Letters To The Editor

We're All Values Voters

Regarding David Caton's commentary "Morality Can Be Legislated" (Other Views, May 15):

All laws, regulations, rules, policies, etc., are expressions of what is right or wrong, appropriate or inappropriate, good or bad, wise or foolish, and so on. On careful inspection, they are all inherently expressions of values and morality. Their authors impose their view of morality on all who are under their influence.

Anyone who seriously thinks that morality cannot be legislated is simply not in full contact with the real world. The core concern should be whose values and morality will prevail, and just what are they really.

That is why every voter is a "values voter."

KARL ANDERSON

Lutz

Benefits Of Marriage

David Caton's equating same-sex marriage with polygamy and pedophilia is illogical and inane - as well as, no doubt, intentionally inflammatory.

Homosexuals who desire the distinction of being legally married are in, or desire to be in, monogamous relationships with other adults. They want to enjoy the same status that monogamous heterosexual adults enjoy, legally and socially.

The concept of marriage supports commitment and stability. It is especially beneficial when children are involved to have a committed parent offering supporting on either side. Marriage provides legal and social rights to each partner, rights designed to promote security and well-being of the persons involved. Secure, well-adjusted persons are a benefit to society as a whole. So why deny a group of consulting adults the right to marry?

JANET STANLEY

Tampa

Nothing Immoral About It

The Florida Family Association's David Caton is known for his strident, and unfortunately frequent, anti-gay comments. This time Caton attempts to link efforts by gays to obtain marriage with "pedophilic and polygamic relationships." He also argues, in the name of "morality," that preventing gays from marrying is necessary for the "health, safety and welfare of citizens."

This is total nonsense. Neither Caton nor any other crusader of similar ilk has ever explained - at least cogently - why a loving relationship between adults of the same sex is, in his words, "immoral." To the extent Caton's views are informed by a misguided interpretation of religion, he is perhaps entitled to them, no matter how wrong-headed or illogical they are. What he is not entitled to do is force his views on others.

Caton and his followers are on the losing side of this issue. Even Catholic Spain has recognized gay marriage, without any of the dire "sky is falling" predictions of small-minded people coming true.

JONATHAN S. COLEMAN

St. Petersburg

The Problem Is Divorce

When Joe Brown's column on marriage civil rights came out on Mother's Day, I wondered if supporters of the upcoming marriage amendment could rationalize an objection.

The late Mildred Loving stated, "I believe all Americans... no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation should have the same freedom to marry." This comes from a woman who lived through a time 40 years ago when a majority thought it was fashionable, theologically justified and sanctioned by law to forcibly annul her interracial marriage.

David Caton provided the insight into Loving's era when he explained that representatives in the Legislature define what a marriage should be and what was really at stake was the health, safety and welfare of citizens.

And all this time I thought divorce was gutting marriage. J.T. CROWDER

Tampa

Perverting The Gospel

Regarding "California Justices OK Same-Sex Marriage" (front page, May 16):

I applaud the decision by the California Supreme Court to strike down the ban on gay marriages. I personally do not prefer gay marriages, but there is no freedom unless there is the right to be wrong.

Our country was founded by brave pioneers who were fleeing the persecution of religious bigots who pretended to serve Jesus Christ but were practicing nothing but evil persecution and intolerance. Today, right-wing religious fanatics have perverted the gospel of Jesus Christ.

H. EDGAR TWINE

Tampa

Still A Legal Union

My partner and I have been together for over 10 years and live here in Tampa.

Vermont Gov. Howard Dean signed the Civil Union Bill into law in July 2000 and Vermont became the first state to recognize same-sex unions of any kind. On July 17, 2000, my partner and I held our commitment ceremony in Stowe, Vt. Our friends and family were in attendance. Our civil union license hangs proudly on the wall in our home. We are proud to be one of the first gay couples in the country to be "married."

Whether our government finally decides to call it "marriage" or "civil union" does no matter to us. Our civil rights are important to us.

Being recognized as a "married" couple was important enough to us that we traveled across the country for a ceremony that was only legally recognized in one corner of the country.

J.B. FOX

Tampa