I keep reading about controversy surrounding same-sex marriages. I have to wonder, who is it really hurting? Homosexuality has been practiced for centuries both openly and behind closed doors. From my stand point, being gay or lesbian is just another path of life.

As with any relationship that survives enough trials and tribulations with a foundation of love, marriage is simply the next step. After removing supposed offenses against religion, what, exactly is wrong with two people in love getting married? As far as religion goes, if the homosexual couple is not interfering in your life why should you interfere in theirs? Further, who says that they follow your religion? Even if they do follow your religion, are they interpreting it the same way you do? Homosexual couples do come into heterosexual bedrooms to dictate religion or sex education. Why is it okay for heterosexuals to enter homosexual bedrooms and try to tell them how to live?

Some people say that being gay or lesbian is a bad influence on children. Children of homosexual couples are not taught to be homosexual, they are simple taught that the difference between their family unit and those of their friends. Being the child of a homosexual couple does not automatically make the child any less of a child. Children are suppose to be taught values, morals, the difference between right and wrong as well as good and bad; as long as the children of gay marriages are being taught these things where is the harm?

Being a country that cannot keep its own morality cohesive, who are we to give lessons in morality to individuals? Whatever happened to live and let live? In my experience the average couple living their lives, regardless of being straight or gay, is simply living their lives. They are not out looking to cause harm or turn the world to their way of thinking; they are just going about the day to day business of living.

We watch television, shows like Star Trek and Stargate, and do not have any problems with humans marrying aliens that look like us. Many often wonder about life on other worlds and how many of those life forms are similar in design to our own. Why is it we can accept an inter-species relationship easier that we can accept a same sex relationship? Is there a misconception that homosexuality is limited to the human race? It’s not. Homosexuality is practiced throughout the animal kingdom. Chances are it is also practiced in off-world species as well.

Maybe the people who yell the loudest about same sex marriages are afraid. Maybe they see something of themselves in the people who choose that option. Maybe they are afraid that they are the ones not quite right when they view the happiness of a same sex couple. Sooner or later every person identifies with another person crossing their path. Identifying with another person does not mean that you are them or want to be them; identifying simply gives you a moment or two of understanding and maybe even triggers your compassion button.

I believe that when people start fixing their own problems within their own homes and have come up with successful solutions that resulted in the perfect family unit then and only then can they begin to give advice to others on how to go about living. Until then it is best to live and let live.