Including Gays in Marriage

* Nathaniel Frank is anti-semantic. In his commentary (“There’s Room Enough for All in the Marriage Circle,” April 2) he states that the struggle for marriage equality is a struggle for gays to be acknowledged as full citizens. He also states that many people fear that equating gay unions with traditional marriages would undermine the sanctity of heterosexual bonds. Frank misunderstands the point of the opposition.

“Gay marriage” is an oxymoron. He wants us to change the meaning of the word “marriage.” Perhaps a solution for Frank would be to change the meaning of the word “heterosexual” to include homosexual orientation. By willy-nilly changing the meanings of words we could satisfy everybody except those who want to use language as a way of meaningful communication.

LEON M. SALTER

Los Angeles

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* How wonderful it was to read Frank’s column on same-gender marriage. As a mother of a son who is gay, I would love to have the pleasure of helping to plan his wedding to the person he wants to share his life and love with. I would also like to be able to proudly announce his impending wedding date, just as I have been able to do for our youngest daughter, who is planning a fall wedding.

It’s outrageous that in the United States we still discriminate against millions of American citizens who pay taxes and lead productive and contributing lives. My husband and I have fought against this injustice for years. The time has come for all of us to step out of our own closets and demand that equal justice and opportunity be available to all our citizens. I will be visiting Amsterdam and spending my tourist dollars there, since they certainly understand that everyone gets to have access to all.

LYNETTE SPERBER

Sherman Oaks