Letter published in the Atlanta Journal/Constitution on November 16, 2001

Let's just define our way out of the gay marriage dispute. Rename all marriage laws under a title of "Irrevocable Contract for Mutual Dependency" and permit any number of people to enter into such contracts regardless of sex. Then reserve the term "Marriage" for any such contract which is made between one man and one woman. Order all legal references to "marriage", e.g., health insurance policies, rights of inheritance, to be changed to mean these mutual dependency contracts.

Ergo: marriage sanctity is preserved for those who think it is threaten by gay marriages, and gays get the same rights presently held by the married.

Philip McPherson Rudisill