With Joe Biden’s recent gaffe, and President Obama’s confirmation of that gaffe, there has been much talk about gay marriage. Some of that talk is opposition, specifically opposition that is based on religion. To put this briefly, your opposition to gay marriage means absolutely nothing if you’re grounding it in religion. That statement is not an attack on religion by any means. You are free to believe whatever you want. However, the consequences of those beliefs only affect those who hold them.

I have said that before and religious people will generally express to me that whether I follow their religion or not, I will eventually experience the consequences. Once again, you are certainly free to believe that, but that does not give you a free pass to take away others rights simply because you choose not to have them yourself. My personal opinion on marriage is that it shouldn’t be state recognized, that only civil unions should be. But we’re a long way off on that.

Another personal opinion of mine is that if you believe two people who probably love each other more than you and your heterosexual spouse do shouldn’t be able to do simple things like have visiting rights at the hospial or file taxes together, then you are kind of a dick.

Jessika Griffin is the president of the Secular Alliance. She is a senior studying public management, health administration, and legal studies.

Recently the Secular Coalition for America (largest nontheist lobbying group) appointed a Republican as its head. We will discuss whether 1) she specifically is a good person to represents atheists and 2) what sort of qualities we would like as a representative who lobbies Congress. As usual there will be tea and other treats. We will meet in Lindley 102 at 6pm  on Tuesday May 15, but will move outside if the weather is nice.

Interview with Hemant Mehta

On Friday, May 11 at 3pm the Secular Alliance will go on a guided tour of the Kinsey Institute, located in Morrison 313 (1165 E. Third St.) which is directly north of Memorial Hall. We will meet in the lobby area by the elevator on the ground floor and go up to the Kinsey Institute at 2:55. The mission of The Kinsey Institute is to promote interdisciplinary research and scholarship in the fields of human sexuality, gender, and reproduction.