Gay Marriage Is Now Legal in Washington

"The government does not have the right to tell you who or if you can marry." (#5, Jan) Really Jan? Can you marry your sister? your brother? your mother? your uncle? Can you marry 5 other polyamorous "pals"? WHY NOT? Who sez that marriage has to be two people? Why not 3 or 5 or 10? Why should it be limited to humans? I love my dog! Maybe I want my dog to inherit my millions (like Leona Hemsley)! Why stop there? Why can't I marry a 10 year old child? Why not my own child? THE MEAN OLD GOVERNMENT CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO! Consent laws -- an artificial construct. Children are capable of love! Why shouldn't I be able to marry a dead person? (They actually do, in China.) It would be an awesomely great way to get an inheritance, after the fact. So I'll tell you why gay marriage is a mistake; because once you destroy the structure of marriage -- once you open it to gays, polygamists (inevitably), incestuous couples (inevitably) -- you basically destroy the very thing that makes it "marriage" and not just "super-duper best friends who sleep together". Marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman, period. There are undoubtedly other very loving, deeply profound relationships between human beings of every gender and sexual orientation, but those are not marriages.

Consider what the civil law grants to a marriage partnership. Joint finance. Joint health care. Court supervision of dissolution. inheritance. Life insurance. Child support if applicable. Regulation of consanguity.

Hetrosexuality and monogamy are religeous precepts the state should not consider them. Marriage is a civil ceremony. The words are "By the power granted me by the state of "confusion" I now declair you a sanctioned couple" Man and wife just does not fit. "You may kiss."

Marriage between unequal parties is far too close to forced marriage and involuntary servitude. Mutual concent is required.

I have worked at art schools for the last fifteen years. My acquaintences, gay and strait, deserve what joy and comfort the legal system can afford them.