Same sex unions are the equivalent of Heterosexual unions

My position is that homosexual relationships are not as valuable as heterosexual relationships either to nature or to society, and therefore are not equal to heterosexual relationships. The importance of heterosexual unions in nature – To preserve itself from extinction, the human race must reproduce. Heterosexual unions are the only way in which humans can reproduce. Therefore, heterosexual unions are essential to prolonging the very existence of our species. Because heterosexual unions result in procreation, something which cannot result from any other relationship, the heterosexual relationship is a special type of relationship which has no equal. The importance benefits of heterosexual unions in society – Since heterosexual unions are the sole means for keeping the human race alive, they are also vital to sustaining the population of a nation. Beyond maintaining the strength of a nation in numbers, the heterosexual relationship also is valuable to maintaining the health of those numbers. When the heterosexual couple stays together after the birth of their children and works cooperatively to raise the children who result from their relationship, they contribute to the quality and health of society. The biological parents have a special bond with their child as the child's parents and logically are the ideal people to raise their own child. [1] In addition to having this special bond with their child, the biological parents also provide their child with a balanced set of parents, both a mother and father. A set of parents who are male and female is ideal because of the differences which each sex possesses that extend beyond their bodies. Men and women are very different emotionally and psychologically. Each sex has unique strengths and weaknesses. [2] When working together, the male and female parents complement each other to give their child a well rounded upbringing. [3] As I stated before, a heterosexual couple raising their children is beneficial to society by providing a stable, healthy environment for their children. By raising a physically and mentally healthy child, the parents are also raising a good citizen who is more likely to make a positive impact on society than a child raised in a home lacking a mother or father. [4] [5] Also important is the understanding and support a parent can give to a child of the same sex. Certainly, a father can better address problems and give support to boys and mothers to girls at times when issues encountered are unique to each sex, such as the teenage years when children experience hormonal and physical changes which can be difficult to deal with. In a heterosexual household, a child receives the benefits of having both a parent of the same sex and a parent of the opposite sex. One might note that there are exceptions to the situations I described such as infertile couples who can't conceive children or abusive parents who can't properly raise children, but those are only incidental exceptions to the rule. They do not alter the rule that heterosexual relationships are beneficial to society in a way that no other relationship can be. The biological parenting household ideal is achieved without artificial means of any kind. The conception and birth of children to their parents is the natural result of the parents' physical union. The benefits both to children and to society of raising children in their biological parents' household are also achieved without outside intervention. They are simply the result of the biological parents staying together and working together to raise their children. As one can see, the heterosexual relationship has great value that is derived solely from the nature of the relationship. Even without the government's assistance given to these relationships through marriage benefits or the use of artificial means, the heterosexual relationship has this value. I have not seen evidence that homosexual relationships provide benefits equal to those that result from heterosexual relationships. From what I have seen, homosexual relations have no effects that are beneficial to society. Homosexual relations, as a rule, serve the sole purpose of satisfying the pleasure of those in the relationship and, in no way, have any additional effects which serve the interest of either the human race or society. Because it has no purpose in nature or society, I believe the homosexual relationship is not equal to the heterosexual relationship, a relationship which has special value. Because the homosexual relationship is not equal to the heterosexual relationship, and has no special value, I do not believe the U.S. government should recognize homosexual unions as the equal of heterosexual unions. I now turn the debate over to my opponent. Sources: [1] David Popenoe Life Without Father [2]http://www.oregoncounseling.org... [3] http://www.cfcidaho.org... [4] http://www.usccb.org... [5] http://www.nationformarriage.org...