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Re: In Defense of the Marriage
The big problem with any debate on such an emotive subject as this is that as always the various elements of the subject get confused.
For me the starting point is the need to debunk some myths. The first is this somewhat ridiculous notion that gay marriage in some way threatens heterosexual marriage which therefore needs †œDefendingà¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚à  in some way as if homosexuality were a disease threatening all heterosexual couples. For those having such issues about gay relationships please donââ‚ ¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t fret nobody is advocating it become compulsory. (Or is perhaps the problem some may feel so unsure about their own sexuality that they fear they may succumb?)
From a civil rights issue the argument is clear, and that is no section of the community should be discriminated against because of some arbitrary notion of †œnormalityà¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚à Â. One doesnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šà ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t have to look too far back to see the injustices of mixed race marriages being not just illegal but actually a capital crime in many states.
All that gay couples want is to be allowed the same ability to publicly confirm their commitment to each other and for the state to acknowledge that such a commitment should carry the same benefits, privileges and rights as similar heterosexual commitments do.
The main reason gay couples are seeking the legal status of †œmarriageà¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚¬Ã‚à  is that much legislation links that specific status to being the gateway to specific benefits, rights and privileges. The issue is therefore, is there any justification in denying any of these specific benefits, privileges or rights purely on the grounds of sexuality?
When considering that question, I pose some further simple questions to all those wishing to deny such benefits, privileges or rights to their fellow citizens.
How can you justify such blatant discrimination?
Which specific benefits, privileges or rights do you feel should be excluded and why?
And finally, why do you see allowing others to lead their life the way they want to be such a threat?
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