(Gay) Marriage

A New York Times poll showing support for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage has been in the news lately. I'm rather detached when it comes to the debate surrounding gay marriage. Why? Because I reject the foundations of the debate - namely, that marriage should be a legal issue.

I see no point in legal marriage. Why does a relationship between two people need to become a three-way contract with the government? Why should the government care if I'm married? The movement of marriage into the legal realm is just another control point for the government in your life. If two people in a relationship (straight or gay) want to get married, then that's a decision for them to make in the social realm. The government should have no say.

Although my position may seem radical, a growing number of Americans seem to agree with me. Cohabitation of legally unmarried couples continues to rise, according to census figures. Most of these couples probably aren't as vehemently anti-legal marriage as I, but they know that the benefits of legal marriage are few and the downside is great.

Further reading:
Why Marriage? The tie that binds need not be legal.
Alternatives to Marriage Project (unmarried.org)