Gays should be allowed to marry

- Denying them is a violation of religious freedom (civil and religious marriages are two separate institutions). - Marriage benefits (such as joint ownership, medical decision-making capacity) should be available to all couples. - Homosexuality is an accepted lifestyle nowadays with a proven biological causation. - Denying these marriages is a form of minority discrimination. - It doesn't hurt society or anyone in particular. - The only thing that should matter in marriage is love. - The number of child adoptions should increase since gay couples cannot pro-create. - policydebategod, you are one of my favorite debaters at Debate.org, and I welcome this challenge. + thank you. - No one forbids churches from permitting gay-marriage services. I would be bitterly opposed to any efforts that did so. But tellingly, here you admit that marriage is a religious affair. This is the basis of my argument against state-marriage. + However, you will notice that atheists and satanists get married on a non religious basis. Why cant gays get married if non religious people can? - These benefits are available through private contract. Most educated people can write contracts for themselves, without a lawyer. However, I admit it is unfair for heterosexuals to have greater access to this contract, via the state (marriage), than homosexual couples. That's why I support civil unions for all and state-marriage for none. + Civil unions are not recognized in every state or country limiting the places that gays can live and travel, which is unfair. Gay marriages would be recognized in every state and country so they can live anywhere they wish. Civil unions are not as impressive as actual marriages because marriage has been around for centuries and people respect it alot. 14% of New Jersey civil unions are not recognized their employers. - Accepted by whom? "Proven biological causation"? I don't think so. It's up to debate. But what kind of argument is this? Who cares if society accepts gays or if the causation for homosexuality is biological? Would gays have any less right to contract if they were not accepted or if homosexuality were merely a choice? Does one not have the right to choose to be gay? I think one does. + Some people feel otherwise, which is why I made that argument. "Denying these marriages is a form of minority discrimination" I would counter that by saying that PROVIDING heterosexual marriages is what leads to the discrimination. State-sponsored marriage is not a Natural Right. It is a privilege. Therefore, the privilege should be taken away from the privileged to restore parity. I'm in complete agreement with your final three arguments, and therefore, I cannot rebut them. The question is one of less government or more government. I say less. I say take away the privilege from the privileged. Let's not forget that there are those who choose not to get married, and the government should not engage in social engineering to promote marriage or discourage it. All should be equal before the law -- straight, gay; married or unmarried. How are you against gay marriage? All marriage sgould be recognized by the senate. Most marital benefits are provided by the government: (THIS IS JUST A LIST OF MARITAL RIGHTS-- YOU DONT HAVE TO REFUTE EACH ONE-- TRY THE GENERAL LIST) Social Security pension, veteran's pensions, indemnity compensation for service-connected deaths, medical care, and nursing home care, right to burial in veterans' cemeteries, educational assistance, and housing survivor benefits for federal employees, $100,000 to spouse of any public safety officer killed in the line of duty, renewal and termination rights to spouse's copyrights on death of spouse, employment assistance and transitional services for spouses of members being separated from military service; continued commissary privileges per diem payment to spouse for federal civil service employees when relocating Indian Health Service care for spouses of Native Americans (in some circumstances) sponsor husband/wife for immigration benefits, veteran's disability, Supplemental Security Income, disability payments for federal employees, medicaid, property tax exemption for homes of totally disabled veterans income tax deductions, credits, rates exemption, and estimates, joint filing of bankruptcy permitted, joint parenting rights, such as access to children's school records, family visitation rights for the spouse and non-biological children, such as to visit a spouse in a hospital or prison, next-of-kin status for emergency medical decisions or filing wrongful death claims custodial rights to children, shared property, child support, and alimony after divorce, domestic violence intervention, access to "family only" services, such as reduced rate memberships to clubs & organizations or residency in certain neighborhoods, Preferential hiring for spouses of veterans in government jobs, Tax-free transfer of property between spouses (including on death) and exemption from "due-on-sale" clauses. Special consideration to spouses of citizens and resident aliens, Spouse's flower sales count towards meeting the eligibility for Fresh Cut Flowers and Fresh Cut Greens Promotion and Information Act, Threats against spouses of various, federal employees is a federal crime, Right to continue living on land purchased from spouse by National Park Service when easement granted to spouse, Court notice of probate proceedings, Domestic violence protection orders, Existing homestead lease continuation of rights, Regulation of condominium sales to owner-occupants exemption, Funeral and bereavement leave, Joint adoption and foster care, Joint tax filing, Insurance licenses, coverage, eligibility, and benefits organization of mutual benefits society, Legal status with stepchildren, Making spousal medical decisions, Spousal non-resident tuition deferential waiver, Permission to make funeral arrangements for a deceased spouse, including burial or cremation, Right of survivorship of custodial trust, Right to change surname upon marriage, Right to enter into prenuptial agreement, Right to inheritance of property, Spousal privilege in court cases (the marital confidences privilege and the spousal testimonial privilege)