Editorial: Equal matrimony

Between Broadway shows and luxury deli meats, New York living can reach deep into residents’… Between Broadway shows and luxury deli meats, New York living can reach deep into residents’ wallets. But at least the state’s politicians are stepping out of citizens’ bedrooms.

After years of struggle, New York will become the largest state in the union to permit same-sex marriages on July 24. And with our neighbor’s triumph to embolden our resolve, it’s now time for Pennsylvanian youth to stand up for bedroom rights in the Keystone State.

In what became a dramatic conflict between partisan allegiance and personal conscience, the Republican-controlled New York State Senate on Friday passed the Marriage Equality Act, 33 to 29. It allows for gender-neutral marriages across the state after 30 days, while permitting religious organizations to refuse to recognize the marriages.

Many Pitt students, at least those with open hearts and minds, might be looking to the New York story for a watershed moment in the gay rights movement. After all, with its massive population and its heavy influence on the rest of the country, New York state’s decision to step forward on the gay marriage issue is definitely cause for celebration. But as the confetti settles and as we turn back to our own state’s rigid, Puritan-esque marriage laws, a rightful, equal conclusion is far from realized. And unfortunately, there’s no sign our Republican-controlled legislature is about to be quite as heroic.

Therefore it’s up to young people to accelerate the process. Granting any committed couple the right to codify their love as others do and reap the ensuing privileges — such as making estate and medical decisions and collecting taxes benefits — should be a function vivacious Pennsylvania twentysomethings fight to put in their government, especially after the victory up north.

Normally, we’d push everyone to use their fiercest weapon of political change — the vote. But it’s hard to force even an Adderall-popping college student to focus his attention on a ballot he won’t see for a year and a quarter. Instead, there are other ways to make sure we don’t drag our grandparents’ prejudices into the next generation.

Your cell phone, your Pitt email address and your voice. The first two are especially effective media through which to communicate with your state congressmen, and that privilege is notoriously underutilized by people our age. Let it not be so, for this issue.

When it comes to vocal chords, students throughout time have used these natural endowments to broach seemingly uncomfortable topics with their friends. This last tactic should be thoroughly explored, as our peers — not our parents — have preeminent influence in shaping our attitudes. Contact your congressmen and actively talk to people about your views, and then perhaps someday we won’t have to conjure up excuses — i.e., central Pennsylvania — when asked why our state’s so backward.

And if all else fails, New York is only a short drive away.