But those fighting same-sex marriage adamantly disagree that their stance is fueled by animus. Such an argument, they say, places blame on every person who supported same-sex marriage bans as having evil intent. If animus motivated Indiana's former same-sex marriage ban, said Curt Smith of the Indiana Family Institute, "that means that the legislators — a majority of whom supported it — and former Gov. Frank O'Bannon had to have hatred for gays in their hearts when they voted for and supported that bill.
I just think that's a wrong analysis, but it's also a tremendous discredit to the men and women who serve in the legislature and our governor. Instead, he points to specific public policy considerations: that traditional marriages produce "wonderful benefits" for couples, society and children — and he thinks research will show same-sex relationships do not bear out the same effects. For example, one such public policy argument is that marriage promotes "responsible procreation" and thus limits the number of children born accidentally.
But since same-sex couples can't naturally reproduce, they were excluded from the definition of marriage. Judge Richard Posner addressed this in the recent 7th U. Circuit Court of Appeals majority opinion that maintained same-sex marriage bans were unconstitutional in states including Indiana and Wisconsin.
Posner wrote that if responsible procreation were a real justification for banning same-sex marriages, the state also wouldn't allow people who are infertile to marry. He added: "Heterosexuals get drunk and pregnant, producing unwanted children; their reward is to be allowed to marry.
Homosexual couples do not produce unwanted children; their reward is to be denied the right to marry. Go figure. We are equally human and we should be treated by the law as such. To turn the argument on its head, one simply has to ask why society feels the need to segregate our rights from those of heterosexuals.
It has nothing to do with approval, and has everything to do with equality. Should women have compromised their right to vote? One does not compromise equal rights otherwise they are not equal rights. Civil partnerships were born out of politicians pandering to homophobia.
While we must look closely to spot the homophobia inherent in some arguments against gay marriage, with others the prejudice is barely disguised at all. There is no concern here, only prejudice. We can conclude this because there is absolutely no evidence to suggest gay marriage will harm society. Have the 11 countries where gay marriage is legal crumbled yet?
Ultimately the argument turns out to be hyperbolic nonsense designed to instil confusion, fear, and mistrust of gay people. If there is something immoral about legally acknowledging the love between two consenting adults, it would help the argument to state precisely what that is. This claim is based on the degrading preconception that gay people do not feel true love and just have sex with as many people as possible.
It is also beside the point - straight couples are not precluded from marriage on the basis they may be unfaithful, so why should gay people? That does not mean we should have the right to marry. Thank you for reducing the love I have for my long-term partner to friendship, incest or bestiality. Ignoring the fact not everyone is gay, and also ignoring the fact gay people can and do have children through donors and surrogates, I actually quite enjoyed the apocalyptic images this argument conjured.
The Suffragettes famously marched together because they needed an excuse to compare clothing. Civil rights activists looked fabulous with hoses and guns turned on them. We are all mere lambs of our Queen Gaga. If this was really true, how come hundreds of everyday gay people protest outside anti-gay marriage rallies? How come thousands of people voice their support for gay marriage in polls? I do not imagine there are many people who believe they deserve fewer rights or who desire to be second-class citizens.
Yes, Ann Widdecombe , we do. We do not appreciate you mischaracterising what millions of us do and do not want, and squaring reality to fit your Catholic bigotry. Yes, gay people can already get married … to people of the opposite gender.
No, they are not allowed to marry the people they actually love. The truth is that the legalisation of gay marriage will lead to the legalisation of gay marriage. Dire warnings of slippery slopes are scaremongering. In the countries that have so far legalised same-sex marriage, courts have always rejected calls for the legalisation of polygamy. The Roman Empire disintegrated as barbarians from the north overwhelmed them, forcing the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustus, to abdicate to the Germanic warlord Odoacer.
People also have to travel to weddings, often over long distances. This requires vehicles, the vast majority of which give off CO 2. This situation is even worse if you include destination weddings , where the happy couple and guests fly to other countries to tie the knot, and flying gives off even more CO 2. Increasing the number of weddings will no doubt lead to more of this, and thus increasing the threat and potential damage of climate change. Overall, opponents of same-sex marriage could make an effective and logical case against marriage simply by highlighting the dangers of climate change.
None of them seem to be doing this though. However, given that legalising same-sex marriage overturns the laws of nature, this means the laws of nature preventing same sex couples from reproducing are now null and void, so maybe same sex couples can reproduce.
Another argument is the slippery slope argument , which says that legalising same sex marriage will inevitably lead to people entering polygamous marriages, entering into incestuous marriages, or even marrying animals like dogs and cats.
What if this happens? What if people enter into legal marriages with animals? With the laws of nature now obsolete, this would mean such marriages can include procreation. And where will this end up? How same-sex marriage could ruin civilisation.
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