Eric Lee misses the point of Question 6 in his commentary on same-sex marriage ("Protecting marriage isn't about hate," Oct. 2). His analogy of the vegetarian restaurant is particularly off the mark. If his favorite vegetarian restaurant starts serving hamburgers, he is under no obligation to buy or eat them.

A more fit analogy for Question 6 would be a restaurant in 1960 allowing a black couple to sit at a table with white people. Or, 10 years ago, a restaurant moving your favorite table and adding a wheelchair ramp to allow a disabled person the same right to share a meal.

Question 6 is about allowing the citizens of Maryland to enjoy the legal, government-recognized institution of marriage. It has no effect on one's God or religion and how they define a religious marriage.

One of the longest and most stable relationships in my extended family is a same-sex union. My cousin and her partner are raising three wonderful kids who benefit from a stable, committed relationship that has all the "special qualities" and "unique gifts" Mr. Lee mistakenly credits only to heterosexual couples. This great family is always welcome at my table.

Mr. Lee does get this right, however: "Men and women are equal," and the government recognizes and protects that equality. It's time we invite all consenting adults to enjoy equal seating at the table of marriage.

William Feustle, Baldwin