What Opposition to Gay Marriage is Doing

I am a fervent supporter of gay rights, including gay marriage. Whether it is intentional or not, the denial of rights have the left the gay community as a lesser population. Their relationships are seen as less important, and their struggles are seen as insignificant, self-inflicted. This is just one example of the consequences of treating homosexuals like a lesser class:

Genesio "Junior" Oliveira has been separated from his husband, Tim Coco, since August 2007, when he left the country after his request for asylum and an appeal were denied.

Oliveira asked for asylum in 2002, saying he was raped and attacked by a physician as a teenager in Brazil and feared persecution because of his sexuality.

Kudos to Sen. Kerry. If gay marriage was legal, this man's sincere request for asylum would never be a topic for discussion. This should be a no-brainer, and hopefully President Obama's administration views it that way.