Same-Gender Marriages

[Ulrikke]

Marriage: the institution whereby men and women are joined in a special kind of social and legal dependence for the purpose of founding and maintaining a family.

Same-gender marriage surely redefines the original concept; it is currently legally performed only in the Netherlands, Belgium, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. In the meanwhile… some US representatives wish to amend the US Constitution to keep same-gender marriage illegal.

From Wikipedia: " In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, there has been a growing movement in a number of countries to extend the right to marry to same-gender couples. Legal recognition of a marital union opens up a wide range of entitlements, including social security, taxation, inheritance and other benefits unavailable to couples unmarried in the eyes of the law. Restricting legal recognition to heterosexual unions excludes same-gender couples from gaining legal access to these benefits. (While opposite-gender unmarried couples without other legal impediments have the option of marrying in law and so gaining access to these rights, that option is unavailable to same-gender couples.) Lack of legal recognition also makes it more difficult for same-gender couples to adopt children.

Opponents object to same-gender marriage often on religious grounds, arguing that extending marriage to homosexual couples undercuts the traditional meaning of marriage in various traditions. In countries with monogamous marriages only, some opponents also claim that allowing same-gender marriage will re-open the door to the legalization of polyamorous marriage, or other forms they find even more objectionable.

In response, proponents point out that traditional concepts of marriage have already given way to liberalization in other areas, such as the availability of no-fault divorce. They also suggest that many people in modern societies no longer subscribe to the religious beliefs which inform traditional limits upon marriage, and no longer wish these beliefs to constitute the law.

Furthermore, a number of religions celebrate same-gender weddings or commitment ceremonies already; in Canada, the United Church of Canada, the country's largest Protestant denomination, has striven for the legalization of same-gender marriage.

Some libertarians object to same-gender civil marriages because they are opposed to any form of state-sanctioned marriage, including opposite-gender unions."

I do not have a formed opinion on this, and find it to be quite a complex issue but well worth debating. People's sexuality is their own business: this is the premise with which I have always viewed same-gender relationships. However, I thought it also meant that same-gender couples are sure enough of their preferences, feelings and freedom of choice, to reject society's established values and adopt/keep their own. But… isn't marriage a state-sanctioned and a value established by society?

[Fear_nam_Beanntan]

Homosexuals should be allowed to have civil unions with all of the legal benefits of marriage, such as hospital visitation rights, etc. (with the possible exception of adoption rights).

Hauns aff marriage itsel.

[HollyElise]

Fear, I have heard from friends in the gay community that statistics show children from same sex marriages are no more likely to be gay than children of heterosexuals. Unfortunately i haven't seen any statistics myself on this, i'd be interested in seeing a report.

[Fear_nam_Beanntan]

Oh, that's not what I'm worried about. I just think the kids would be missing out on a lot growing up with same-sex parents. Also, learning about the birds and the bees would be even more of a shock for them than for children of heterosexual households.

Of course, a stable homosexual household is probably prefferable to a broken heterosexual household.

[ScotKat]

That is a very complex question and one which I don't think that many people will ever agree on. I am lucky to be an honary aunt to a very charming and intelligent if slightly cheeky six year old, he has no contact with his mother (her choice) and is being raised by his father and his partner, he calls both Dad, sounds confussing but it works for them.

I do not think he lacks for a female role model as he is constantly surrounded by the family's of both his Dads, his social circle is not restricted to just gay people so he can see very clearly that there is more than one way to live and unfortunatly he understands the birds and the bees very well as everybody outside of his family and freinds seem to be obsessed with talking about it (he seems to always overhear the conversations he is not supposed to hear including where I hide his presents)


Ulrikke, I must confess that this is a subject I have already asked about as I have a habbit of putting my foot in it and my freinds answer to me was a little surprising he said that just because he was gay did not mean that he was turning his back on society and societys belifes but that he was asking society to practise what it says it belives in and accept him in a different light and as for wanting to marry he grew up in a very loving family with only the best of memory's, why would he not want to experence something so good and important to him.

I belive that marriage is not really something that can be sactioned by a goverment. Everyone deserves the right to ask for help and be treated like equals from their goverment and that nothing should be withheld from a child due to the decissions a parent may make in regards to their relationship prefernce.

I think it would be a very difficult place to live if we were all alike and had the same goals and desires, if that is what god wanted from us why did he make us so very different from each other, why did he give us did he give us different hearts and desires? why did he give us the ability to think and feel? if we are not meant to use them and be happy.

This is just my opinion and hope I do not offend anyone

[BatEl]

Just 2 "Lighten up" if I may the indeed serious questions raised by same-gender Marriages....Well Marriage is a State Institution....& who would want 2 live in a State Institution?....Marriage was devised 4 "Social Order" & maybe we do need social order of some "kind.It is not however "Santified by any Higher Power....unless u call the Goverment of whatever country u all live..a Higher Power??I do not!If any 2 people want 2 live 2gether,in a serious union....they should b able 2 b treated 2 the same benefits as "Married People" no more no less!Am sure their "break up" rates r no higher than "Married People".Every1 should b treated with the same amount of respect, & tolerance. Cheers no Tears

[Dirk_Sommer]

I think if we all have the same rights, we can´t restrict the gay people from marrying legally... they have a right to be handled equal.

But a boy growing up with two dad´s ?!?
I see one problem there...

If he calls "Dad !", how do they know which one is meant ?


Well, when it was first proposed to be made legal here, there were fears of violence against homosexuals... but life went on pretty undisturbed... no violence, no gates to hell opening and swallowing people...

We still have some politicians (mostly from the conservative party) who brag they´d make it illegal again if they were elected... I think that would be a sad thing to happen !

One of our neighbors is gay and runs a bar for homosexuals... I´ve never been in there, cause he sais it´s "homo´s only" (his words, not mine)...
Okay... sometimes when a lesbian couple leaves, I look at them and think it sad that they are gay...

But to each his own...