Gay Marriage

== Rebuttals == My opponent seems to agree with many of my opening assertions—the importance of what marriage is, for example. But disagrees with the actual definition. I will respond to his criticisms accordingly. 1. What about heterosexuals who do not have children or are unable to? This is the most common objection to the conjugal view: it does not hold up because heterosexuals often do NOT have children. However, this response is weak. Generally, it is argued that heterosexual couples—often infertile couples—cannot have children, and are therefore not fulfilling the institution of marriage. Should we exclude them from marriage? The first response is simple: no, because it would be time consuming. Infertile couples are an extremely small minority, and having to test/obtain medical records from all of the heterosexual couples in order to determine their fertility would be both time consuming and costly. It may also reduce overall marriage rates due to the excessive regulation, and may actually end up *weakening* marriage rather than strengthening its public good. The second response is also fairly straightforward. You do not have to have children in order to be married. Infertile couples can still form a comprehensive union, as briefly noted last round. It differs in a degree, not type, as other unions. Meaning it is still procreative in type, if even not in effect. To form a true marriage, one must form a comprehensive union of mind and body, which is completed by procreation and *may* lead to offspring. Every male-female relationship can accomplish this, but with no exceptions homosexuals cannot. Their union is still oriented towards procreation even if not in effect. For example, a broken finger is still a finger, although it cannot perform the same functions. A deaf ear is still an ear, although it cannot hear. The government still has an interest in promoting these relationships as it continues to convey the message as to what marriage really is, and is not fully interested in the effects. Though, benefits do actually occur due to the recognition of infertile marriages. To recognize fertile marriages only would convey the message that marriage is only about the creation of children, a means to an end, and is not a good in and of itself. However, the state must convey that marriage in and of itself is a social good. Why? Because doing so promotes a society where marital stability becomes the norm. The more people accept the truths of marriage as a socially beneficial institution—as a good in and of itself—the more likely those unions which do produce children will actually remain intact [1]. Allowing homosexual marriage would promote the revisionist view—that marriage is merely about love—which would reduce the efficacy of marriage. 2. What about the harms? There are multiple types of harms which can occur from same-sex marriage: both moral intangible harms and tangible societal harms. PRO argues these harms would be insignificant. This is untrue. PRO argues that many homosexuals raise children, and therefore fulfill the states interest in promoting child rearing, and do not go against what marriage is due to the fact that homosexuals would be, in effect, helping society. Again, it is the type of marriage which matters. However, it is still important to dispel these myths. Mainly, this assumes that homosexual households are, on balance, capable of raising children the same as heterosexuals. But as I have espoused often on this website, this is simply not the case. In fact, the evidence strongly suggests that homosexual households are worse environments than heterosexual households (when it comes to child-rearing). I am not saying that homosexuals are evil, or that they cannot raise a child. On balance, they are less effective in doing so than heterosexuals—and children simply need both a mother AND a father, something which homosexuals cannot provide. It is not intended malice. The current laws enforce the idea that a heterosexual married couple is the best environment for raising children. Allowing gay marriage would erase this idea. The idea—that heterosexual households are the best for children—is strongly supported by the social science. Girls, when not raised with a father, are more likely to be sexually abused and have children while they are teenagers, and boys tend to be more aggressive if there is no father figure [2]. The vast weight of the evidence suggests that mothers and fathers are very different. Dual gender parenting is extremely important for the wellbeing of the child. Mommies do not make good Daddies, and Daddies do not make good Mommies. Both have inherently different roles in the development of the child, and removal of one or the other will significantly threaten a child’s development [3]. The fact is, homosexual households do not offer dual gender parenting, and will not benefit the child in the same way that a heterosexual married couple would. 3. Marriage is already dead? Marriage is indeed declining—in a sense. However, it is declining due to the increasing revisionist view of the institution. No fault divorce laws, for example (which was opposed by those now opposing gay marriage) has significantly increased divorce rates and harmed the institution of marriage [4]. Marriage has been declining due to measures taken by revisionists. Gay marriage will have similar effects. We didn’t know the harms of no-fault divorce laws for decades. Its proponents—using similar lines of logic as gay marriage proponents now use—argued that it would not harm society and that divorce rates would not be unchanged. However, no-fault increased divorce rates and destroyed many families, weakening society. The effects of gay marriage will not be immediate. However, over time, the deleterious effects will become detectable. And as noted, there are many intangible (moral) harms which would occur due to gay marriage legalization. The fact is, one way or another, allowing gay marriage can and will harm society. Conclusion PRO has the burden of proof, but has yet to provide one compelling reason as to why gay marriage should be allowed. I have provided strong reasoning as to why it should remain restricted. The resolution is negated. 1. Sherif Girgis, Ryan T. Anderson, and Robert P. George. What is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense (Encounter Books: 2012): 77. 2. Ibid pp 59. 3. David Popenoe. Life without Father: Compelling New Evidence that Fatherhood and Marriage are Indispensable for the Good of Children and Society (Free Press: 1996): 197. 4. http://www.law2.byu.edu...