Larsen claims his reasons are based on scientific and socioeconomic values, but doesn’t back them up with anything but his bizarre opinions. Larsen drags out the old, groundless cliché that gay marriage would weaken the “traditional institution of the family” as a “staple for many successful cultures throughout history.” Where are the studies or proof that gay marriage weakens “successful cultures?” While non-gay American divorce rate statistics are argued, an Internet search shows they start around 40 percent or higher. Does that reflect a strong family institution or successful culture?

Larsen claims that adoption would “shorten the supply of potentially superior evolutionary genes” in the American population. That statement is rife with potential negative connotations. That gay marriage would result in a decrease in offspring is preposterous. Whether they’re allowed to marry or not, gay people are already either living as childless couples or adopting. Being married or not has nothing to do with procreation rates. And this one is really rich: Larsen assumes that giving young people freedom of choice (about what?) would confuse them sexually. So, by this thinking, kids are faced with a choice at a young age that goes something like this: “Hmm, should I be gay or hetero?” The only choice young gay people have is either keep it secret or tell someone and risk the possibility of being ostracized, taunted, beaten or even tortured and killed.

The confusion Larsen assumes legalized gay marriage would perpetrate on young people is ridiculous. A major source of confusion among gays of any age is not their gayness, it’s the unrelenting onslaught from parents, siblings, peers, government, counselors, churches and other supposed authority figures telling them that what they know to be their essential nature is somehow wrong, sinful, sick, perverted, inferior, etc.

Actually, legalizing gay marriage would show youngsters, and the rest of the gay population, that they are perfectly fine just the way they are.

Chris Brussat

Bayfield