Tony Kushner on Marriage for Gays

* Tony Kushner’s article (Opinion, May 19) on gay marriage was most interesting, not so much for its ideological content, but rather for what it reveals about the tunnel vision that afflicts much of the politically organized gay community these days. Kushner makes the assertion that the virtues of gay marriage are “unarguable, unless you are crazy and stupid,” which is a rather odd position to take. It is an anthropological given that all societies throughout human history have constructed marriage to conform to the dictates of human biology. Outside of ancient Greece and a few anthropological nonentities, homosexuality has never had widespread social sanction in any major culture or civilization. If anything the burden of proof is on Kushner, not the people who oppose him, to prove the viability of such an irregular social arrange- ment.

What many strident gay activists fail to realize is that the “straight” world feels it has a compelling interest in maintaining the institution of heterosexual marriage, an interest clearly rooted in evolutionary biology, natural law, anthropology and moral tradition. For Kushner to cavalierly dismiss these very legitimate concerns as the reactionary ravings of homophobes, lunatics and rubes is not only smug and shortsighted, but a grave tactical error as well. It could well cause many hands that were once openly extended to the gay community in friendship and tolerance to now be withdrawn.

MARK NEDELMAN

Irvine

* I can’t believe that there is so much muck going on about same-sex marriages. Let these people marry. At least it is spiritual and nonviolent. Besides, I think everyone should marry at least once. Why should anyone be happy?

I have a lesbian sister who is having the time of her life and I doubt even thinks about marriage. Me, I am still reeling from a divorce (heterosexual; I hate that word) from three years ago.

So, let them get married. Myself, I have tread those waters and to quote Madonna, “I feel marriage is an outdated institution.”

JERRY SPICER

Long Beach

* I was gleefully astonished while reading Kushner’s column and could respond in volume to many sides of his numerous points. My political reaction to the prospect of gay marriage is secondary to my belief that if we chose to truly educate our population, i.e., to think carefully, then our discourse would be more fruitful, more democratic, far less facile and possibly kinder.

There is great joy in the clarity of well-crafted thought and expert use of the most descriptive language on Earth. We need a lot more real thinking of the kind displayed by Kushner. Educating the members of our failing democracy is the only way to save it.

GWEN WILLIFORD

Santa Monica