In response to the letter from Jennifer Holmes about protecting the “tradition” of marriage, if we look back, we see that this Tradition resulted in many people leading lives of heartbreak and loneliness, or entering into tortured marriages. Furthermore, following Tradition would put us in a world in which women could not choose their partners or own property, and mixed-ethnicity marriages would not be allowed. Tradition can be good but only when continually evaluated in light of our current understandings.

Jennifer Holmes calls marriage “holy matrimony.” However, marriage from the State of Washington is NOT “holy.” Just as we think Muslim governments’ enforcement of religious law on their people is wrong, it is wrong for Christians to force their beliefs on the citizens of our state. We value Freedom and so we must make laws that allow for religious freedom. Christians who struggle with this could look to a young theologian, Matthew Vines, for some guidance on scriptural interpretation.

Ms. Holmes is also worried same-sex marriage will hurt the children, but I know many happy, healthy children of same-sex couples. Psychological research, by non-religious groups, shows this argument is not valid.

The letter also says that marriage is designed to produce offspring. However, in our time, marriages are valid even when they do not produce children. We have changed our traditions as new understanding has prevailed.

We don’t make this law “to legitimize actions,” but to recognize the rights of all people to freely choose their spouses and to be married.

“A good firm foundation of a society’s future” is a good family for every person in which they are loved for who they truly are. That is why I will vote Yes for R74.

Ellen Tennis

Renton