4A - THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2002
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FRIDAY FACEOFF
Who should be allowed to say 'I do?'
Same-sex couples should get equal treatment in marriage
Deciding to get married has everything to do with love and nothing to do with sex. The union of marriage is looked at as a religious and civil institution in American soci-
Tabatha Beerbower opinion@kansan.com
make a public commitment." But states and the institutions do not recognize that public commitment even if it is performed in a religious service.
The Marriage Equality Web site also defines marriage "as a relationship of emotional and financial interdependence between two people who
Whether the couple is same-sex or heterosexual, entering into the institution of marriage is a basic human right, as are all of the benefits that come along with it. Not being in a marriage recognized by law, same-sex couples face challenges in visiting their partners in hospitals, filing for taxes, getting insurance and starting and raising families. These problems strip away the simple dreams of getting married and having a family, essential things that most people want and know they are entitled to.
There should not exist an institution, governmental or religious, that denies a person the opportunity to love whom they choose. That is the one thing that people opposing same-sex benefits do not understand.
A same-sex marriage is not indecent; it is not an abomination against God. It does not have to be about procreation, although many same-sex couples want to have and raise children.
Behavioral pediatrics expert Ellen Perrin said in the Lawrence Journal-World that "research shows children of homosexual couples develop just as normally as kids in straight families." Parents who love their kids, teach them life lessons, and nurture them to fulfill their potential are the right kind of parents. The American Academy of Pediatrics is taking a step in the right direction by calling for state laws that allow homosexuals the
right to adopt their partners' children. Although a few states already approved co-parent adoption for homosexuals, in most cases, only one partner can have legal custody of the children. If that parent dies, the partner, acting as a parent for years does not have the same rights as a parent and does not obtain custody or even visitation of the child. Families are broken up simply because same-sex benefits are not already set into place. Lack of
same-sex benefits destroys sound family structures.
There's no reason why same-sex benefits should not be implemented in all legal and state institutions. Not allowing same-sex couples the benefits that heterosexual couples receive is blatant and outspoken discrimination. It's just like not letting someone drink out of the same water fountain as you because of the color of his or her skin. It's plain nonsense, and there is no reason for it to continue.
Ask yourself what you would do if you were told that you couldn't marry the person you wanted to spend the rest of your
Marriage, defined as the legal union between man and woman, has remained the most stable infrastructure in society for thousands of years.
Benefits for homosexual couples threaten sanctity of marriage
In order for the University of Kansas to provide health and tuition benefits to same-sex couples, the Legislature must redefine a quasi-marriage system. Extending benefits to same-sex couples is one step toward the full recognition of
me with. Their ask yourself now that is fair. Recognizing same-sex marriages and allowing them the same benefits and rights as opposite-sex marriages is the right thing to do. People closing their eyes or turning their heads from the struggle to obtain those rights create one of the many problems with society today.
life with. Then ask yourself how that is fair.
Beerbower is a Fort Scott junior in journalism.
gay marriages, and KU should stop this discussion before the inevitable arises. Homosexual couples have just as much right to marry and naturally conceive, but they should not receive benefits that are intended to aid a family with children.
Marriage is one social institution that should not tolerate any waiver in its definition.
best environment in which to procreate and raise children. It is self-evident that sex with the same sex is unnatural. Only a man and a woman can have a baby, and marriage is the institution to provide optimal, stable support of that child. To the homosexual lobby, marriage is nothing but a social sanction that they want to force the government to grant them, to enhance their self-esteem.
For many reasons, marriage laws should not recognize homosexual couples. Heterosexual marriage is the
Secondly, heterosexual marriage remains the optimal building block in forming stable socii-
eties. When vows are taken, marriage demands lifelong commitment, fidelity, and an openness to life. Homosexuals have enjoyed the privilege of legal marriages in Denmark since 1989. In the
first 6 years during which homosexual marriages were recognized there, less than 5 percent of Danish homosexuals reported enjoying being married, and 28 percent of these marriages have ended in divorce or death, according to the Advocate.
more is the qualification for marriage, then bigamists and polygamists who claim to be in love must also be given the same rights as gay and straight
Tim Lang
opinion@kansan.com
couples. Yet most homosexuals won't go this far. The current laws concerning marriage have sustained civilizations since the beginning, and should be upheld. Homosexual couples do not meet the criteria for marriage, and new laws would further deteriorate the sexual ethic of civilization.
The proposition to legitimate homosexual marriages has no basis in historical tradition, yet is becoming accepted as a social norm. Because of our scientific enlightenment, the gay community claims sexually equal, just like heterosexuals, because they can't change their homosexual nature.
Because homosexuality seems to be an abnormal predisposition, the marriage laws should not make exceptions in the name of equality. Many homosexuals changed their behavior, and because of this genetic determination is not a fair nor sufficient reason to redefine marriage.
Acknowledging same-sex marriages would be like acknowledging atheists as a church, though their fundamental nature is not religious. This is a logical inconsistency, yet modern liberalism suggests it is the proper and fair thing to do.
Lang is a Topeka senior in religious studies and psychology.
FRIDAY FACEOFF KANSAN.COM POLL
Last week's question: Should Student Senate have spent money on the Off-campus Living Resource Center? Results:
Yes, absolutely
I'm not convinced either way.
13.75% No, it was a waste.
Yes, absolutely.
(16 total responses)
Go vote on this week's faceoff poll on Kansan.com Should same-sex couples be able to marry and receive the same benefits as heterosexual couples?
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EDITORIAL
Senate shouldn't raise our fees with looming tuition increases
Senate passed a bill Wednesday night calling for a $7.50 increase in student fees. It might not seem like a big deal compared to the impending tuition increases, which many senators protested, but in reality, the fee increase is only the latest in a dangerous cycle of ever-increasing fees, and is also hypocritical of Senate.
Students will probably face increases next fall, not only in tuition but in student fees as well, and Student Senate is playing a major role in both situations.
Paying $7.50 more a semester might not appear to be a bank-breaking amount, but this increase is indicative of a consistent increase in student fees, especially within the past five years. KU students enrolled in six or more hours currently pay $275.50 per semester in student fees, $65 more than they did in 1997.
Justin Mills, student body president, said the increase was necessary for Senate to keep up with the current level of services it provided.
"A tuition increase is a lot more money," Mills said. "$7.50 a semester doesn't really compare to $2,000."
motives were unquestionable. They want to improve the quality and quantity of student services and programs, including improvements for KU Recycling and additional legal assistance. But now is not the best time to do so.
Senate voted to increase fees in four areas this time: the Student Senate activity fee, the Student Union fee and building fee, the Campus Environmental Improvement fee and the Legal Services for Students fee.
Students don't have unlimited financial resources and yet they are held responsible with these gradual increases.
During a heated tuition battle, Senate is supporting one increase in student expenses while decrying another. Though the tuition increase will have a greater immediate effect on students, the fee increase is still significant, especially in light of this potentially massive tuition increase.
Senate needs to carefully consider the message it's sending. True, it is only a $7.50 increase in student fees, but Senate shouldn't continually support one type of increase in student expenses while enthusiastically protesting against another.
Senators provided substantial reasons for the increases, and their
The timing of this proposal even makes the Senate seem slightly hypocritical.
Senate needs to look at other resources and means of providing these important services and programs. Students shouldn't always have to foot the bill.
Lauren Stewart for the editorial board.
面
864-0500 free for
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about
Yeah, I'm sitting outside of 110 Budig, and there is this guy that just hocked a lugie in the water fountain. Remind me never to drink out of any of the water fountains again, because that was just the grossest thing I think I've ever seen.
There's a sign in McCollum five south that says, "53 percent of men regret having a one-night stand." Well I'll bet 53 percent of men are lying, then.
to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slandercous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded.
For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
You probably won't put this in, but I know that a lot of people from the Kansan make fun of kUJH and KJHK, at least in the Free for All, but let me tell you at least we know that the person on the front page is not Karen Keith. It's Loren Malone, and senate elections. Way to go guys.
The reason the blood drive isn't drawing in people is because Delta Force didn't think it was appropriate to fund the advertising. Props to the people who voted for them last year. Look what they've done for KU.
The Kansart's reporting is worse than a high school paper's. Gee wiz, you guys aren't going to get jobs anywhere if you graduate.
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To the guy who wanted the UDK delivered to fraternities, if we did that you'd probably have to pay for it. Hello. Go to class. Get a paper.
Hey Kate Eichten, I've got news for you,nobody cares about hockey.Find something more interesting to write about.
Hey Brendan Woodbury, nobody cares about you and your frat brothers getting expensive tickets to the Olympics.
To whoever thinks Duke is better than Kansas, we'll see you in Atlanta.
If we have to stop calling the Free for All with political opinions and stop boring you, you have to stop calling the Free for All with your silly, little sports commentaries.
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OK, so I'm a 19-year-old college student living on my own,
and today] just baked 4,000 cookies with three different types. Is that normal? And, no, I was completely sober. I do this every week.
Everyone who keeps trying to stereotype Hash residents needs to quit. We're just a bunch of kids getting an education and trying to have a good time while we're at it.
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Just like you, just like everyone else. So please don't stereotype us anymore.
We gotta be the only country where some people are digging around a dumpster for a peach pit and other people get a nice meal and poke it up intentionally.
Hey, we are fund-raisers, not drug dealers
To whoever lost their book on 10th and Mississippi, thanks for the beer money.
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I live with a Canadian, a Russian and an Alaskan, and they think it's cold. Is that wrong?
I think if it's cold enough outside for me to get windburn on campus just walking to class then it's cold enough not to have class.
Has anybody checked out KU channel 66, the Sportsstalk?
It's awesome. It's the best thing at KU, the best live show.
It's great. You all should check it out.
I think we should start calling KU info to tell them the information that we as KU students know.
Did you know that college algebra is nothing more than a legalized form of torture?
I was just wondering if anyone knew what fish was in the fillet of fish at McDonald's. Please respond.
Not me, not now: what smart kids say to sex.
Good thing we cut men's tennis, swimming and diving. I bet they wouldn't have gone 0-16 in league.
My roommate says that a mind is a terrible thing to waste, but more than that, a waist is a terrible thing to mind.
You gotta love those bitchin' Camaros.
Coach Marion, way to go. I knew you had that 0-16 season in you.
Kansas is one of only three states in the United States with a sodomy law that applies only same sex sexual activity. Isn't that in violation of the constitution, equal protection of the laws? I think we should all go to Topeka, declare ourselves sodomites and demand to be arrested. Let's get rid of the sodomy law once and for all.
Ballard helps team escape Nebraska? Ha, we all know that Langford hit the winning shot.
I don't think that some professors have read the University's consenting relationships policy. They should know that dating students — their own students is unethical — inappropriate and against University policy. They should lose their jobs for this.
I heard that the February Sisters are going to take over the provost's office this year and demand better pay for the GTAs. Pass it on.
I worry that if peanut oil is made of peanuts and coconut oil from coconut, what is baby oil made from?
When did you first know that you were heterosexual? Did you choose it? Maybe you just haven't found the right same-sex partner yet?
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