Letter to the editor

Marriage shall be celebrated by all

The struggle for gay people to have legally recognized marriage is often mentioned in the news. California’s Proposition 8 banned gay marriage in that state, H.R. 1269 seeks to ban it nationwide; it has been specifically banned in Wisconsin’s constitution since 2006. I’m sick of this climate of not-so-thinly veiled hate. Are you?

It occurs to me that there is a simple yet significant way to show solidarity with my gay friends and neighbors. It doesn’t involve a whole lot of effort or risk, nor does it involve arguing with anyone. (Not that I would discourage anyone from effort, risk, or argument. I encourage it!) Just this: until people are free to marry who they please, with- out regard to gender or sexual orientation; boycott the institution of marriage. Completely. If marriage is not for them, then it’s not for me either.

For those of you who are on Facebook, there is a group called Boycott Marriage (http://www.face- book.com/group.php?gid=22 11719268&ref=mf). Perhaps it may be worthwhile to you to expend the effort of a couple mouse clicks to join it.

For those of you who are gay: I can’t think of anything more important in life than to fight for someone you love; for the right to love someone. Best wishes. For those of you who are not gay, what are you thinking?

Brent Hopkins, student