Single people also want equality

Yard signs supporting Referendum 74 read “MARRIAGE FOR ALL.” [“Same-sex marriage: Build lives with love,” Opinion, Sept. 16.]

What the supporters really want is “benefits of marriage for all,” and if that could be accomplished (Social Security survivor benefits, etc.) for people who cannot or choose not to get married, I would be all for R-74, but that isn’t proposed anywhere.

Why should the ability to designate a recipient of one’s Social Security survivor benefits not be granted to single people?

Why shouldn’t a myriad federal income-tax benefits not be granted to single people?

Not all people can get married, because of no fault of their own.

Referendum 74, if approved, would exacerbate inequality, not reduce inequality.

— Eric G. Tronsen, Seattle

Look at the science

While the importance of equality, fairness and love can’t be overstated, your editorial should have mentioned that virtually every major social-science, medical and mental-health organization in the country — ranging from the American Academy of Pediatrics to the National Association of Social Workers to the American Psychological Association — endorses same-sex marriage. That’s because despite the incessant canards from anti-gay activists that allowing same-sex couples to marry would harm children or the institution of marriage, there have been no credible, scientific studies to back up their claims. Instead, study after study shows that same-sex couples are fully capable of providing loving, stable and supportive environments for children while having no deleterious effect on society as a whole.

In addition to the noble values appealed to in your editorial, gay people and our supporters have facts and science on our side. Our opponents have only fear, prejudice and lies.

— Alaric DeArment, New York (by way of Seattle)