Right to marry not based on procreation

I'd like to applaud the bravery of the Washington lay Catholic leaders in their views expressed in The Seattle Times op-ed in which they advocate the continued denial of the right to marry to a minority of the population, namely, same-sex couples [“We are Catholics who oppose Referendum 74 to legalize same-sex marriage,” Opinion, Nov. 1].

Given their logic, that the right to marry is based on a couple's ability to procreate, I hope it is with equal courage and zeal that the lay Catholic leaders turn their attention next to proscribing the right to marry to postmenopausal women, those suffering infertility and heterosexual couples who do not wish to procreate.

– Tim Richards, Seattle

Denying marriage equality is hurtful

Enough already about Referendum 74 and the harm it will cause to those who approve it [“Gay-marriage ‘harm’ bias, not law itself,” NWTuesday, Oct. 30]. Endless evidence shows being born gay is a normal variant of the human condition. So it's time to open our minds, hearts and policies to recognize that if equality in marriage makes gay individuals in our families, neighborhoods, workplaces and churches better off, we are all better off.

Let's pull together instead to fight true clear and present dangers like increasing numbers of children in poverty, cuts to funding of education, human causes of climate change, exploding world population, endless war, need for jobs, to name a few.

Marriage equality doesn't hurt anyone. Denying it does.

– Gwen Lundberg, Seattle