In all or nearly
all biological forms, especially in the Animal Kingdom, there are complementary
pairings of opposites (male/female). The Plant Kingdom may be somewhat
different because of ‘parthenogenesis’ as well as the cell divisions of certain
organisms without a skeletal system. The process of reproduction allows for the
continuity of the species and is an evolutionary survival mechanism. Humans are
at the highest stage of brain development and organizing complex social
structures (ants and bees might challenge the last point, though). Anyway, humans
progressed from primitive hunter-gather nomads to more advanced pastoralists,
and then agriculturalists, who banded together as clans, tribes, building
villages, towns, city-states, kingdoms and empires. Resource allocation and
labor became essential among groups who now had interests as members of the
same family apart from and separate of the communal group. The continuity of
the family as far as inheritance and property rights became of paramount
importance and procreation, whether in marriage or not, became essential and
this could only occur between a male and female. Of course not all women can
have children as some were infertile (“barren”) and there were high levels of
infant mortality. Some women had miscarriages, stillborn babies, and some men
could not impregnate women because of some type of dysfunction (no Urologist
back in those earliest of days).
So, where am I
going with this? I am simply stating that it is consistent in Nature, with very
little variation, if any significant measurable level, that there is a mutual attraction or affinity
between opposites which complement each other and leads to the species
continuing to replenish, grow, and exist.
The entire human historical records has shown evidence of people who
experienced same-sex relationships and gender classifications that were not
strictly limited to binary constructs but were more diverse to include
masculine females, feminine males, and even those who were referred to as having “two-spirits”
(Hermaphrodite??). There were doubtless some kind of ceremony of joining
between two persons of the same gender identity (biology notwithstanding) in a
lifelong commitment of love and mutual devotion. Now, let’s rejoin the
discussion or debate in the present time. I think one of the reasons that make
same-sex marriage or even the broader subject of “gay rights” is the religious
dimension. All the biblical texts (ten or so), at least in the Christian bible,
that seem to identify and condemn homosexuality, some of the best theologians
and scholars are split on the interpretation of these passages as pertaining to
the experiences, especially regarding marital unions, as the such are
experienced in modern times.
It is rather
dubious that the term translated “sodomite” or individuals engaged in temple
prostitution to worship a pagan god (deity) with a temple pries/priestess of
the same gender of the petitioner or supplicant, specifically refer to same-sex
marital unions nowadays. The song by Lady Gaga “Born this Way” has some
relevance in this matter, and a one-size-fits-all approach does not work as it
is insulting, mean-spirited, and ignorant. Studies in Sex and Gender Sociology
reveal that roughly 1%-2% of all births in America are sexually indeterminate-
the non-clinical meaning is that the person is IN THE WRONG BODY. The
population in this country is around 330 million people, so that amounts to
about 3.3 to 6.6 million persons went through some kind of gender assignment
intervention when they were born, or that certainly they will have to make some
decision about their gender identity because of the way their body developed or
will in the future, because such is not consistent with their biological
appearance. Anyway, the best approach is that of compassion and understanding,
not condemnation and ridicule.
It is not a choice and I certainly cannot
process how a male can be romantically attracted to and fall in love with
another male, and the same goes for a female- as well as seeing gay couples
engage in PDA’s (Public Displays of Affection), but that’s my problem to deal
with, not theirs. Having said all of this and to wrap up this article, this
last part is probably the thorniest and most difficult to write but I would not
be honest with myself and the reader if I did not include it- so here goes. I believe
that marriage is ‘gendered’ and a judicial edict by the nation’s highest
Judiciary in interpreting the Constitution cannot rewrite history, tradition,
and sociocultural experience. When one thinks of marriage, it is the union of
two persons (male and female) as bride and groom to become husband and wife. In
a more practical sense the two become Mr. and Mrs., and as much as it is
difficult for me to say this, two women and two men cannot ever have this
experience; no matter how passionately or powerfully they want to. In a family structure where there are children, is having to
mommies or two daddies as parents the SAME as having a mom and a dad?
This last part is
even more sensitive because of the controversy surrounding gay adoption. Since
this is a rather new and fairly recent social experience it will be interesting
to see what social scientists and mental health experts have to say in about
twenty years or so because I am not so sure that it will be the same as expert
opinions deemed as harmless for the present time. The human brain doesn’t fully
develop until around age twenty four and that don’t just mean intellectual
faculties, but emotional and mental as well. I am not sounding the alarm about
the negative influence on the physiological development of a child raised in a
same-sex family or the Gay Rights Movement as a whole on American society and
just because a majority approves a particular practice there is still no way to
predict the future consequences.
776 Commerce St Apt B11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 11, 2015
robertrandle51@yahoo.com
