|
NEWS
| NOVEMBER 8, 2005
State Elections
Students clash on Proposition 2
Proposed amendment will make marriage
between a man and a woman.
 |
| The Shorthorn: Manikandan Sachidanandan |
| Business junior Tracy Nanthavongsa,
left, arranges fliers about Proposition 2 while
geology freshman Bess Alvarez stands Monday on the Central
Library mall. |
|
By Alicia
Kania
The Shorthorn staff
Of the issues in today’s state general election, Proposition
2 is perhaps the most talked about on campus. It proposes an amendment
to the Texas Constitution defining marriage solely as a union between
a man and a woman.
Members of UTA’s Gays, Lesbians and Everyone Else handed out
fliers regarding the proposed amendment and information about their
group Monday outside of the Central Library.
GLEE Co-President Bess Alvarez said the group’s goal has always
been to promote awareness. She said she felt strongly about the
proposition.
“Some people think it’s a lost cause because we live
in one of the most conservative states in America,” the geology
freshman said. “I don’t think it’s a lost cause.
It’s about people who want to live their lives like everyone
else.”
Mechanical engineering freshman David Esquivel said he is in favor
of the amendment because he supports heterosexual marriage.
“I believe that’s what we were created for, both physically
and mentally,” he said.
Nursing freshman Jim Rachels said he strongly favors the amendment
due to his religious beliefs.
“I’m not homophobic — I support gay rights —
I just don’t believe in same-sex marriage,” he said.
Adding to the debate is the amendment’s verbiage. According
to http://www.sos.state.tx.us,
the amendment would provide that “marriage in this state consists
only of the union of one man and one woman and prohibiting this
state or a political subdivision of this state from creating or
recognizing any legal status identical or similar to marriage.”
Because the amendment defines marriage and then appears to say that
the state cannot recognize marriage itself, some are concerned that,
if passed, the amendment would affect all marriages.
University Democrats Adviser Greg Bateson said that, because of
the misleading context, divorce lawyers in Texas could use this
as an outlet to avoid recognizing any marriage from another state.
For example, if someone in Florida no longer wanted to be married,
they could simply travel to Texas and argue that their marriage
was no longer valid, he said.
He said he does not support the proposed amendment and finds it
redundant because same-sex marriages are already illegal in Texas.
“Why add to the constitution?” Bateson asked. “This
seems like beating on a point of prejudice, like saying, ‘We’re
really bigoted.’ It seems like overkill.”
College Republicans President Kat Miller said she is also voting
‘no’ but for political reasons.
“I’m for civil union,” the political science junior
said. “I believe that marriage is a holy union between a man
and a woman, but I do not believe the government should regulate
who can and cannot be together.”
Electric engineering senior Don Marek, a service coordinator for
the University Catholic Community, said he supports the proposition
because of his religious beliefs.
“I believe that the union between a man and a woman is what
marriage is,” he said. “The U.S. was founded on the
principles of Christianity, and God made the man for the woman.
That is how life put us together.”
Alvarez said she not only believes it would be unnecessary, as it
is already illegal in Texas, but that the issue itself takes rights
away from citizens.
“It’s not about whether you believe in or accept homosexuality,”
she said. “We are citizens of the United States — one
of the greatest countries in the world. It’s not about who
we love or how we love — we just want to be treated like everyone
else.”
CORRECTION
This story should have attributed the quote, “I’m
not homophobic — I support gay rights — I just don’t
believe in same-sex marriage,” to nursing freshman Jim Rachels.
|
|
