The Absolute Importance of Equality for All

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” It has practically become a cliché. The words themselves are true and very broad, even if the context in which they were spoken was very narrow. It was mostly for the cause of a group of wealthy, straight, white males that this quote was put to paper, and don’t even get me started on the “created” aspect of it. However, despite the reasons for the composing of this phrase, I believe that all human beings, whoever they are, are intrinsically equal, and are therefore worthy of equal rights. The question, inevitable and difficult, is what constitutes equal rights? Equal rights to me mean, in general, that everyone should be treated fairly, with respect and empathy, be able to live their lives as they want to live them, and that as long as you are not hurting someone else, or infringing on anyone else’s rights, then you are free to live as you will. To live as you will means that you are free to choose and express yourself however you like, no matter what race, age, gender, nationality, gender identity or sexual orientation. What is so hard about this?

            Well, it seems, a lot. There are people, of various beliefs, religions and ideologies, who assert their intrinsic equality and independence, but for whatever reason, may not allow the same for other different groups of people. I assert that if anyone wants equality, equality belongs to us all. The central issue of this paper has to do with the equality of all different sorts of people, whatever gender, identity, or orientation, in the act and institution of marriage. To be clear, marriage as a symbolic act, with its various ceremonies and traditions, is a broad and multifaceted institution, which is open to any number of interpretations by any group, religion or culture. That is not the issue at hand. The issue is the legal binding contract that people getting married make with themselves and the government of their land. I do not believe in infringing on someone’s rights to define marriage in their own unique cultural system. However, just as we should not try to infringe on their cultural institution, they should not infringe on someone else’s rights to make a binding contract, out of love and commitment, in our legal institution. Again, I assert that if anyone wants equality, equality belongs to us all. That is the definition of equality. It does not mean special treatment for a select few. If you are of a legal age, because otherwise it is child abuse, and you are consenting, because otherwise it is rape, and you are human, because otherwise it is animal rape, then there is no logical, legitimate reason to deny you the right to make a commitment under the binding legal institution of marriage, and define it under whatever symbolic institution, or not, that you wish. One may assume from the previous statement that marriage implies sex. While this is usually assumed, it is not always the case. Moving on.