In his letter to the editor ("Civil, gay rights separate issues" SN 3/4), James Wade makes the argument that gay rights issues do not equate to those ones faced by African Americans. I completely agree. How could they? Race and sexual orientation are, quite obviously, two different things. This does not mean, however, that gay rights are not a civil rights issue.

African Americans were discriminated against because of their race, and civil rights were extended to them by omitting discriminating references to race in laws. Homosexuals are discriminated against because of their sexual orientation, and if civil rights are to be extended to them, laws must omit discriminating references to sexual orientation. One such discriminating law is the law that defines marriage as being between a man and a woman.

Wade also expresses his fear that should marriage rights be extended to homosexuals, they would have to be extended to polygamists as well. Polygamy, unlike race, gender, and sexual orientation, is a belief and choice, not an inherent part of who you are (i.e. people are not born polygamists). There are plenty of laws that discriminate against people's beliefs and choices and these laws are readily accepted. For example, people who believe that stealing is a good idea and choose to steal are not protected under the law.

Neal Conatser
civil engineering senior