Same-sex marriage knots

Re “Gays Engaged in a Battle for Hearts, Minds,” July 26

I think it’s odd that this extensive article presents “a battle for hearts and minds,” yet doesn’t really illuminate the purpose of the battle. This is a battle for civil marriage, which means extending more than 1,000 rights given to married, heterosexual, taxpaying citizens to all taxpaying citizens.

When the Supreme Court struck down state bans on interracial marriage in 1967, the overwhelming majority of Americans did not support interracial marriage. Equality and freedom won out over popular opinion because equality and freedom are what used to separate us from the rest of the world.

JON ANDERSEN-MILLER

Culver City

*

The highest court in the state of New York denied same-sex couples the right to marry on the theory that the basis for marriage is “inevitable procreation.” If making babies was a requirement of marriage, it would make sense to only permit pregnant people to get married. How else can we ensure the inevitable and prevent violations?

STEPHEN MAY

Los Angeles