One of the most often heard complaints regarding the legal marriage of gay citizens is: “It’s another step on the slippery slope. What’s next? Somebody wants to legally marry a goat, a child, their sister? Where do we draw the line?”

We draw the line at consent.

Children and animals cannot consent.

Activities that affect only those involved and have no real, tangible effect upon other citizens do not achieve the level of involvement required for governmental compelling interest.

No one has the inalienable right to determine for someone else of legal age if they are being victimized for them.

To those opposing legal marriage for gay people convinced that they are “defending” marriage: The ability of gay people to legally marry will have absolutely no tangible effect on the lives of anyone other than the consenting citizens directly involved with the marriage. Heterosexuals will not have any of the rights and liberties conferred upon them through legal marriage inhibited, changed, damaged or removed if gay people receive the equal protection under the law to legally marry that they are entitled to under the 14th Amendment.

This is a fact.

It is simply none of anyone’s business what other citizens consent to if that consent and action have no real tangible effect whatsoever on anyone else. Other people do not get to decide for someone else that they are a victim.

C. Randall Brotherton, Lewiston