Yesterday’s Washington Post reported that President Obama has extended hospital visitation rights to same-sex partners.  Although this may surprise some people reading this article, I don’t have a problem with that–as long as he extends the same rights to heterosexual partners that are not married.  I don’t support gay marriage–I feel there is a potential that if gay marriage is legal, we will trample the conscience rights of pastors who believe in the Bible.  I do think, however, that compassion requires visitation rights to people who have lived together and made a commitment to each other–gay or straight.

The problem with legalizing gay marriage is the question of what happens when a pastor who believes the Bible condemns homosexuality refuses to marry a same-sex couple.  Does he have a right of conscience to refuse to perform that marriage?  Does a photographer who believes the Biblical position on homosexuality have the right to refuse to take pictures?  Could we honor everyone’s rights by allowing civil unions and not involving the church?  I don’t claim to have the answers to these questions–I bring them up simply to make the point that this is a very complex issue, and we need to find a way to protect the rights of as many people as possible.