Gay Marriage Should Be Allowed

I have read MrCaroll's debates and they are finely structured and intelligent, so I am glad to have you as an opponent. I see where you're coming from. I'll begin. I belive gay marriage should be alllowed for simple reasons. I myself am a heterosexual man, but I believe that every person has the right to live their lives as they see fit. Not allowing gay marriage is effectively infringing upon other people's lives, and not allowing them to be with the sex that brings them fulfillment. I understand that the Bible condemns homosexuality. Understand though, that the Bible was written when the Romans and Greeks, famous for their horrible sexual practices were in power. Homosexuality was just another act of theirs in which they satisfied deviant thoughts, and that SHOULD be condemned, I agree. But homosexuality is not like that, at least in most cases, in today's times. There are homosexuals who commit to their partners for the long term, and some adopt, and their children grow to be good adults. What is wrong with it? Take out the Bible's condemnation, justified as it was at the time, and a false belief that all homosexuals are incapable of raising a child effectively, and you have little to argue your case. But here's a story to maybe help show why it is wrong to condemn homosexuality. I've had a friend years back, who I talked to daily for nearly a year. Never knew she was homosexual, and I never knew she had such troubles within her. One day she confided in me a story noone else was ever told. At 12 she was raped by a friend's father, and afterward she could not look at any man, let alone consider being with one without disgust. Years later, she still feels disgusted at men, but does have affection for women. Would you dare tell this poor soul, that she has to force herself to be with a man, who would remind her of the day her childhood was stripped from her, because the Bible says to, because you don't understand it? I myself find it hard to understand, but in this case you can more understand how it is for some people. Her life is difficult enough, without people telling her that she cannot and should not seek out love and affection, which is what you're doing when you condemn homosexuality. I ask that you please, listen to me with an open mind, and see that this belief brings harm to her and who knows how many others. I don't know if more are homosexual by circumstance in their lives or actually born with it, but it still remains the same. People deserve to live their lives, and find happiness. We may not understand, but for their sakes, at least try to be tolerant. We're all people, and we all have the same emotions. As for people who ask for homosexuals to change, I ask, if homosexuals were a majority and they demanded that you change, what would you say? You wouldn't, and you couldn't even if you wanted to. Everyone is born differently, and everyone's life is different in different ways, further shaping who they become. Some things can be reversed, but some things are attached to the core of our being and make us us. That's how it is. And some would argue that legalizing gay marriage would make it so that pedophiles and the like would then receive similar rights in the future. Ask homosexuals and bisexuals what you think, and the majority will also find it repugnant. When you say allowing homosexuals their rights will open the pathway for these other groups of people, you're essentially saying what they're doing is morally wrong, but not to the extent that these other groups are. They're just a little below heterosexuals, but even a little is too much. In truth, heterosexuals and homosexuals are equals. People have the sense to know that zoophilia and pedophilia is wrong, that's not going to change. Except those in those groups of course. Allowing gay marriage would naturally spark their outcries for the same rights, of course, but it will not make them come to be as you suggest. So long as the masses don't one day think like Romans and Greeks did, I don't see it happening. Even if it did bring about those horrible practices, it doesn't change the fact that gay marriage should still be legalized. As for sex being meaningless without the ability to reproduce, which homosexuals are incapable of doing, I disagree with. The reason being is because, in loving relationships, sex is the most intimate one can be with another. The phrase "making love", essentially refers to love's physical incarnation. I understand why you'd be against having sex purely pleasure's sake, and while I don't share that same belief either, that's not the case with homosexuals. Sure, there's going to be those that do, but there are also heterosexuals who have sex for the sake of pleasure's sake. Their marriage should not be denied them either. Homosexuals deserve to share that loving embrace with each other that we call sex. It's about intimacy most of the time in cases of love. Who should be denied true love? And the argument that I see often against gay marriage is how it leaves a homosexual household with children without an either male or female parent, and the effect it likely has on their adopted children. This concern I definitely understand and sympathize with, as family is important to me as well as I'm assuming most people. Proof of this claim though, is usually substantiated with the likes of, say, single parent households where a child is raised. That single parent is forced to take on the role of mother and father, so naturally a child might not know which roles a mother should play and which a father should, as the mother has to take on both. A very reasonable theory, I believe. But it is different from homosexual relationships, in that often times, say, one male is a mother figure and the other is a father figure to their child. They do their appropriate roles, and I would guess that the male who is ‘mom' might tell the child to call him mother. Thus, the child knows the difference between the two roles, as they are separate from each other and no doubt explained as the child grows older. And you could say that the child sees both males for what they are physically, as men. But understand, that babies and very young children are for the most part completely unbiased and untouched by the outside world. Until told so, or exposed to anti-gay propaganda and comments which no doubt won't take long to occur, that child would not see his parents as how the masses do. Seeing a friend's mother and father rather than male mother and male father would be curious to him, sure, and it would all have to be explained. Like I said, it wouldn't take long for a homosexual couple's child to realize his parent's aren't the same as the majority physically. The point is though, the affect is often negligent, though it's unfortunate when a child comes to condemn his parent's sexuality. It happens, but it's not because they're right. Because they're bullied because of who their parents are, how no one will be their friend because of it, they may come to feel so. But those examples bring strife to the homosexual family, as a result of a lack of knowledge on homosexuals, and even intolerance and hatred. It would not have been an issue, had people been more understanding and informed. As stated before, family is big for you, as it is for me. This is just one example of how being against gay marriage and treating them and their children often times differently, however slight or major, can ruin a family. Imagine your own child disowning you, because of who you are. Society's mindset had been a great factor in bringing it about in who knows how many cases. And it can be avoided. I hope that we can remain civil throughout this debate, despite differing views :). I look forward to hearing your response.