What are some controversies concerning same-sex marriage?

Answer 1

Oddly, some homophobic people have this idea that gay marriage somehow threatens straight marriage--as though straight people would find gay marriage so appealing they would stop getting married to people of the opposite sex and start marrying people of the same sex. It makes no sense, but that's the main controversy.

Oh, there's also this idea that straight marriage in its current form has been the foundation of Western civilization for eons. This is nominally true, but really until about 1920 most marriages were purely economic arrangements, so people who argue that gay marriage undermines "traditional marriage" seem to have no understanding of the history of marriage.

Finally, much of the resistance comes from the majority of religions at this point rejecting homosexuality (though, a substantial minority now embrace it). Such religions view marriage as a sacrament, and allowing someone that cannot be admitted to their religion to be married seems to offend them.

Sadly, the "debates" over same-sex marriage mirror almost to the letter the exact same arguments trotted out 50 years ago when mix-race marriages were starting to be permitted. Take a good look - replace the word "gay" or "homosexual" in any argument with "black" and replace the word "straight" or "heterosexual" with "white", and you'll be able to match the exact same arguments that were put forth against mixed-race marriages in the 1950s and 1960s.

Answer 2

There are two categories of arguments against same-sex marriage: religious reasons and fear-based reasons (though it can easily be argued that the religious reasons are also based on fear):

These days, the main religious argument against gay marriage from very religious Christians Muslims believe marriage should be between a man and a woman, since that is what their holy scriptures say, and deviating from the scriptures is seen as a sin. But not everyone is from an extremely religious background, and not everyone takes every word of the scriptures literally: moderate and liberal Christians, most Jews and some Muslims, as well as many others, believe there is nothing wrong with giving gay couples the right to civil marriage.

The main fear-based argument is that same-sex marriage will lead to other forms of marriage, such as polygamy, men marrying horses, and brothers marrying sisters. These arguments are ridiculous, if only for the reason that there isn't a significant number of people who actually want to marry horses, siblings, etc. as well as a host of other reasons why this is a silly fear.

Answer 3

For:

Gay people are human beings just like everyone else.

They should have the right to show their love

They should have the right to show to "god" that their love is true (if they're Christian)

Against:

It would take away the traditional marriage.

It is against many religious beliefs

All legal issues inheritance, medical decisions, insurance, etc. can and in most cases already have been made available to same-sex and other unmarried couples through other legal means so there is no added value to calling same-sex relationships marriages

AnswerShould: Gay people should be able to have a sanctioned relationship. Gay people should be allowed legal rights just like married people, especially when one of the partners is in the hospital or dying.

Should not: Regarding marriage, the "State" is only interested in who is responsible for the children. When two people marry they both agree to be financially and emotionally responsible for any children that are born or adopted. There is some argument that marriage might allow Gay's to adopt and if that happened, many are concerned that children adopted by Gays may end up a little sexually ambivalent.

Some have suggested a "domestic union" for Gays, which provides all of the financial and legal protection of a marriage, but might not provide for adoption.

Should: I think we should be able to marry because its our decision and it's the child's decision which way they wanna go we can tell them the options they are but if they decide to go that way then we can't stop them

Equal rights should be extended to gays and lesbians just like any other minority.

Another line of thinking that would be against redefining marriage to include same sex couples is that redefining marriage to include relationships between same-sex people fundamentally alters the function of marriage. Historically it has been the foundation of a family with the potential to create life within the marriage (children) and an obligation to work together to provide for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those children. Obviously since humans do not reproduce asexually, same sex couples are always biologically incapable of this core feature and can only acquire children from outside the relationship and secondary to the relationship. Inherently a same-sex relationship must be founded on different principles and with a different focus than the historic definition. A same-sex union is always founded with the core purpose being the relationship between the two individuals with others, such as children being secondary instead of integral. This is not to say that that all (or even most) heterosexual couples fulfill the core responsibilities of marriage. When people marry for money or prestige rather than to assume the responsibilities of a family they have failed at the purpose just as completely as a gay couple who wants the state to force others to endorse their relationship.
These days, the main argument against gay marriage is a religious one: very religious Christians, Jews and Muslims believe marriage should be between a man and a woman, since that is what their holy scriptures say, and deviating from the scriptures is seen as a sin. But not everyone is from an extremely religious background, and not everyone takes every word of the scriptures literally: moderate and liberal Christians, Jews and Muslims, as well as many libertarians, believe there is nothing wrong with giving gay couples the right to civil marriage. This is especially a common view among younger people, while older people still tend to hold the traditional view that gay marriage is a sin.

Answer 4

As I see it, the issues include, but are not limited to:

1. Whether denying marriage licenses on the basis of gender and sexual orientation is a violation of the civil rights of gays and lesbians;
2. Whether permitting same-sex couples to marry is a violation of the freedom of religion of those whose religions oppose same-sex marriage;
3. Whether there is sufficient cause to alter the traditional understanding of marriage;
4. Whether the separation of church and state precludes the use of religious arguments by legislators, judges and parties to a civil action;
5. Whether states and/or the federal government can selectively recognize marriages legally performed in other jurisdictions;
6. Whether the federal government has a legitimate interest in overriding marriage laws duly enacted by individual states;
7. Whether federal or state Constitutions can be amended to limit rights rather than guarantee them;
8. Whether states can be forced to recognize marriages that cannot be legally performed within their borders;
9. Whether the President can direct the State Department to cease enforcing a federal law;
10. Whether Congress can appoint special attorneys to defend a law that the Executive Branch has deemed unconstitutional and whether they can appropriate money for such defense;
11. Whether morality can be legislated;
12. Whether the general public can be allowed to vote on the civil rights of selected segments of society; and,
13. Whether the United States is truly a unified people or two distinct cultural groups barely held together by leadership which radically alternates between two polar opposites.

Answer 5

I think that people, no matter what sexual orientation they are, should have the right to love some one whether it be a man loving a woman, man loving a man, woman loving a man or woman loving a woman. I have 2 cousin's that are gay and they act just the same as ANY other person does, they still love their partners' like ANY other person does! I think gay marriage OR relationship should be legal in EVERY country, state, etc. And I think that no matter what the Church or YOUR particular Religion says - you should be able to have the freedom to LOVE whoever..

Thanks for listening to what I have to say on Gay Marriages & relationships..

P.S. I am straight.
It depends on how the question is asked. In the United States at present, one poll says that 43% of us have no objections to same-sex (civil) marriage.

Answer 6

People disagree on whether denying marriage rights to same-sex couples is discriminatory. People disagree on whether marriage is a civil right. People disagree on whether religious beliefs should be reflected in civil law. People disagree on whether the federal government should infringe upon state marriage laws. People disagree on whether states should have to accept each others' marriages as legal.

Answer 7

The United States Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. The Supreme Courts of Canada and Mexico have ruled the same. There is no legitimate legal argument for denying same-sex couples their constitutional right to marry.

Answer 8

The United States Supreme Court thinks that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry, and that is the legal opinion that matters the most. The Supreme Courts of Mexico and Canada concur.

Answer 9

There are no legitimate legal arguments that can justify denying same-sex couples their constitutional right to marry.