Why We Fight: North Carolina, Gay Marriage, and the Theocratic Agenda

By

Sean Ewart

Huffington Post

When North Carolina became the 30th state to pass a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage not much changed. Already illegal in North Carolina, the amendment that passed with 61% of the vote is merely a step to further solidify the state against any encroaching liberalism. What is remarkable, however, is not that the amendment passed – that was a given almost from the day it was introduced – but the rational behind its passage. North Carolina banned gay marriage because enough of the voting population believed it to be a sin against god. Religion was the driving force behind the vote and proves, again, the destructive force of faith once unleashed in the public sector.

“The Bible is clear,” said prominent evangelical leader Billy Graham. “God’s definition of marriage is between a man and a woman. I want to urge my fellow North Carolinians to vote for the marriage amendment on Tuesday, May 8. God bless you as you vote.” And he is absolutely right. By any literal reading of the Bible gay marriage is explicitly forbidden. In fact, the “god hates fags” message runs through the Bible from cover to cover. Here is a sampler:

If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. – Leviticus 20:13

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Obviously Christians debate whether or not these verses mean that homosexuals should be denied equal rights (and some even question whether or not these verses actually mean that god hates homosexuals). Billy Graham, however, has no such qualms. “At 93, I never thought we would have to debate the definition of marriage,” he said. To him and to most religious American Christians (those that actually believe the tenants of the religion they subscribe to) gay marriage is expressly a sin and that fact means that it should be banned by law. 

Gallup

This is the crux of the issue. Personal faith is only problematic when it becomes public policy. Whether or not you personally feel that god hates homosexuals, or that the world was created 6,000 years ago, or that god approves of your taxation program only matters once it becomes the justification for political action. When North Carolina passed its anti-gay marriage amendment, it did so explicitly because of religion. Christianity was the single most important force driving the ban and this is why it is so important for non-theists and non-Biblical literalists to speak up. 

We are faced with a large contingency of people who believe religious law should be state law. When this contingency is allowed to exercise its might in a constitutional referendum, like in North Carolina, we are witnessing the theocracy of the majority and it is as tyrannical as any other. This is why we, who do not hold the same dogmatic tenets as do the faithful, must not be quiet on matters of faith. This is why we fight; not only for the rights of minorities like homosexuals, but for the rights of all who do not wish to live according to ancient laws written at the dawn of civilization.

For more from The Gadfly Press on homosexual rights and religion read Sean Ewart's article "Religion: the antithesis of homosexual rights."