Forbidden by law to celebrate marriage, some local gays and lesbians plan to use symbolism today to show their support for same-sex unions. “We are asking students to tie yarn or ribbon around their ring fingers to show their support for same-gender marriage and for the end of sex discrimination in marriage,” said Cory Oakley, co-chair for the National Freedom to Marry Day Committee of Ohio.Along with wearing the ribbons, the committee urges students to sign the Marriage Resolution, which says the state should not restrict marriage to heterosexual relationships. It affirms marriage as a basic human right, regardless of gender or sexuality, Oakley said. “Same-gender couples don’t want special rights, they want equal rights,” he said.The Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Alliance will also recognize the day with a forum on the history of the Freedom to Marry Movement and where it currently stands. The meeting is today at 11:30 a.m. in Buckeye Suite A of the Ohio Union.The National Freedom to Marry Day Committee of Ohio is made up of four members who also work with other organizations, state colleges and communities in an effort to allow gay couples to have the equal right of civil marriage, Oakley said. “My big goal for students is to realize that marriage that is restricted to just men and women is discrimination,” he said. “What marriage should be restricted to is two people who are in a loving committed relationship.”Brian Metzbower, the vice-president for the College Republicans, doesn’t agree with efforts to legalize gay marriage.”As long as you’re not hurting others, what you do in your bedroom or in your home is your business, not necessarily mine,” Metzbower said. “But don’t throw it in my face.”Evan Wolfson, director of the Marriage Project for the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, one of the leading gay and lesbian legal rights organizations, stressed the similarity in the concerns of same-sex and heterosexual couples.”Gay people share the same mix of reasons for wanting the freedom to marry as non-gay people,” Wolfson said. “Their reasons are emotional as well as economical, practical as well as personal, social as well as spiritual and legal as well as loving.”He said gays aren’t the only people supporting same-sex marriage. “I think (National Freedom to Marry Day) is an opportunity to take note of the growing support among non-gay people for gay people’s freedom to marry,” Wolfson said.Wolfson is also the co-counsel for an ongoing same-gender case before the Hawaii Supreme Court.Though same-sex marriages aren’t yet recognized by any state, the Hawaii court may decide in the next few months whether these marriages are constitutional, Oakley said.Even if Hawaii deems same-sex marriages legal, the conservative State Assembly for Hawaii might let the people decide whether it should or should not be recognized, Oakley said. “It’s going to cause huge backlash on the mainland,” Oakley said.According to the Full Faith and Credit Clause, all states must honor another state’s public acts, records and judicial proceedings. However, a state can pass legislation to get around the clause.Ohio House Bill 160, which started last year and is still sitting in committee, would not recognize same-sex marriages.