Why are some Americans so strongly opposed to gay marriage? That’s a question millions of people try to answer about our society.  Punk rock icon Henry Rollins believes that it is more of a political pawn than an actual personal opposition. Instead he sees it as tool that small political and religious groups use to promote their bigotry. He shares his thoughts on gay marriage with Big Think below.

Rollins is a multifaceted artist who counts singer/songwriter, radio DJ, actor, author and spoken-word artist among his job titles.  He also released his first travel book, "Occupants", in 2011.  The book is a collection of photographs taken on his global travels and captures moments in Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Northern Ireland, Saudi Arabia and South Africa, and is accompanied by his written commentary.

"I put out my point of view in a pretty cogent, sober manner," Rollins told Adelaide Now of his quest to gather life experience for his spoken-word gigs. "I go far and wide into the world and get information from crazy, distant places and bring it back to report to you, the audience member, with as much clarity and hopefully vivid storytelling interest as I possibly can. . . I go very far and wide and make sure the information comes from a lot of sweat and choleric burn so I can justify taking two hours of your life every 18 months. By the time you hear me say something from the stage I have busted my arse coming up with every possible angle of that thought."