| Disclaimer: This blog may offend some people. And I know that many of you will find an abundance of ways to disagree with me, but I would LOVE to see someone disagree with me based off of LOGIC... Not "moral" beliefs. After the passing of Proposition 8 in California, I have to say that I was extremely disheartened. I've heard numerous baffling arguments against same sex marriage, and there are a few that really get under my skin. 1. Same sex marriage destroys the sanctity of marriage. The bible says marriage should only be between a man and a woman. Really? What about heterosexual couples who commit adultery? (Against the 10 commandments, by the way) Spousal abuse? Divorce? Don't those things destroy the "sanctity" of marriage? Yet, adultery, spousal abuse, and especially divorce aren't exactly uncommon practices nowadays. And let's be honest with ourselves- if a woman can compete on a reality T.V. show to marry an alleged millionaire, then the argument that a marriage is even sacred to begin with is pretty pointless. The pure and simple fact is this: marriage is, and always will be, a secular institution. Not a religious institution. That is, it is simply not the government's place to decide what makes a marriage "sacred" and what doesn't. The government can no more hand out a marriage certificate that grants a sacred union, than it can a death certificate that grants a place in Heaven. We are living in a democracy. Not a theocracy. Religious beliefs should not be considered in any way, shape, or form in the law. The constitution clearly states that the government shall not make any laws respecting any establishment of religion. So, what is illegalization of same sex marriage based on religious beliefs about the issue? Unconstitutional. If we do, in fact, have "equal rights" as American citizens, and all Americans have the right to marry, then why wouldn't a homosexual American have the right to marry? Are they somehow less of a citizen because of their sexual preferences? Or is it because the government is scared that the Religionists in this country will cause an almighty uproar? Whatever the reason, it is disgusting, unnecessary discrimination. Whether anybody in the government or the general population believes that same sex marriage is wrong or immoral, the law should NOT reflect that. If somebody is a valid American citizen, they have the right to marry. Period. Homosexual or not. 2. If same same marriage is allowed, then people will want to marry animals next. I'm not kidding. I've actually heard people say this. And if you're one of those people- Are you freaking serious? In what twisted portion of your brain is homosexuality and bestiality even remotely the same thing? For a human to be sexually attracted to animals, there has to be some serious mental deficiencies in the picture. Homosexuality, on the other hand, is not a mental illness; regardless of what some (ignorant) people may believe. Many people think that somebody "chooses" to be gay, and that there's something "wrong" with them because they "chose" to live such a lifestyle. But how does anybody really choose their sexuality? Really, though. When was that one time in your life when you thought, "Hmmm. I think I'm going to choose to be attracted to boys/girls?" Did you choose for your first childhood crush to be a boy or a girl? Or were you just attracted to who you were attracted to? Why is so hard to accept that maybe somebody was naturally attracted to the same sex? Nobody truly decides their sexuality. It's a natural part of everyone's identity. Just because homosexuality is different, doesn't make it unnatural. And besides, who would honestly choose to be gay when so many people are closed-minded and prejudiced? 3. Same sex marriage is pointless; they won't even be able to have children. If that's your argument, then you might as well ban heterosexual marriages where one or both spouses are sterile. Or better yet, just ban marriages between couples who make the unified decision of not reproducing. So what if a homosexual couple can't reproduce? Does that mean that every heterosexual couple is required to have children if they're married? Marriage does not equal children; children are added blessings to the union, not a requirement. Related: Even if they adopt, every child deserves a mother AND a father figure. Not two of the same thing. Okay, that is true. Every child DOES deserve a mother and a father figure. But does every child always get that? No. There are single parents, neglectful parents, and children who are put up for adoption. HOW a child is raised is the most important thing; not what gender they are raised by. 4. We need to "protect" "traditional" marriage. "Traditional marriage?" What exactly does that mean? Where a woman stays at home, cooks, cleans, takes care of the children, and the man is the sole bread winner? Because decades ago, that's what a marriage was. And that's what ALL marriages would STILL be if there was never a feminist movement. Women were frowned upon if they desired real jobs, they couldn't vote, they weren't granted the same opportunities for education, etc. Was that okay in any way? We wouldn't be a smidgen of the same society if women were never granted equal rights. What if women's suffrage and the fight for equality never took place because people wanted to "protect" the "traditional" roles in society? This is no different. Like it or not, times are changing. If we were still stuck in "traditional" ways, then there's no way we would've been able to move forward in society. If you're keen on "protecting" a "traditional" marriage, then YOU make sure that you partake in one. How does same sex marriage affect YOU in any way, if you're not personally involved? How does it hurt YOU if you don't know any same sex married couples? It DOESN'T. Yet, some people are actually intolerant enough to make it their business, even when it has no effect on their lives other than rattling their obvious homophobia. Intolerance SHOULD NOT dictate the law. 5. If same sex marriage is granted, our children will be forced to learn about it in schools. (Apparently, the main reason why Prop 8 passed in CA). No, they won't. That ad with the cute little girl talking about "princesses marrying princesses" was obviously a ploy to tug on the heartstrings of gullible parents. I guess the Superintendent of public instruction, Jack O'Connell, didn't know what he was talking about when he said that children would NOT be required to learn about such things. But hey... What does he know? That little girl in the ad said that princesses could marry princesses! BLASPHEMY! Thus being said, I'm a very strong believer of same sex marriage. I don't believe it's anyone's place to say what makes a marriage wrong or right, sacred or unsacred, or natural or unnatural. It is not ours, OR the government's place to impose religious/homophobic beliefs on the law. The fact that same sex marriage is banned in basically every state is a gross display of legalized discrimination. Sexual preferences DO NOT change one's citizenship. AND ALL CITIZENS HAVE THE RIGHT TO MARRY. Are we honestly a society where it's OKAY for the government dictate who we can and can't marry? We are supposedly a country of "equal" rights. However, as long as this ban on same sex marriage exists, sadly, America will continue to represent otherwise. Don't get me wrong, I'm still very proud to reside in California, because we at least made some progress towards fairness before it was shot down, but I just wish that it could've stayed that way. PROPOSITION 8 DOES NOTHING BUT PROMOTE INTOLERANCE AND UNACCEPTANCE TO EQUALITY. IT IS A MEAN SPIRITED PROPOSITION THAT HAS FAILED IN THEORY BEFORE IT HAS EVEN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FAIL IN PRACTICE. |
