Law reflects that being gay is not a choice

In response to Mr. Ron Telecky's Jan. 25 guest column, his argument contained one serious flaw: his assumption that being gay is a behavioral choice. Gay people no more choose to be so than someone chooses to be left-handed.

Sure, they can, with lots of frustration and practice, learn to write right-handed, but it doesn't keep them from being naturally left-handed. Same with being gay; you can practice being straight, even marry the opposite sex and raise a family, but it doesn't make you straight. There are too many tragic stories of divorce, suicide and substance abuse resulting from the inner turmoil created by trying to live “the big lie.”

The Iowa Supreme Court understood this is not a choice and unanimously ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act was discriminatory.

The Founding Fathers knew that the popular opinion of the day often did not make good laws. Consequently, we elect representatives to do the right things on our behalf, not necessarily the most popular. No major piece of civil rights legislation was ever enacted by popular vote.

Iowa House and Senate leadership embrace this charge and that is why they are blocking the defense of marriage debate - because it's the right thing to do.

Tony Browning

Cedar Rapids