I want to alleviate Elaine Graham’s fears of social chaos resulting from gay marriage (Feb. 13). My 97-year-old father lives peacefully in Massachusetts, entirely unaffected by four years of legal gay marriages. The only effect is a slight economic boost as gay couples travel to Massachusetts to marry and celebrate.

My husband and I just celebrated our 40th anniversary. We love, support, encourage, correct, tease, nurse, comfort, etc., each other. Those pillars of marriage are not gender-specific. Yes, we have children. Many gay couples have children, while many straight couples do not. Their marriages are equally valid.

Contradicting Graham’s claim of social chaos, successful marriages, gay or straight, stabilize society, creating cohesive units caring for each other and their extended families. All need the support that civil marriage gives.

Like Graham, I am Christian, but laws must not be legislated based on religion. Christians who first came to America were fleeing a Christian country that demanded all citizens adhere to the same beliefs. The Constitution clearly separates church and state to ensure that one religious belief never overrules another. The very title “An Act to Prevent Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom,” supports any religion’s right to decide whom it will marry. The law merely eliminates the gender discrimination in the present civil marriage.

I will staunchly defend Graham’s right to believe and worship as she wishes. I will staunchly oppose her attempts to belittle my beliefs and dictate her beliefs to others.

Martha D. Palmer, Lisbon Falls