Senior government and politics major

It’s official. As of Oct. 21, 2012, I am the Rev. Jake DeVirgiliis. My spiritual evolution has been a wobbly one, and though I follow no specific doctrine, I feel my personal ethic jives with the Universal Life Church, through which I have been ordained.

Here’s what they told me on the big day: “Your commitment is to always do the right thing. It is your responsibility to peacefully and sincerely determine the right course of action, and to avoid infringing on the rights of others. You alone are responsible for your actions as a minister.”

I’ve long tried to commit myself to such behavior. Now, I imagine I do as poor a job as anyone else, but I try really hard. Yet my commitment has been formalized, and the job brings some cool perks: I have been endowed with all the legal privileges of keepin’ the faith.

It’s a big responsibility, which is tremendously exciting. Readers, let’s start doing the right thing.

Legally, I can officiate marriages. Legally, I can marry you. So, brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ community: Hit me up. I’m the reverend for you.

I know I’m not the only one tired of the arguments against marriage equality. The most popular opposition — perhaps one that seems to course beneath all others — is that certain churches have defined marriage in a certain, exclusionary way. Fair enough.

But in the Church of the Sauce (that’s my church), marriage is the way it should be: open to all. We’re a diverse country, and it runs contrary to our most fundamental principles to deny citizens rights because certain churches wish to do so. Constitutionally, it’s abundantly clear we are equal under the law. Legally, private religious institutions and citizens have the right to discriminate as they please. But nationally, we are equal.

I understand why some activists and celebrities with the legal right to marry have abstained in protest of the current inequality. But it’s apparent quite a lot of us just want to get married. In addition to nifty tax benefits, marriage is a symbolic agreement between two people (emphasis on “people”) that can mean a lot.

Marriage might be a symbol of love and commitment, or a celebration of all that is good in the world; it certainly isn’t a danger to anyone. You might not want a piece of paper from the city, but if it’s important to you, it’s important to me. So grab your copy of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (or I guess a Bible or Koran if you want) and we can make this happen.

I don’t discriminate, though. I’ll marry anyone: homosexuals, heterosexuals, atheists, Mormons, cyborgs or tree sloths. I’ll marry anyone, that is, I can legally marry. Because unfortunately, readers, we still live in a country where they say there is equality — but there isn’t. That’s why I need your help.

The current political culture is discouraging, and often, I can’t blame those who avoid politics at all costs. But for all the contentious debate, same-sex marriage is truly a no-brainer. There is no reason, constitutional or moral, we should be against increasing the amount of love and equality in our country.

This election season, you can cast your vote in support of marriage equality, and I think you should. If you vote “for” on Question 6 in this state, you are voting for equality. You are voting for the rights of gay and lesbian couples to get married, and for the right of religious institutions to choose whom to marry.

This reverend has made his choice abundantly clear.

Jake DeVirgiliis is a senior government and politics major. He can be reached at opinionumdbk@gmail.com.