I can totally understand why conservatives are so deadset against the idea of "gay marriage." For ever so long organized religions have kept their flocks in check by regulating who can and cannot get married. Taking the control of this legal contract out of the hands of clergy and giving it to the people is relinquishing one of the few controls the church has left.

God for them, I say. But I think it needs to go a step further. Just disallowing marriage between same-sex couples does not go far enough toward the stated goal of opponents of gay unions. Check websites or listen to speeches and the final argument is to "protect the American family."

Fine.

The purpose of marriage, so say the proponents of the ban, is to bear and raise children. I think that's admirable. But by allowing just anyone to get married does not serve this purpose. I propose the following Constitutional amendment to preserve the institution of marriage:

Henceforth, marriage will only be allowed between a man and woman where one of the couple is already pregnant. (There's no sense in permitting marriage unless there's the promise of a child.)

If a woman becomes pregnant, she must get married before delivery, or forfeit the child to the State.

Once married, that contract will be unseverable until such time as there are no minor children living in the home. This clause is unalterable. It is far more important that the children have two married parents than for them to be raised by a loving couple or even a loving single-parent.

In the event of the death of one of the parents, the surviving parent will be granted two months to find a new spouse or the children will be remanded over to the State.

Once the married couple is past the biological possibility of producing more children, and there are no minor children left in the house, the marriage is immediately annulled with no remaining obligation, financial or otherwise, between the man and woman or their children.

When adopted, all existing childless married couples will be granted one year from the time of adoption to produce children. Any couples that fail to reproduce will have their marriage annulled.



I think that is the only fair way to handle the marriage issue.