Friday, November 21, 2008

Gay Marriage

The wonderful Coffee Bean is preparing her thoughts on today's hottest topic, Gay Marriage (tomorrow's hottest topic will be French Onion Soup.)


I'd certainly head over and see what her blogging pals (myself included) have to say about it.

In the mean time, I have my own question:

Coming from Europe, and having lived in Paris and even having paid to go and see Brokeback Mountain (which was stunning for the scenery, a little bit squirmworthy for the sodomy) I really have no problems with gay people, gay marriage or whatever.

As long as it's behind closed doors between two consenting adults, I don't think anybody has the right to cast judgement. The decision to ban gay marriage in California is, as far as I'm concerned, just retarded.

But apparently, I'm (just barely) in the minority. So I ask this: What IS the problem with two consenting adults entering into a legally binding, monogamous relationship with all the rights and responsibilities of traditional marriage?

What's wrong with gay people getting married?

And I don't just want the tired old: "Oh, it undermines the sanctity of marriage" unless you're going to back it up with facts and examples or at least your thought process for saying that. The last person who made that claim admitted they were from a fatherless home themselves.


I mean, 'traditional marriage' is as dead as disco. Two out of three marriages ends in divorce anyway. It's all a farce unless you're in it for the long haul, straight OR gay. It's my fifth wedding anniversary tomorrow and, as far as I know, we're on our way to beating the odds.

So please, tell me: "What is wrong with gay marriage?" and, to channel my high school history teacher, Mr Tosh, please let's see the thought process behind why you feel that way.

There will be no poo-pooing, no scorn, no insults and no judgement from me. Just open minded curiosity. To my mind, it's all outlined in the Declaration of Independence:

"...all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

In Loving vs. Virginia, the Supreme Court of the United States decision that allowed interracial marriage, it was declared:

"Marriage is one of the "basic civil rights of man," fundamental to our very existence and survival.... To deny this fundamental freedom is surely to deprive all the State's citizens of liberty without due process of law. Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State."

If you disagree with that, why?


3 comments:

Neil Cameron (One Salient Oversight) said...

In the end I think it is a case of two polar opposites - those who think homosexual relationships are morally wrong, and those who think homosexual relationships are morally right.

The morally wrong group are not just threatened by the morally right group, they wish to prevent the morally right group from being legitimised.

The morally right group see their cause as being an extension of civil rights in the same way as universal suffrage and the fight against slavery. Thus those who oppose them are essentially the same as racists and misogynists.

So the issue is no longer "live and let live". There is no "win win" situation here. One side's victory is the other side's loss.

As one of the people who exist on the "homosexuality is morally wrong" brigade, I am nevertheless unconcerned about legitimising homosexual relationships because the society I live in is pluralistic. I don't want to be persecuted for having a moral stance against homosexuality so I would rather homosexuality be legitimised by the law to ensure my own freedoms. If, on the other hand, I wish to impose this upon others then the day may come when those who disagree with me impose their views upon me and what I believe and what I say.

Thus for the sake of peace and for the sake of my own religious beliefs (beliefs which prohibit homosexual relationships) I have no problem with society legitimising homosexuality.

B said...

I love the gay marriage formula.

Fantasy Writer Guy said...

I think that special protection rights for minorities should be removed when they become obsolete.

I don't think gay people require this special protection from marriage anymore. Let them suffer with the rest of society.