Thoughts on Same Sex Marriage and Immigration
By Murali Bashyam
By Murali Bashyam
Unemployment is at 9.1%. Our economy is weak. Our debt is too high. And now we have a downgrade in our country’s credit rating.
But as I watched the Sunday morning political shows a few weeks ago, I was surprised that a considerable amount of conversation focused on same sex marriage and the Defense of Marriage Act.
Here are few quick thoughts about this issue.
- Some politicians keep emphasizing how marriage results in stability, and that stability is good. Is that any different for gay couples?
- Some politicians argue for less Federal government intrusion in people’s lives. But isn’t the Federal government actually intruding in people’s lives when it legislates for or against gay marriage?
- If this is even going to be an issue, shouldn’t it be one that States decide?
The concepts of love and devotion are not limited to relationships between a man and a woman. I know some gay couples that are very devoted to and love each other. The fact that we have a divorce rate of close to 50% between heterosexual couples proves that it is indeed not the epitome of a perfect union.
As an Immigration lawyer, I have seen first hand how our laws negatively impact foreigners who are married to a U.S. citizen of the same sex. Is it fair that the immigration benefits available to a heterosexual couple are denied for same sex ones? Unfortunately, this is driving some same sex couples to other countries where the laws are more favorable.
P.J. O’Rourke insightfully pointed out in an article published in Rolling Stone magazine that if our focus is on banning marriage for one group of people, we might as well ban it for everyone.
Actually, wouldn’t that make things easier for everybody?