{ 張亨來 }

In February 2011, Zach Wahls, a University of Iowa engineering undergraduate and the son of a same-sex couple, spoke about same-sex marriage and his family upbringing at a public forum: “Over the next two hours I’m sure we’re going to hear plenty of testimony about how damaging having gay parents is on kids. But in my nineteen years, not once have I ever been confronted by an individual who realized independently that I was raised by a gay couple. You know why? Because the sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character.”

Zach’s speech has been popping up on my Facebook newsfeed today, and there are YouTube videos of his words translated into German and Chinese subtitles. Despite this, the Iowa House of Representatives passed House Joint Resolution 6 by a vote of 62 to 37. This constitutional amendment, if approved by the Iowan Senate and affirmed by Iowan voters, would had made same-sex marriages illegal in the state of Iowa. While this bill won’t progress further this year, it will remain active through the second half of the current legislative session next year.

This makes one wonder, just how strong must the torrent of reason be in order to wash away the herpetic scab of bigotry that has become so encrusted with backward thinking and entrenched ignorance?