The United States should legalize homosexual marriage.

Thank you for your response, PRO. You said "First, he overlooks the fact that disallowing homosexual marriage leads to discrimination. Homosexual couples, even in civil unions, are denied rights such as tax deductions, hospital visiting rights, the ability to easily move from one state to another, the ability to relatively easily discontinue the relationship (members of civil unions have no way to "divorce" their partners) and oven 1,100 other rights basic to couples that can be traditionally married." Assuming this is reliable information, all of these things can be addressed without redefining marriage. In other words, these rights can be granted without changing the definition of marriage, so it does not logically follow that these things mean the U.S. should legalize same sex unions. You noted that my reference to the Colorado Supreme Court is outdated. My point in quoting that reference was the fact that it pointed to the experience of human nature and natural law as indicators that children benefit from a family with both a father and a mother. Since natural law does not change, it is not an outdated argument. You said "When there are more recent court decisions by a higher court, there is no reason we should see my opponent's example as valid." Again, my quotation appealed to the natural law, something that doesn't changed based on years. Also, what is the supreme court was wrong? Since it is not an infallible institution, it does not follow that the U.S. "should" do something based upon what the supreme court says. It may mean that the U.S. is "required" to do something, but we are debating if the U.S. "should" legalize same sex unions, and given the Supreme Court may be in error, it does not follow the U.S. should do these things. As to why I quoted the Supreme Court of Colorado when it is not infallible, again, because it appealed to human experience and the natural law, something that you must address rather than simply dismiss as outdated. As far as homosexual adoption, I understand where you are coming from as far as why you say that adopted children growing up in a same sex union home are better off than living as orphans, but I do think there are other harmful factors involved in this situation. Here are some examples: "In some studies, children raised by homosexual partners seem to suffer from sex-role confusion.64 Studies by Cameron and Cameron have shown a high incidence of incest between minor children and homosexual parents of both sexes.65 These investigators suggest that homosexual parents may be more likely to abuse their children sexually than heterosexual parents, so although the point is not definitively proven, the available evidence is worrisome. Children raised by both biological parents are significantly healthier, happier and better adjusted emotionally than kids raised by single parents of either sex. They are less likely to live in poverty or engage in violent crime or sexual promiscuity and more likely to be successful in school, career, and marriage.66 Same-sex couples, by definition, would have at least one non-biological parent." (1) For this reason, I think it is debatable whether it is better for them to be adopted by same sex couples. One other point on this issue, even if you are right about same sex adoption, it does not logically follow that marriage has to be redefined, which I believe is crucial to the resolution, as it assumes a redefined definition of marriage. Your claim about Aristotle is false, as this paper from Princeton demonstrates: http://www.princeton.edu... It shows that Plato, Aristotle and Socrates all believed homosexual conduct to be "shameful". So, I think the Princeton paper on princeton.edu is more reliable than the blog you quoted stating Aristotle was a homosexual and approved of homosexual acts. Additionally, even if Aristotle and Plato approved of same sex acts, which they did not, it does not follow that they believed the state should legalize same sex unions and that the definition of marriage should be changed to accommodate same sex unions. Furthermore, my point in quoting Aristotle was not to question him on whether or not he approved of same sex relations but what his view was of the state, which is to secure the highest good for its citizens. Numerous other philosophers can be quoted on this, and I'm surprised you would dispute this. Should the state oppress people and not secure the highest good of its citizens? As to whether the other issues I described will result if same sex unions are embraced, this is not an "extreme [sic] hypothetical situation". It is already a reality. See here for an example http://www.usnews.com... Additionally, it logically follows that if you redefine marriage to mean "a state recognized union between two consenting adults" then it would be an act of discrimination not to allow polyamorous, polygamists, incestuous couples, etc. not to marry, so, it is directly related to our debate. Lastly, I do not believe you have made a sufficient case in favor of your position, and I believe it is incumbent upon you to demonstrate why it is good to redefine marriage, as this is assumed in your resolution. Without proving why this is good, I don't think you can demonstrate why same sex unions "should" be legalized in the U.S. Sources (1). 63. Judith S. Wallerstein, "The Long-Term Effects of Divorce on Children: A Review," Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 30, no. 3 (May 1991): 358-9. 46.Norman Bales and Anne Bales, "Today's Blended Family Landscape," All About Families, April 26, 2000, 1-2; Lynn K. White and Alan Booth, "The Quality and Stability of Remarriages: The Role of Stepchildren," American Sociological Review 50, no. 5 (1985): 689-98; Frank F. Furstenberg, Jr., "Divorce and the American Family," Annual Review of Sociology 16 (1990): 379-403. 64.R. Green et al., "Lesbian Mothers and Their Children: A Comparison With Solo Parent Heterosexual Mothers and Their Children," Archives of Sexual Behavior 15 (1986): 167-83; P. A. Belcastro et al., "A Review of Data Based Studies Addressing the Effects of Homosexual Parenting on Children's Sexual and Social Functioning," Journal of Divorce and Remarriage 20 (1993): 105-22; B. Hoeffer, "Lesbian and Heterosexual Single Mothers: Influence of Their Child's Acquisition of Sex-Role Traits and Behavior," (dissertation, University of California), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1979; D. L. Puryear, "Familial Experiences: A Comparison Between Children of Lesbian Mothers and the Children of Heterosexual Mothers," (Dissertation, University of California), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1983; J. D. Kunin, "Predictors of Psychosocial and Behavioral Adjustment of Children: A Study Comparing Children Raised by Lesbian Parents to Children Raised by Heterosexual Parents," Dissertation Abstracts International, 59 (1998): (6-B), 3094; G. A. Javaid, "The Children of Homosexual and Heterosexual Single Mothers," Child Psychiatry and Human Development 23 (1993): 235-48; K. Lewis, "The Children of Lesbians: Their Point of View," Social Work 23 (1980): 198-203 65.P. Cameron and K. Cameron, "Homosexual Parents," 757-66; P. Cameron and K. Cameron, "Homosexual Parents: A Comparative Forensic Study of Character and Harms to Children" Psychological Reports 82 (1998): 1155-91. 66.Waite and Gallagher, op. cit., 124-40.