Gay marriage not the same

I oppose same-sex marriage but not for religious reasons. We know men and women are fundamentally different. That is why we are referred to by different terms; men and women, males and females, sisters and brothers. While men and women can have equal rights, no law can make us the same. So it is with committed relationships. Committed same-sex and heterosexual couples may have equal rights but no law can make the relationships equal or the same.

In his excellent article, “Understanding the Differences between Men and Women,” Dr. Michael Conner says that these differences in areas such as problem-solving, thinking, sensitivity, “can profoundly influence how we form and maintain relationships” ranging “from work and friendships to marriage and parenting.”

Therefore, when children are involved, because of these major differences even loving same-sex parents cannot provide the same quality of life for their children as nurturing heterosexual parents can. Both mothers and fathers are vital.

No law can make same-sex unions and heterosexual marriage fundamentally the same and, therefore, to define both types of relationships as marriage is flawed. Some things are just inherently different, and regardless of how much you want to make them equal, you cannot.

Gretchen McDevitt

Spokane