Same Sex Marriage

[Alex]

So who is for, who is against gay marriage?

Why do you have that view?

Anyone that posts, it'd also be good to know if you know any gays or lesbians, or are friends with any - it may help qualify, or validate a point.

Also, as we're from around the world, perhaps a quick run down on the current laws I'm your state/nation/whatever around same sex marriage.

I'm personally for it, and I have quite a few good friends who are gay (comes with spending my career between hospitality, travel and furniture retail).

My main reasons for supporting it are that I don't think it's anyone else's business to tell me who I can or can't marry. The religion argument is a moot point as far as I'm concerned, as atheists are allowed to get married, and marriage extends across basically all religions anyway - so it's not necessarily a religious relationship.

I'm sure in years to come, it'll be done without question, and people will look back and wonder why there was ever any question over it. Why interfere with what others do or don't do in this situation. Stopping marriage doesn't stop people being homosexual, or having meaningful homosexual relationships. It does however take away their chance of marrying their life partner - not to mention the rights issues, and next of kin issues it can raise in some countries.

In Australia, it's still now allowed. Polls show the majority of people support it, however it seems that it's an issue that will lose more votes from those who don't support it, than it would win from those who do. And so marriage between a same sex couple is still not allowed.

Anyone else have an opinion? Anyone disagree with what I've said?

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Pro. Not gay.

 

[Mandieta6]

I'm straight, I don't know many gay people. There is one bisexual who I'm close to, but generally, I run in straight circles (ha!). That said, I'm a big gay-rights supporter. Give them marriage and anything else straight people have. I really find it astonishing that this is an issue, but whatever.

 

[Jaboldinho]

Pro. Don't think I know any gays.

As Az said, I feel it's ridiculous this is still an issue. Basic human rights.

 

[clash]

I'm all for it. I'm straight but my girlfriend is a bisexual and we know a lot of gay people. I wouldn't marry myself, ever, I'm very skeptical about the institution itself but hell, if they want to, they should have the right to do so.

I'm from one of the most atheist countries in Europe, but everytime this discourse pops up over here, people go "marriage is sacred!". Once they even tried to legistlate same-sex partnership (not marriege, but living togehter and having the financial etc. legal rights) in the government, but the bill go scraped because the majority of the people opposed it. That's what's astonishing for me. That's not what democracy is about. You can't go "oh, the society is not ready for this" or "it shouldn't be allowed, cause I don't agree", it should be decided for those, who it affects directly.

 

[Filipower]

Definitely. Has it's been said, I don't know how it's still an issue. One of the few things my country got right in the last couple of years, fortunately.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

If you're like a really mannish woman, or a really obvious trans-woman, is a bi-sexual man the best thing that can possibly happen to you? Or does a bi man want his women to be women and his men to be men?

 

[leungtl]

For most people in our demographic (i.e. below 35's), this isn't even an issue - Pro.

It's just the older generations who are generally against it and vote it down. But once they die off, it'll eventually pass in the majority of Western countries.

 

[Keegan]

Considering that the definition of marriage has been amended to include same sex relationships, no issues here. It won't be Holy Matrimony as the Bible's definition hasn't changed, but they have the right to be as miserable as the next couple. I know a few homosexuals - we are not friends per se as they tend to hang out with the females, but I'm one of the older generation that leungtl is waiting on to die off, so there's that.

 

[leungtl]

Considering that the definition of marriage has been amended to include same sex relationships, no issues here. It won't be Holy Matrimony as the Bible's definition hasn't changed, but they have the right to be as miserable as the next couple. I know a few homosexuals - we are not friends per se as they tend to hang out with the females, but I'm one of the older generation that leungtl is waiting on to die off, so there's that.

Oh I'm only referring to people who have retired (i.e. 65+) when I say "older generation". I find that the majority of non-religious adults are not against it too.

 

[Hisashi]

Anti

this is pure blasphamy !

 

[Sir Calumn]

I regard it as a complete non issue, provided homosexual couples get identical legal rights as heterosexual couples (which they do in the UK with civil partnerships), I do not consider it overly important whether their union is called marriage or not, and I do not think it should dominate political discourse to the extent that it does.

That being said, I have never heard even one cogent argument for preventing homosexuals from marrying fully as heterosexuals do.

 

[Sir Calumn]

Anti

this is pure blasphamy !

Ha I wondered who would be first out of you and regularcat.

 

[coolkid45]

Generally speaking, what you do in your free time is your business and yours alone. That said, if everyone in the world started marrying gay, we would be killing off the population. Furthermore, I believe anytime you go against nature you are by definition acting immorally. Naturally, as humans, we are meant to conceive by sticking the dong into the poon, that's just the way it is. You are simply wrong if you disagree.

I have gay friends, as a matter of fact, my second closest childhood friend is gay. Regardless, if we are discussing the essence of what is ethical, marrying someone of the same gender and doing away with reproduction is doing yourself and the world a disservice; it is your job as a human.

 

[Sir Calumn]

You are operating under the mistaken assumption that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice.

 

[jschuck12001]

Im ok with it, I feel like if gay people want to get married they have just as much right to be miserable as straight people. I dont have any gay friends but my girl has a couple although I have worked around gay people in corporate america for some years now.

 

[Jaboldinho]

Generally speaking, what you do in your free time is your business and yours alone. That said, if everyone in the world started marrying gay, we would be killing off the population. Furthermore, I believe anytime you go against nature you are by definition acting immorally. Naturally, as humans, we are meant to conceive by sticking the dong into the poon, that's just the way it is. You are simply wrong if you disagree.

I have gay friends, as a matter of fact, my second closest childhood friend is gay. Regardless, if we are discussing the essence of what is ethical, marrying someone of the same gender and doing away with reproduction is doing yourself and the world a disservice; it is your job as a human.

Yes, I'm sure the only thing stopping from everybody turning gay is them not having the right to marry if they do so.

 

[coolkid45]

Do you guys want to have a discussion like gentlemen or sit by your bedside and nitpick while labeling me bigot and blast me because of my opinion? I have nothing against gays, I was just stating my opinion. The point of this thread is that not everyone is going to agree. If you want to make a point, do so respectfully. Just because someone disagrees with you does not make them wrong.


In any case, we can also discuss how one becomes gay. My friend who I was talking about had many girlfriends when he was young and then went through a period where he seriously reconsidered his image.

 

[Sir Calumn]

I made a very respectful and gentlemanly point which I am waiting for you to properly address. Please explain your reasons for believing that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice rather than a predetermined part of an individual's character.

EDIT: Whilst you're at it, could you also explain why you are so worried about effect on re population at a time when most people of intellect are concerned with curbing overpopulation.

 

[coolkid45]

To be honest, because I am not gay, it is out of my jurisdiction to claim that I know the answer to this question, even moreso after clarifying my prior point.

I know a guy who had no sexual drive for the first 20 years of his life and he did not understand why. He thought he was gay but couldn't fathom living with that fact. Eventually he tried making out with girls and slowly did he develop the niche he was seeking.

I'm sure some people can be born with an attraction to men, however. Regardless, whether you like men or not, that does not change the fact that naturally you are defying the progression of human life if you marry gay.

Edit: To respond to your last point, "most people of intellect" is a redundant and subtle shot, something I could anticipate from the beginning of this discussion. Anyway..
The point is, we are talking from an ethical perspective, so yes while there is overpopulation at the moment, chances are there will not be forever, specifically if more and more people marry gay over the long haul.

I would also like to point out that the overpopulation argument really is not compelling enough to tell people, "stop reproducing." We love of our children, and we love to see them blossom. The greatest thing in this world is life as we understand it and we are rescinding our chances of progressing society by cutting off this very given possibility.