I am very disappointed in the state of Ohio and the 10 other U.S. states that overwhelmingly supported Issue 1 and amendments like it at the polls on Nov. 2.
As an ally of gay and lesbian individuals, I am personally appalled that this issue passed. The main source of my frustration is that many people were not properly informed or educated on the proposed amendment before making their decision. People let their fear of homosexuals interfere with their reason and good judgment. Many who voted yes may not have known the affect this amendment will have on our state.
Not only does it take away the right for same-sex couples to marry, but it takes away the benefits their partners could receive and also bans legal recognition of non-married straight couples. I am proud that Ohio University is one of the few universities that offer benefits to homosexual domestic partners. The passing of this amendment will not only change this but also will make it harder for the university to recruit a diverse group of faculty, something we take pride in. The amendment will be a blow to economic growth and the recruitment of people to work in Ohio from other states.
I fear that many people are just downright scared. They are scared of people who are different. And although overt discrimination against homosexuals seems to be decreasing, the safety of the anonymous voting booths allowed many people to feel it was OK to discriminate.
Discrimination has been virtually written into the state constitution through support for this amendment. Chances are that those who voted yes on Issue 1 never considered how the people involved will be affected. Homosexuals are people too, believe it or not, and they deserve the same rights guaranteed to us all by the Constitution. These rights -life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness -are not exclusive to heterosexual people. Our pledge of allegiance does not say, ...with liberty and justice for all except homosexuals... Regardless of your personal beliefs on homosexuality, as humans we are obligated to be empathetic and compassionate toward one another. Issue 1 shows no compassion. It is taking away rights that Ohioans already enjoy instead of expanding them or protecting them as amendments are meant to do. I feel that Ohio made the wrong choice on Nov. 2, and I am not only enraged. I am ashamed.
-Erin Gibson is a senior early childhood education major. Send her an e-mail at erin.gibson@ohiou.edu.
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Letter to the Editor
