Much has been said recently about civil recognition of gay "marriages." I have often heard gay people ask why they should be denied a basic civil right that heterosexual couples enjoy?

The simple answer is that civil recognition of marriage is not a right. It is a privilege licensed by the 50 states under their consitutional police power (the power to regulate health, safety and morals). Heterosexual, as well as homosexual couples do not have a right to civil recognition of their marriage. It is an all too common ailment for members of a class of people who feel they are discriminated against and who, in fact, might very well be discriminated against, to think that they have a civil right to not be subject to that discrimination. The truth, however, is that not all discrimination is illegal in the United States. To change this would require constitutional amendment.

Under our consitutional system, the answer to this dilema is found in the political process in each of the states.