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- Nov 6, 2007
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Asking me when I decided I was heterosexual as a point that there is no choice to being homosexual usually holds no validity with heterosexuals. Heterosexuals consider heterosexual intercourse to be natural while homosexual intercourse is unnatural. Therefore, there is no need to legitimize heterosexuality to refute the validity of homosexuality.
The argument that environmental factors may cause homosexuality is very valid in my view. However it doesn't in and of itself validate homosexuality, for me personally, since there are a great many mental disorders which are said to be caused by environmental factors. Don't take that to mean I think homosexuality is a mental disorder, I don't necessarily. I'm sure if I were homosexual I would have a different view on that. My personal religious views are not a strong enough factor for me to rely on in opposition to gay marriage so I've tried to find away to convince myself that it is valid through reading studies on the issue. Personally, I do not feel that homosexuality or gay marriage will affect me personally in anyway, however I do believe it will have some pretty serious affects on our society. Maybe good effects, maybe bad. Time will tell. That is more my concern than anything, and is the only reason I oppose it.
Since homosexuals can live "marriage-like" lifestyles now, and are as protected by hate laws and discrimination laws as are anyone else, I don't see that legalizing marriage would provide any benefit worthy of the potential risks involved with changing the societal definition of marriage.
First of all, you are lumping together all heterosexuals. I, and most on here who defend legalizing gm for that matter, are heterosexuals. Heterosexuals are not the group identity of those opposing gm. The main thing that connects most (not all) of those who are against gay marriage is religion. However, not all religions, or even Christians for that matter, are opposed to gay marriage. Some Christian denominations do not even consider homosexuality a sin. Also, Christians are made up of individuals, and not all individuals accept all the teachings of the church they attend, so there are also many individual Christians who do not consider homosexuality a sin. Along with that, there are also some religions and religious people who consider homosexuality a sin, but choose not to oppose secular gay marriage, because they do not consider the government's institution of marriage to be the same as private/religious marriage.
Second, it really isn't that hard to compare the bad effects of gay marriage to the good effects. Gay marriage is legal in 5 states now, and DC. I haven't heard of many of those "bad things" that you're worrying about happening in those states. Also, we have history to help us to determine how people may react to changes that they wouldn't necessarily like, but that really don't affect them, especially where marriage is concerned.
Also, there are some important legal benefits to being married that don't come from just living together in a married-like lifestyle. One that comes to mind, that many don't consider, is spouses cannot be compelled to testify against their spouse in court. Some others include being able to make medical decisions for the spouse, ensure that each is protected in case of separation, and makes entering into certain legal contracts easier. There are plenty more advantages to being married, but much of them come down to one contract to take the place of several.