Naperville Central High School's award-winning newspaper.

Central Times

Naperville Central High School's award-winning newspaper.

Central Times

Naperville Central High School's award-winning newspaper.

Central Times

Truth Seekers talk gay marriage with guest speakers

“I believe the pursuit of truth is the most noble task or endeavour a human being can do,” Peter LaBarbera says as he starts out the Truth Seekers discussion of gay marriage.

On Nov. 23 after school, Truth Seekers, a club dedicated to discussing controversial topics in a friendly atmosphere, invited two speakers who held a debate on the topic of gay marriage.

In front of a group of students from Truth Seekers, the Gay Straight Alliance Club and other walk-ins, Bernard Cherkasov argued for the promotion of gay marriage against Peter LaBarbera. Cherkasov is the Chief Executive Officer of Equality Illinois who pursues rights for LGBT people. LaBarbera is the president of Americans for Truth about Homosexuality, an anti-homosexual organization that stands for “God-ordained sexuality and the natural family,” according to the AFTAH website.

Throughout the meeting, LaBarbera and Cherkasov debated in a formal format. They each had three minutes for an introductory statement and one minute to respond to the other’s statements. A question-and-answer period from the audience ensued, where both of the participants had an opportunity to respond to the question. LaBarbera bases his beliefs on the traditional Judeo-Christian society in which marriage is between a man and a woman.

“The reason I started my group is I believe homosexuality is immoral,” said LaBarbera. “I believe it’s unnatural, often unhealthy, and most importantly, it’s changeable.”

LaBarbera believes that due to the spreading of the homosexual agenda, some people of the traditional Judeo-Christian stance are being discriminated against for their anti-gay beliefs. LaBarbera cites a friend that was fired from a major corporation because he wrote an anti-gay blog.

“[If Bernard wins] the state will basically then discriminate against people of faith, because people of faith will not be able to live out their firmly held religious beliefs,” LaBarbera said.

Despite being a “devout Jew,” Cherkasov said that the standard for marriage should not be the Judeo-Christian religions.

“We create a civil society based on common shared principles, not on LaBarbera’s religious beliefs,” Cherkasov said.

Cherkasov told the story of a lesbian couple who had been together for 12 years when one partner decided to commit suicide because the discrimination of her society proved too harsh. While she survived the suicide attempt, her partner was denied visitation rights because the law did not sanction their type of relationship.

Using his story as an example, Cherkasov stated that as Americans, gays have certain freedoms that cannot be taken away in a lawful society.

“Luckily we live in a country that values equal opportunities and religious freedoms opportunities for everyone,” said Cherkasov. “You don’t get to use any pretext to deny those rights that you get for yourself to other people.”

Because of this, he argued that it’s the American right of the gay community to marry.

“People cannot arbitrarily deny the [right to marry] to other people on a certain basis,” Cherkasov said.

Gay marriage remains legalized in six states and in Washington D.C.

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