, having that right is inalienable. It was never about wanting to as much as it was about being able to.

I assure you the world will not end. There will be no one setting themselves on fire. There will be no one moving to Canada. There *will* be a lot of awkward conversations between celebrity couples who now must fulfill promises to get married. There will be wedding-related businesses expanding into this new market and there will be a surge in overall marriages – which will mean later on down the road we will see who will be the real winners – Divorce Attorneys. 🙂

 

But for a lot of good people out there, there will be happiness that comes with this sense of normalcy.