Spokane City Councilman Jon Snyder is sponsoring a resolution in support of “marriage equality.” Let me thank Snyder for taking this courageous step, and urge the council to approve this resolution.

Marriage equality is fundamental to our democratic society. Our founding fathers affirmed that all are created equal “with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This applies to all, not preferentially to some while excluding others.

Over the years, many have labored, some sacrificing their lives, in the struggle to extend these rights to all. Progress has been made, for example, reflected in the 15th and 19th constitutional amendments, which extended voting rights to racial minorities and women.

The issue of marriage equality is often opposed on religious grounds. In our state, for example, Roman Catholic bishops opposed the bill to legalize same-sex marriage recently passed and signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire. The bishops are soliciting signatures in hopes of placing Referendum 74 – aimed at repealing same-sex marriage in Washington – on the fall ballot.

Casting same-sex marriage laws in religious terms is inappropriate. This is a legal issue, not a religious one. All marriage equality laws, including Washington’s, do not address the practice of religion. Under these laws, religious groups (from conservative to liberal) remain free to practice their faith. No restrictions or mandates are placed on any religious group. As a culture, we have moved beyond the belief that slavery is morally acceptable. It is now time to move beyond the belief that same-gender marriage is unacceptable.

The issue of marriage equality is also cast as a social one. One version goes like this: “Extending marriage rights to same-sex couples undermines the institution of marriage.” Frankly, I don’t understand this argument. I am a happily married heterosexual man. How will my marriage be undermined or harmed by allowing same-sex couples to marry? Another version goes like this: “Extending marriage rights to same-sex couples undermines the moral fabric of society.” In my opinion, the opposite is true. A society that engages in discrimination of a subset of its members (whether based upon race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or any other attribute) is inferior to one that does not engage in discrimination. As others have noted, a society can be judged by the way it treats all of its members, particularly its minority members.

Extending marriage rights to same-sex couples is a civil rights issue. The essential question is: “How is this class of people treated in the context of federal and state laws?” Do they have equal protection of their rights? Currently, they do not. The crux of the issue is the word “marriage.” In relevant federal and state laws, certain rights and protections are extended to those who are legally “married.” By excluding same-gender couples from the legal status of “marriage,” even if forming a separate category of “domestic partnership,” they are excluded from rights and protections afforded married couples.

This is no small deal. Currently, there are over 1,100 benefits, rights and protections provided in federal law, and countless more in state laws, based on marital status. The federal Defense of Marriage Act defines “marriage” as a legal union between one man and one woman. Therefore, same-sex couples – even if legally married in their state – cannot be considered married for the purposes of federal law, and are thereby excluded from these rights and protections. These include provisions concerning federal and state taxation, dependent and survivor benefits (e.g., Social Security, military), health insurance, health care decision-making, family leave, property rights, pension and retirement benefits, inheritance, estate taxes, etc. The list goes on and on. These rights and protections are significantly limited or excluded for homosexual persons involved in long-term, committed, monogamous relationships who are not allowed to legally marry.

It is time to step forward and fulfill the affirmation contained in our Declaration of Independence and echoed in our Constitution. It is time to acknowledge that all are created equal, with unalienable rights, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I support the efforts to extend marriage equality to same-sex couples at the local, state and federal levels. I applaud Snyder for sponsoring this resolution. I urge the City Council to pass it. And, I invite everyone to join me in voting against Referendum 74 when we see it on the ballot this fall.