I enjoyed the Feb. 27 commentary, "Church within its First Amendment right," from Archbishop Michael Sheehan about the Catholic Church and its views on domestic partnership. The commentary brought back a wave of memories of the church and the struggle for human rights for gay people.

If I think back to the early '70s, I remember how the Archdiocese of Philadelphia unleashed a spokesperson to state the church's position against civil rights for gay men and women. The spokesperson wore full regalia while speaking to the city council against including gay people in the nondiscrimination laws for housing and employment. The church was instrumental in preventing these rights for several years in Philadelphia. It was with irony that I read about the same archdiocese spokesperson being arrested a year or so later. He was caught by the police in an adult bookstore in Louisiana having sex with a man.

Spain, on the other hand, has legalized same-sex marriage. Some analysts believe that although the church opposed the law, Spaniards didn't listen. The church had lost some moral authority after supporting the Franco dictatorship for so long.

In Canada, there is legalized same-sex marriage. As one Canadian said, "Up here, we actually believe in the separation of church and state. It's not just some flimsy concept."

In South Africa, Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress made certain to include legalizing same-sex marriage in the new government. After their long and terrible struggle with apartheid, they realized that all groups of people need to have the same rights, not just those in the majority or power.

In Massachusetts, the divorce rate went down after its legislature passed same-sex marriage. Is it possible that same-sex marriage strengthens heterosexual marriages?

And here in New Mexico we struggle for just domestic partnership. Imagine! I would have the ability to visit my partner of 25 years in the hospital without carrying around a sheaf of legal documents. I might have my relationship validated in some minor way after 25 years with the same person.

I am sorry I disagree with the archbishop. However, I hate the assumption that I'm Christian and therefore subject to the archbishop's rules. I hate that my oppression is open to discussion and debate. I hate that, 35 years after fighting for some basic rights in Philadelphia, I'm still at it here in Santa Fe. I expect better from my state and government.

I believe the archbishop is on the wrong side of my God, the wrong side morally and the wrong side of history.

Cerrillos resident Gordon Fluke is a professional artist and educator who has been working for equality since 1973. He and his husband, Jeff Atwell, will celebrate their 25th anniversary in May.