IS MARRIAGE A CIVIL RIGHT? Ben Dykes

Maggie's response shows she still doesn't grasp gays' complaint, and only comprehends marriage in her own terms. She says unmarried gay and straight people are in the same boat. If they do not like it, they should get married--to someone of the opposite sex.

Maggie, this is the old race-mixing argument. It goes, "Everyone can get married -- to someone of the same race. Therefore the law is the same for all. What's the problem?" Nowadays we shake our heads at that sort of logic. Is this where you want to be?

So again Maggie, you and other opponents cast marriage in your own image, equating characteristics of opposite-sex marriage with marriage as a whole. That's why you conclude the marriage case is just like social security for the elderly. But social security applies equally to all because aging is a universal human characteristic. Being attracted to and fulfilled by the opposite sex isn't. It's not like social security. Opposite-sex marriage for gays is a non-starter. It would be immoral.

Gays have done enough hand-holding over the irrational fears of utter destruction and endless 'polygamy!' refrains. We've politely acquiesced to the insulting demand that we be grateful for civilization. You can't say you are for general human well-being and against discrimination, but define basic institutions in ways peculiar to you and shut a whole class of people out. Purely
religiously-motivated opponents know where they stand. What do the rest say?

posted by maggie at 5:22 PM VOTE

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