Honest but tricky question about Marriage Amendment.
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 8:32 pmTrue, it probably won't pass. But if it does, I have a real question that I hope will be taken seriously even though I haven't seen it addressed anywhere and it's kind of a tricky area.
The amendment would constitutionally codify marriage as "a union of a man and a woman."
Now, bear with me. According to the Intersex Society of North America website (search at your own risk), between 1/100 and 1/1,300 of God's babies are born neither male nor female.
Even with the possibility that those estimates are off, it is clear that some children are born intersexed. I'm talking about an ambiguity at the genetic level (neither XX or XY, or XXY).
These people can only self-identify as men or women. (And on their birth certificates the doctor may assign a sex, and even surgically construct the necessities.) Scientifically, medically, genetically, they are neither. And they don't have to claim to be either, if they don't want to.
Will they be banned from marrying at all? If not, how will they be affected by the amendment?
I mean, these are real people who fall in love and have the same desires as the rest of us. How will they be accounted for if the amendment is ratified?
I would especially like to hear from those who support the amendment.
And anyone who doesn't think this is an important question, I would like to hear from you, too. Sincerely. (I would like to avoid the question, myself, actually. I just don't see how it can be avoided.)
The amendment would constitutionally codify marriage as "a union of a man and a woman."
Now, bear with me. According to the Intersex Society of North America website (search at your own risk), between 1/100 and 1/1,300 of God's babies are born neither male nor female.
Even with the possibility that those estimates are off, it is clear that some children are born intersexed. I'm talking about an ambiguity at the genetic level (neither XX or XY, or XXY).
These people can only self-identify as men or women. (And on their birth certificates the doctor may assign a sex, and even surgically construct the necessities.) Scientifically, medically, genetically, they are neither. And they don't have to claim to be either, if they don't want to.
Will they be banned from marrying at all? If not, how will they be affected by the amendment?
I mean, these are real people who fall in love and have the same desires as the rest of us. How will they be accounted for if the amendment is ratified?
I would especially like to hear from those who support the amendment.
And anyone who doesn't think this is an important question, I would like to hear from you, too. Sincerely. (I would like to avoid the question, myself, actually. I just don't see how it can be avoided.)