THE LAW AND MARRIAGE

I want to thank the organizers of this event for inviting me here today.  David and Janice have been very gracious to me and to Robert and Brian.  What EqualityVirginia has put together with this rally is impressive, indeed. We are all here today united in a common set of beliefs: the belief that people should be allowed to lead their lives in the way they choose to so long as they are not harming others: the belief that the ideal state of human life is to live in liberty free from oppressive laws and would-be tyrants: the belief that all people are different in their own ways: differences that make us together as a nation stronger in our character and commitment: not more corrupt as our political leaders in Virginia with their oppressive laws would have the world believe. What would the law provide for in the field of marriage if Virginians truly were to live in personal liberty and equality?  Let’s take a look at that hopeful prospect. Let me suggest to you the law should have only the smallest role in regulating the institution of marriage.  No license for marriage from the State should be required.  The registration of marriages in a public record should be available, but not mandated.  The law should draw few, if any, distinctions between those citizens who are married and those citizens who are not married.  Most importantly, the law should never prohibit two adults not related by blood from marrying one another based solely on the personal qualities of the two people who love one another, whether those qualities relate to gender or race or religious belief or any other human trait.  Yes, given what marriage’s true meaning is in society, love and devotion to one person, the law does and should say that people may have only one spouse at a given time.  Anything less is not truly a marriage partnership in a meaningful way. Ultimately, marriage should be left to be a moral commitment from one person to another; another person who shares that same commitment.  If that commitment is largely grounded in spiritual belief, it is a wonderful state of life for two people to share.  If the marriage commitment is based largely on life as it is in our physical world, so be it. Marriage and life-long love on the latter premise is no less of a free and binding decision for the people who choose to make it. This is the libertarian vision of marriage: the smallest possible role for the State.  You will find few libertarians who would have significant disagreement with the principles I mentioned.  Indeed, in connection with the present system of overpowering, abusive government in so many ways at all levels, there are surprisingly few matters of substance in public policy that libertarians do disagree on.  Our big tent is one called “Freedom” in capital golden letters.  All are invited to join.  There will be no formal distinctions made between you, because, after all, there is only kind of American, no special rights needed or asked for: just the right to be free to be given to all. So I say to our so-called leaders in Richmond, it is quite disheartening to the citizens of Virginia to see our elected officials wish to divide us from each other and from the other citizens of our nation.  I say there is no benefit to society or to the individual from trumpeting old biases just to gather a few more votes.  To combine the hatred and backwardness of the past with the overpowering government of today is a prescription for destroying the United States Constitution and the birthright of liberty it has meant.  Allow people to be who they are and to be responsible for their own lives and their own choices.  That is what the Virginia revolution of 1776 was all about, after all.