Television viewers have been and will be bombarded with a tidal wave of same-sex ”marriage” images, but we must remember that these ads and media stories are being used to target emotions—not sense, responsibility, or the well-being of future generations. The groups that have designed these messages have not hidden their desire to normalize homosexual behavior. As just one recent example, a joint statement issued by several of the largest national organizations fighting legal battles for same-sex couples stated the following:

Couples who want to should get married, call themselves married, and ask (sometimes demand) that family, friends, neighbors, businesses, employers and the community treat their marriages with respect. Making the marriages of same-sex couples a conspicuous part of American society will help us get something we’ll need to win ultimately: public acceptance of equal treatment for lesbian and gay families.[1]

Strange coming from the same people who accuse their opponents of trying to force their morality on people. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a “live and let live” crowd. This is a “live the way we want you to live, or we’ll use the force of law” crowd. Religious liberty, despite its unquestionable foundation in American history, must take a back seat to sexual desires. Georgetown University law professor Chai Feldblum, a champion of special rights for those involved in homosexual behavior, puts it bluntly:

There can be a conflict between religious liberty and sexual liberty, but in almost all cases the sexual liberty should win because that’s the only way the dignity of gay people can be affirmed in any realistic manner.[2]

So, would Feldblum object to amending the U.S. Constitution to say that “sexual liberty” is superior to religious liberty? Was mention of sexual preference left out of the First Amendment because the Founders were just ignorant of its greater importance than religious liberty? No, they believed that religious liberty was our most important right.

Indeed, the U.S. government recognizes—but does not create—fundamental rights. Fundamental rights transcend the government and cannot be invented simply because some people desire to use the big stick of the government to force everyone else to affirm their behavior.

Marriage, for example, is not a device for affirming any individual’s dignity. Because the government’s interest in marriage is primarily to encourage environments that do not deliberately deny children the benefit of a mother or father, here’s the question all of us should be asking: “Which parent doesn’t matter—mom or dad?”

One hopes Justice George will consider that question, too.