Gay marriage is about loving commitments

Thank you, Steve Petersen family, for your rational and thoughtful support of gay marriage. It is unfortunate that many of the objections to gay marriage are rooted in religious biases, based on narrow biblical interpretations that foster ignorance and fear. If we wish to strictly adhere to biblical tenets, then watch out, everyone in the 21st century — the police of biblical justice will be coming for us all.

The extension of marriage rights applies only to civil marriages and does not require any religious institutions to perform marriages their beliefs are in conflict with. As the Petersen family points out, the only danger to marriage affects those couples who fail to sustain their own.

Marriages will continue to be an important part of our communities as long as people have the desire to commit themselves to each other in long-term partnerships. Everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, should be able to receive the legal protections and benefits of making such loving commitments and deserve the same respect accorded straight marriages. We believe its time.

Susan and Ron Reed

Arlington Heights