An unfortunate number of Americans are very homophobic. The response of the president and other high-profile politicians toward what is happening in San Francisco, the "activist" judges in Massachusetts and a county in New Mexico suggests Americans are (at the moment) incapable of accepting one simple fact: Gay people are not going away.

Creating an amendment banning gay marriage is not going to benefit anyone. For those bewildered by what I just said, understand this: Gays and lesbians are people like you and me. Furthermore, you can stop classifying things that are bad as being gay. It's annoying. The call the referee made, Tinky Winky and the homework your professor gave you are not gay.

At the risk of making a generalization, those who cringe at the idea of same-sex marriage also tend to be afraid and generally ignorant of homosexuals and the fact that people do not choose to be "straight" or gay. Whether someone is gay or straight depends upon sexual orientation.

President Bush, in explaining how he is so "disturbed" by what is happening, stated that the actions taken by judges in Massachusetts created confusion and risked changing the "most fundamental institution of civilization." After he recently made a proposal to spend more than $1 billion to promote marriage, he clarified this week he supports marriage only for those couples that are not of the same sex. I was surprised that he did not liken homosexuality to a terrorist plot and then explicitly state that gays everywhere were "attacking" the sanctity of marriage.

Believe it or not, same-sex marriage will not lead to a less moral America and certainly will not be the precursor to the legalization of polygamy. Those opposed to same-sex marriage should swallow their paranoia and disgust and embrace the opportunity to allow everybody the right to experience the best (and worst) of marriage. Excluding gays and lesbians from the same rights and freedoms that a majority of Americans has access to should not remain the policy of our government.

Edward Daligga
social relations and urban and regional planning junior