This letter is in reference to the bills SB-5688 and HB-1727, which would legalize gay marriage in Washington state, which was brought to my attention by Larry Stickney, of Washington Values Alliance, in his (Feb. 20) Guest Opinion in the Port Orchard Independent (“Same-sex marriage backers wage stealth campaign in Washington”).

I say no to same-sex marriage. It will infringe on my First Amendment Rights: Article 1. Religious Establishment Prohibited. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise there of.”

Also in the Declaration of Independence, in the second paragraph it states… they are endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Liberty which means freedom or release from slavery, imprisonment, captivity or any other form of arbitrary control.

• Forcing ones choice of behavior on others is wrong. (arbitrary control)

• Homosexual behavior should not be taught to our youngsters in schools.

• Morals are the parent’s job, not the schools or governments.

• Parents should always have a choice on what is taught to their children.

Having someone else’s behavior dictating what I can do, say, or believe about what I know to be a reprehensible behavior (such as homosexuality) is in direct violation of my First Amendment rights, such as the hate crime bill that takes my freedom of speech and thought away.

Not to mention my freedom of religion.

Are we now going to take the Bible and rewrite it so it can be behavior-friendly? Are you God?

What two consenting adults do in their bedroom is their business. But when (acceptance of) that behavior is now being forced on me, then it does become my business.

I am not going to go out and be disrespectful (my parents taught me better) to anyone, but by what right do you have, Gov. Gregoire, to take away my unalienable rights?

DEBBIE McGARR

Port Orchard