Gay Marriage Ban Passes Senate

Re “Senate OKs Bill Against Same-Sex Marriages,” Sept. 11:

Although the Senate votes on the Defense of Marriage Act and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act were no real surprise, there’s no celebration due from the fundamentalist religious right. Although this divisive, unnecessary, gay-bashing, vote-getting ploy on their part succeeded, the greatest effect, by far, is the recognition of gays as a reality in this country.

Never before, with the possible exception of the gays-in-the-military issue, have gay issues been at the forefront of discussion and debate--in Congress, statehouses and the media. Americans now realize that we gays exist, we are a force to be listened to and--most of all--we’re never going to go away.

RICHARD A. KINZ

Atascadero

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* If Congress is truly concerned with defending the institution of marriage, wouldn’t a federal ban of divorce be more appropriate? And while we’re at it, why not impose harsh penalties for “alienation of affection”? Unless I’m missing something, the ever-increasing number of failed marriages is not the result of heterosexuals leaving their spouses for someone of the same sex.

How is it that the institution is somehow strengthened by not recognizing commitments that lesbians and gays make to each other? Stop the scapegoating.

DAVID BAIRD

Los Angeles

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* Regarding the argument that allowing recognition of gay marriages “would expand the pool of those entitled to state and federal benefits owed to spouses . . . and could cost taxpayers millions of dollars” (Sept. 11):

Well, if all of us millions of gay and lesbian citizens made the so-called “correct choice” to become heterosexual and marry, as the right wing has often suggested we are all capable of, and urged us repeatedly to do, would not taking that step, as well, boost future costs to taxpayers for exactly the same reasons?

KAREN AITCHISON

San Francisco