ABOUT THE WRITER
Matt Nevels was a Southern Baptist preacher who changed his beliefs and is now a local gay rights advocate. He helped start a local group for families and their gay children. His story was featured in the Times Free Press last June in a report called Tempest in My Soul. His son, Stephen, died of AIDS.
The debate continues.
It is time to grant lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons civil rights the same as everyone else.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court extended federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples last week, now is the best time – perhaps ever – to affirm this right.
As I see it, two issues demand attention: 1.) Prevailing social attitudes, which history shows sways the majority of decisions of the court, especially on social issues; and, 2.) the benefits of marriage enjoyed by opposite-sex couples not available to same-sex couples.