Judged unfit for marriage

Re “A new marriage threat,” Opinion, Oct. 8

For a Supreme Court justice — or six — to deny marriage to same-sex couples because their own religion does not sanction it, as Erwin Chemerinsky warns may soon happen, is anti-democratic.

People have the right to decide about their marriage and their child-raising without a judge’s interference — just as an evangelical Christian who happens to be vice president should not have the right to determine if a woman of another belief can terminate her pregnancy.

There is a gay couple in my own family. One gentleman is a rabbi, and the other has been a cancer nurse for children and an intensive care nurse for adults. Both are totally dedicated to their work and to the people they help. Who are Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Clarence Thomas to say they may not marry and share a home?

A 6-3 Supreme Court with Amy Coney Barrett replacing Ruth Bader Ginsburg will take us back to the time when we disregarded the rights of those who are “different.” Lynne Shapiro Marina del Rey

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Why can’t counties stop issuing “marriage licenses” and start recording only “domestic partnership agreements” instead? It would allow people to spell out their legal and financial relationship without all the religious and social baggage that comes from the word “marriage.”

Many people could obviously still have weddings and become “married” in the eyes of whatever church or community they are part of, but the county would not need to look over their shoulders. Reynold Blight

Los Angeles

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I have not taught constitutional law like