A puzzling predicament

I have a puzzlement.

I have watched many musicals. They are my favorite stage productions. I enjoy them immensely. One I love especially is “The King and I.” In the story line the King realizes there are a lot of things he no long understands. His mastery of the English language is not complete. He sings a memorable song, “A Puzzlement.”

“There are time I almost think nobody sure of what he absolutely know.

Everybody find confusion in conclusion he concluded long ago.

And it puzzle me to learn that tho’ a man may be in doubt of what he know,

Very quickly will he fight.

He’ll fight to prove that what he does not know is so!

Oh-h-h-h-h-h sometimes I think people going mad!

Is a puzzlement.”

I too have a puzzlement.

On Nov. 4, voters in California approved Proposition 8. Proposition 8 is a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as a union of a man and a woman. The practical effect is that same-sex couples no longer have a right to marry in California. Same-sex couples had only recently been given the right to marry by a California Supreme Court ruling.

On one side of the issue people were saying “equality for all.” On the other side people were calling voters to “protect traditional marriage.” When the voters were analyzed, the profile of “yes” voters told an interesting story. Roman Catholics, Mormons and blacks voted “yes” in overwhelming numbers.

I have a puzzlement.

Why would three groups of people, who have experienced significant discrimination, vote to discriminate against men and women who are gay? Have they forgotten the experience when they suffered discrimination?

I have been involved in the issues of gay acceptance in our churches for more than 35 years. I have been involved in the establishment of gay rights organizations. I have served on the national boards of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Institute for Welcoming Resources, and the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists. I have served on the local boards of Identity and PFLAG. I have written on behalf of gay rights. I have officiated at the weddings of same-sex couples. I have given generously to gay rights organizations and causes. I suspect I know as many or more gay people than any non-gay person around. They are my friends and I am their friend.

Among my gay friends are many couples who have been together in committed relationships for many years. I have observed loving relationships and healthy lifestyles. My own experience is being confirmed by extensive research. Research shows that gay marriages are more stable than heterosexual marriages. Research shows that children reared by gay parents are higher academic achievers than average and show no adverse personality defects from having same-sex parents.

I have a puzzlement.

Please explain to me how the recognition of same-sex marriages is a threat to heterosexual marriages.

I hope that the election of Barak Obama will be a large step toward putting racial discrimination to rest in the United States of America. Must we Americans always be looking for a segment of our society against whom we discriminate? We have done it to Roman Catholics. We have done it to Mormons. We have done it to women. We have done it to blacks. Must we make the same tragic error with our gay citizens?

“And it puzzle me to learn that tho’ a man may be in doubt of what we know,

Very quickly he will fight.

He will fight to prove that what he does not know is so!

Oh-h-h-h-h-h sometimes I think people going mad!

Is a puzzlement! “

The Rev. Howard Bess is the pastor emeritus of Church of the Covenant, an American Baptist church in Palmer. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net