“I don’t have a problem with gay people, but I don’t want to join GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) because I don’t want people to think I’m gay.”

Oh really, you don’t have a problem with gay people? I think you do. I think the sexual preferences of your peers, whether their preferences are a “lifestyle choice” or something decided by biology, make you uncomfortable — threatened even. You may not want to admit it, but by not wanting people to think you are homosexual, and by calling your friends gay when you’re joking around, you are re-enforcing and enabling the negative attitude of American society towards homosexual relationships.

Why do I bring this up? Because President Obama has recently announced his support  for same-sex marriage. At a New York fundraising event, he said he believed that marriage equality strengthens families. He said he believes “everybody gets a fair shot, everybody gets a fair share, everybody plays by the same set of rules.”

I think it is a major step forward, which–as a matter of fact–is his campaign slogan for 2012, for America to have a president that openly defends gay marriage.

Of course, not everyone agrees. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus disagrees. He believes it is not a matter of civil rights, but of tradition — to sum up his argument.

This could have been said in opposition to mixed marriages less than half a century ago. However, I doubt that most advocates of “traditional marriage” in the 21st century would say the legality of the previous illegality of mixed marriage is not a matter of civil rights.

I believe gay marriage is a matter of civil rights because it will give more children homes by allowing same-sex couples to adopt; it can bring a financial gain to local and state governments; and, it will give same-sex couples access to basic rights such as hospital visitation during an illness, taxation and inheritance rights, access to family health coverage, and protection in the event of the relationship ending. Furthermore, it will give everyone the right be with the person they love — something that should never be limited.