Add gay marriage to pursuit of happiness

To the Editor:

I am responding to L. Kramer’s July 6 letter, “Guv right to defend traditional marriage,” concerning Gov. Chris Christie’s opposition to gay marriage.

Kramer tells us, “Radical homosexual activists see same-sex marriage is just a tool in a greater agenda to reorder society.”

I’m not sure what that means, but if it involves including gays, by all means, let’s reorder.

“It will mean the destruction of our civilization ...opens a Pandora’s Box ... why not (a marriage of) two men and three women; or two men, one woman, a dog and a chimpanzee?” the letter continues. Isn’t this overreacting?

Personally, I favor giving gay folks the right to marry for one reason: ’cause they want it. As a matter of fact, I don’t know why it isn’t covered under the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964, which forbids discrimination on the basis of sex. And I can’t imagine how a union between consenting adults would contribute to the downfall of humankind.

Kramer continues, “Heterosexual and religious people should organize, persevere and just be determined no matter how long it takes to save our civilization. ...Never surrender to the homosexual minority. God save America!”

This divisive rhetoric puts the writer on top of a very slippery slope, at the bottom of which is the true destruction of civilization.

Imagine being a young gay person who comes upon Kramer’s letter. Is the writer comfortable contributing to their stress? What about the influence these comments might have on a bully?

I propose filing the issue of same-sex marriage under “pursuit of happiness,” one of those “certain unalienable rights” our country was founded to achieve.

Monica Leyva

National Park