Prop. 22 Debate

I strongly support Prop. 22, which states simply, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”

I also believe that couples who love each other and live together, whether they be gay or lesbian or otherwise, should have full domestic partnership privileges, should be able to serve in the military, etc. They deserve to be treated with love and respect. But I believe that marriage should continue to be defined as between a male and a female.

Prop. 22 takes no rights from any of our fellow citizens. It maintains the current legal definition of marriage and ensures that Californians won’t be forced to accept decisions made by other states. Because I support Prop. 22 I was accused of being mean-spirited, intolerant, divisive, a bigot (letters, Jan. 29). I ask you, who is being mean-spirited?

STEVE GILLILAND

Lakewood

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I agree with state Sen. William “Pete” Knight (R-Palmdale) that the institution of marriage is under attack. It is under attack by heterosexuals who, over the past few decades, have kept the divorce rate hovering around 50% on the one hand and produced millions of children out of wedlock on the other. I fail to see, however, what this has to do with gay people.

GREG BOEHMER

Los Angeles

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Wake up, California!

The only definition for marriage was given by God. He said: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife” (Genesis 2:24). The Bible further states: “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh” (Matthew 19:4).

Therefore, Adam and Steve will never be able to reproduce; it is not natural or possible.

SHIRLEY S. DANZY

Inglewood

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“Domestic partnership” is but another form of the long-discredited scheme of “separate but equal.” And exactly like separate but equal, it is a specious device intended to avoid the blunt civil and moral necessity of accepting particular groups and individuals as full-fledged, bona fide members of society. It must be rejected.

GLENN D. RICE

Davis