I saw a story on “Nightline” recently that started me thinking.

It seems that Hawaii may be on its wayÿto legally recognizing the marriages of same-sex couples. The state’s Supreme Court has ruled that the law preventing same-sex couples from obtaining marriage licenses discriminates against people based on their gender.

This is significant because marriages that are legal in one state are generally considered to be legal in all other states. Hawaii’s actions may clear the way for nation-wide legality of same-sex marriages, and it’s about time. Same-sex marriages should have the same respect and the same legal standing as traditional marriages.

It’s important to know what is at stake here. Married people in our society enjoy benefits that single people don’t. They include tax breaks, lower insurance rates and access to housing that isn’t open to single people.

My brother got married on Aug. 5. He now lives in married student housing on campus, and his car insurance rates dropped by $480 per year. That’s quite a bit of money for a college student (at least it is to me). My brother drives like a maniac. He’s just as bad now as he was before he was married, yet his insurance company decided he’s not as much of a risk now that he has that marriage license.

An opponent of same-sex marriages on the “Nightline” show said granting legal recognition of same-sex marriages encourages homosexuality. Rather than getting into a pointless debate about whether homosexuality is right or wrong, let’s look at this argument from a reverse angle.

By denying legal recognition of same-sex marriages, is our society discouraging homosexuality? Gays and lesbians probably don’t say to themselves, “Well, I can’t get the marriage license I need for those lower insurance rates. I guess I’ll just go straight.”

If discriminating against homosexuals hasn’t stopped people from being homosexual, there’s no reason to believe that granting them the same opportunities that other citizens have will encourage homosexuality.

Another, more religiously based argument for keeping same-sex marriages illegal is that they conflict with what the intention of the institution of marriage is supposed to be about. Biblically speaking, marriage has two purposes: 1) It’s an eternal bond between two people who love each other. 2) To make babies. You may put these in any order you wish.

Although no one questions the ability of homosexuals to love each other, it’s obvious that same-sex couples can’t make babies. Because same-sex couples are incapable of performing an important function of marriage, some feel their marriages shouldn’t be legal.

But consider a heterosexual couple that is incapable of conceiving a child. Or a couple that decides they just don’t want children. These couples wouldn’t help keep the human race alive, but would anyone question the legality of their marriage?

Take, for example, the marriage of model Anna Nicole Smith to a billionaire with one foot in the grave. I forgot the man’s name, but he was in his 80’s when he married the 20-something model. It’s no wonder the man made a fortune in the oil business. He was alive to see where the dinosaurs were falling over dead so he knew where the oil would be.

It was generally agreed among the people who care about these things that Anna married the man because he was worth a lot of money and wouldn’t live much longer. Other than a love of money, love wasn’t a factor in their marriage. And a man that old procreating with anyone is unlikely, if not disgusting. But would anyone say their marriage shouldn’t have been legal?

Finally, it is said that same-sex marriages make a mockery of the institution of marriage. If same-sex marriages were legal, people would lose respect for the sanctity of marriage.

This comes from people in a society that already has an appalling divorce rate. A society where marriages are plagued by adultery and abuse. A society where people marry for money, social standing or just because it seems to be what people are supposed to do.

These things diminish people’s respect for the institution of marriage, as well. Marriages like these are certainly not encouraged by our society, but they are perfectly legal.

It’s time for us to rethink the laws that keep same-sex marriages from being legal, because they clearly do not serve a purpose in our society, other than to legitimize people’s fear of homosexuality. If Hawaii succeeds in clearing the way, the whole nation could be in for a change that is long overdue.

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Steven Martens is a junior in journalism mass communication from Cedar Rapids.