One of the first items to be addressed by the new Asheville City Council is likely to be the extension of benefits to committed homosexual partners of city employees. This is being billed as “gay rights.” No mention was made about extending the “right” to fringe benefits to heterosexual fornicators. Three objections come to mind. (1) Believers in natural rights don’t believe it is possible for one group to have special rights without depriving others of theirs. (2) Since the right to property is considered fundamental, it is unclear how taxpayers can be forced to give up property as is necessary to provide the “gay rights.” (3) If indeed rights are bestowed by the Creator, it is difficult to rationalize the existence of a right to abominate.
It would be awkward for a member of city council to vote against the proposal, as such action would probably be construed to be hate speech. Vice Mayor Jan Davis argued it would be difficult to define “committed,” but the Citizen-Times said Gordon Smith said couples should “live together for at least six months, not be married to anyone else, be exclusively involved with each other and share a residence and living expenses.” The third item should be easy enough to document. Smith is trying to get the item on city council’s agenda for December 6.
