Same Sex Marriage Is Destructive To Society

Summary and Conclusion I have argued that SSM is destructive to society due to four (4) major reasons. 1. NM is the foundation of a civilized society. -Over 10,000 studies referenced in "Marriage Under Fire" demonstrate that children are best raised in loving NM families. They are naturally procreative and give the best role models of each gender for the child. The study cited by my opponent in the last round is one of FEW, and let's not forget that homosexual behavior and experimentation is NOT considered deviant by the APA since 1973, despite the shortened life spans and disease-prone aspects of the lifestyle. Hence, children confused about their sexuality or experimenting with homosexuality by being raised in SSM will be considered "normal and healthy. " -It has been shown that societies that abandon NM soon experience demise 2. Homosexual behavior is inherently destructive. -According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), homosexual practice results in numerous health problems, including increases in AIDS, other STDs, colon/rectal cancer, and hepatitis. More than 82% of all sexually transmitted AIDS cases in 2006 were the result of male to male sexual contact. Gay and bisexual men account for more than 60 % of all syphilis cases. (See "Cases of HIV infection and AIDS in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2006 HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report", Volume 17, April 2008). -Homosexual activity shortens the life expectancy of homosexuals approximately 8 to 20 years. (See John R. Diggs, M. D. , "The Health Risks of Gay Sex," Corporate Research Council, 2002). Moreover, homosexuality can lead to innocent people, like Ryan White, contracting the ill effects of such behaviors through blood transfusions. Allowing SSM would give government sanction to the inherently destructive, disease-prone homosexual practice. 3. The law is a great teacher and needs to discourage (or not encourage) the destructive behavior associated with SSM -The law can change minds. Two examples: slavery and abortion. In the 1850s many people didn't think slavery was wrong. In 2014, nearly everyone denounces it as evil. What changed? It wasn't more people going to Church, it was the 13th and 14th Amendments to the US Constitution. By making slavery illegal, the law "taught" people it was wrong. Similarly, in the 1960s, nearly all 50 states banned abortion completely (or in most cases). 41 years after Roe v. Wade, most Americans favor letting a woman choose to have an abortion, at least up to a certain gestation point. SSM will teach that the destructive behavior of homosexuality is acceptable and equal to heterosexuality. --Many people believe that which is legal is moral, and that which is illegal is immoral. Homosexual author Andrew Sullivan writes, " If nothing else were done at all, and gay marriage was legalized, 90% of the political work necessary to achieve gay and lesbian equality will have been achieved. It's ultimately the only reform that matters. " (See Andrew Sullivan, "Virtually Normal," USA, Vintage Books, 1996, pg. 185). The goal isn't civil rights, it's civil acceptance for what I've already argued is a destructive behavior. 4. SSM will negatively impact YOU by: --Increase in taxes --increase in Social security taxes or decrease in benefits --Rise in medical premiums --Indoctrination of children in public schools against the objections of parents --Workplace indoctrination --restrictions placed on Freedom of Speech and the Free Exercise of Religion Furthermore, SSM has nothing to do with societal benefit, but a warped idea that government should validate people's feelings of "love" and sexual attraction. There is no logical reason to prohibit "group marriages" of consenting, loving adults if "love" is the reason for state sanctioned SSM. My opponent has failed to (a) put forth a positive case for SSM, and (b) failed to refute my arguments that SSM is destructive to society. In closing, here is how SSM is destructive to society: (a) The law is a great teacher that affects attitudes and behaviors. SSM will provide government-sanctioned endorsement of unhealthy behavior that reduces life-spans. It will make homosexual behavior validated and held up as normal in society. (b) Endorsement will encourage and lead to more homosexual behavior, resulting in higher medical and insurance costs, as well as restrictions upon free speech and the free exercise of religion (as evidenced in such places as Canada). (c) SSM will change the institution of marriage by making it the legal and cultural equivalent of NM (d) With SSM and NM equated, marriage will not be about societal advantages, but merely about "coupling. " The procreation and raising of children in ideal circumstances will be seen as unnecessary. (e) The degradation of NM will lead to more children being raised by SSM, cohabiting people, and willfully single parents, resulting in a generation of children who are not well-adjusted taking over the reigns of government with incalculable disastrous effects. SSM is destructive to society.