THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 24, 1996 TAG: 9607240010
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 34 lines
I was angered and deeply saddened upon hearing that the House of Representatives had passed the Defense of Marriage Act. This act, upon becoming law, will define marriage as a union between a man and a woman; it will allow states to not honor same-sex marriages performed in other states and, most important, deny any federal benefits to a same-sex couple.
My anger comes from the bigotry, meanness and plain arrogance displayed on the floor of the House. If marriage needs to be defended at all, it must be from some of these same representatives who together have accumulated a long list of divorces.
Indeed, in some cases representatives simply left their wives for other women. It's amazing that in defending marriage, the co-sponsors of this bill never brought this up. Of course, these representatives never looked at their own destroyed marriages. They in effect attacked gays and lesbians. That's an easy way to gain popularity in some parts of this country: Be mean, show no tolerance and give equal treatment only to those deemed appropriate by the House of Representatives.
This bill defends nothing. It adds to the long list of discrimination against gays and lesbians, especially the thousands of us in loving, committed relationships.
We deserve the same benefits heterosexuals are afforded. I long for the day when hypocritical and self-righteous people who harshly judge all others will actually work on issues that will make the United States a better place for everyone.
DANIEL HANLEY
Norfolk July 15, 1996 by CNB