When I read letters in support of "traditional" marriage, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. In America, white women used to be the property of their fathers, and would quite literally be given to their husbands upon marriage. It was not until the mid-to-late 1800s that states passed legislation that allowed women to control their own property even while their husbands were alive.

In 1967, the Supreme Court ruled that Virginia's "Racial Integrity Act" was unconstitutional. For the first time in this nation's history, people throughout the country were free to marry regardless of race, and marriage laws could not be used to enforce racism.

In 2008, some Pennsylvanians are supporting what they call the "integrity" of marriage, by pushing for a constitutional amendment that enforces discrimination based on sex.

I first married my same-sex partner in a religious ceremony in Pittsburgh in 1998, in honor of our fourth anniversary. We were legally married in Canada in 2005 and recently renewed our vows at the Carnegie Museum to contribute to Pittsburgh's efforts to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records. Coming upon our 14th anniversary, my partner and I are still second-class citizens in our native state of Pennsylvania.

Please make marriage a fountain of rights that gay people can drink from, too. Separate is not equal.

MICHELLE WIRTH
Swissvale

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Regarding letter writer Pat Gannon Voye ("Since the Beginning," April 24 letters), who wrote in defense of Patrick McMahon's March 31 letter "Gender Matters": Before we use the word "perverse" all willy-nilly, let's consider something else -- the divorce rate. If you truly believe same-sex marriage is "perverse," perhaps a little more thought should be given to what heterosexual couples have done to the "sanctity" of this building block of our society.

And in response to Dr. McMahon noting that research shows children "do best" when their parents are a married man and woman -- in what way? What exactly was the criteria? Who conducted the studies? How were the studies funded -- religious, governmental, private or educational money?

I certainly don't mean to "distort" any great truths, but for me the issue is this simple: Do you believe kids "do best" when loved by someone or when loved by no one?

Explain to me what child doesn't deserve the best available family, even if it's not the "best" format of family, according to research, religion, politics or past public norms? Heterosexual couples in no way have the secret to success when it comes to marriage and raising children, and they have many more benefits of societal acceptance.

It's a sad thing that we allow our politics and/or religion to dictate who should be a family. Let's all three of us go down to the Children, Youth and Families offices and explain the "research" results and acceptable family definitions to the children awaiting placement. I'm sure they'll find it fascinating while they wonder where they will sleep tonight.

MEGAN WARD-ROBINSON
North Side

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Everyday when I walk home from school, I always find one thing that really annoys me and that is the carelessness of people. Someone crossing a major street outside a designated crosswalk or intersection illegally, also known as jaywalking, is a dangerous action to anyone who tries but many people still do this and it slows down drivers who have places to go and people to see.

When I am at big intersections such as Murray and Forbes in Squirrel Hill, I am surprised by the masses of people who decide to take matters into their own hands and jaywalk. On many streets all across the world, there are crossing lights and many decide not to wait for the light to flash telling a person to walk.

While jaywalking is a mistake in itself, I am even more surprised to see where they go. A lot of these people visit the many stores along the street, which makes even less sense. Waiting for the crossing lights to say walk only takes a minute of your time. The stores aren't going to move in a minute, and it is ridiculous to think otherwise.

Although many don't pay attention to jaywalking because it doesn't often kill people, it is still very dangerous to all parties involved. Every time somebody jaywalks, the person could easily get killed or seriously injured. It is truly disheartening to see people be so unintelligent and risk their lives without even recognizing what they have done.

ZACHARY WEISS
Squirrel Hill

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The case involving Tiger Ranch, where reportedly 400 cats were kept -- some allegedly gravely ill and without proper care -- is a reminder that warehousing homeless animals isn't a humane solution to the companion animal overpopulation crisis ("Raid on Tiger Ranch Animal Shelter Sparks Debate," April 28).

In addition to spreading diseases and inviting neglect, warehousing animals indefinitely, as many so-called "no-kill" shelters do, often causes animals to become depressed, withdrawn or aggressive, making them even less adoptable. What's more, when no-kill shelters run out of room, they often turn animals away. Many of these rejected animals end up on the streets, where they starve, freeze or contract fatal diseases, are abused by cruel people or hit by cars. The lucky ones end up in open-admission shelters that never turn away an animal in need.

The answer lies in prevention. Until spay/neuter efforts bring companion animal births under control, there will always be a need for shelters that accept every animal who comes through their doors and provide a painless release when necessary. To learn more, visit www.HelpingAnimals.com.

DAPHNA NACHMINOVITCH
Vice President
Cruelty Investigations Department
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Norfolk, Va.

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We need a drastic change. The rich get richer and the poor and middle class get poorer. CEOs get richer raping companies, i.e., Bear Stearns, Countrywide, etc., and obtain big bonuses for poor performance.

Politicians are voting themselves raises with poor performance. Banks fail and get bailed out, but employees are laid off and people lose their homes. These games need to stop. The old machine needs to be re-engineered and dynasties in Washington need to stop. Airlines are flying and not following Federal Aviation Administration guidelines. We are spending trillions of dollars in Iraq and they are sitting on a gold mine -- i.e., oil -- and we are not getting any return on our money, while Iran and North Korea plan our demise. America is failing.

We need a change. Barack Obama can make the changes when he is elected president.

J. PRIOLEAU
Monroeville

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I wholeheartedly agree with Tony Polombo of Delmont who was ticketed for speeding as part of the state's "Smooth Operator" program ("Police Crackdown Snares Thousands of 'Aggressive' Drivers," April 24). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesman Steve Chizmar defends the ticketing of otherwise safe and nonaggressive drivers for speeding, citing the number of speed-related fatalities. However, he neglects to take into consideration secondary factors such as alcohol or inexperienced drivers.

If, as Mr. Chizmar insists, "controlling speed matters," couldn't police provide first-time offenders with a warning? The fact that tickets are issued without consideration for the driving record of longtime motorists like Mr. Polombo suggests that the collection of fines is the primary concern.

GLENN SHANNON
Swissvale

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Democracy is the most desirable form of government, but a crucial need is for voters to make more rational decisions. Therefore, I want voters to realize that high federal and state taxes on gasoline are among the most desirable sources of government revenue. Higher cost of gas retards depletion of the natural resource of oil, most of which is imported, and accelerates development of alternative fuels for vehicles.

Higher taxes on gas can substitute for the detrimental taxes on products of labor and enterprise, such as on sales and on earnings.

An article by James O'Toole on April 30 reported that John McCain and Hillary Clinton both support a federal "gas tax holiday" ("Dems Spar Over Gas Tax Holiday"). I am glad that Barack Obama opposes it. Even before his preferable opinion, I supported him with small amounts of money and with my vote in the Pennsylvania primary election.

The profits by the oil companies can be reduced more effectively by less oil consumption due to higher taxes than by Hillary Clinton's proposal of a windfall profits tax. I hope that the majority of voters will become rational enough to accept and even demand higher taxes on gas.

HERBERT BARRY III
Oakland
The letter writer is professor emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh and a member of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee.

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