Proposition 22 seems to be a simple affirmation of what many people hold as a universal truth: Marriage is defined as the relationship between a man and woman. The fact is that this proposition negates the positive potential in same-gender relationships, which could result in the kind of legal limitations that we would never accept in heterosexual marriages. Many of the strongest supporters of this proposition come from parts of the religious community. They have expressed their fear that if this measure does not pass, it will threaten the very existence of the family unit.
Their understanding is that the Bible presents marriage in only one way, as being between one man and one woman. The Hebrew Bible the Old Testament has references to people living together without benefit of a wedding ceremony Adam and Eve , polygamy Jacob, his wives, Leah and Rachel, and their handmaidens, Zilpah and Bilhah and at least one gay relationship David and Jonathan. The latter relationship is presented in warm and loving terms in I Samuel But, as I illustrated, that was not always the case.
And if socio-religious norms can change once within a community, they can certainly change again. That is what a living, dynamic tradition is all about. In this regard, we are what God creates us to be--part of the amazing human diversity that God seems to have for us.
In the New Testament the reflections and teachings on committed relationships--whether they be family, friendships or intimate love relationships--underscore the ancient value of mutual respect, of loving our neighbors as ourselves. Central to the life and teaching of Jesus is the command to live with our neighbors with respect, with justice, with humility rather than arrogance or derision.
Proposition 22 militates against our ability to love our neighbor and encourages the justification of a second-class citizenry based on sexual orientation. As a nation we are desperately trying to get past such an attitude where people are of a variety of races and skin colors. Sexual orientation is no more a justifiable category for oppression. With this as a backdrop, there is a social reality that exists: Along with men and women falling in love, so too do men with other men and women with other women.
