IS THIS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY? David Benkof

For me, the same-sex marriage debate is indeed about homosexuality, and about the government preferring opposite-sex partnering over same-sex, because that encourages the best environment for the raising of children, as society has learned over the centuries.

It is not, however, about gay and lesbian people, their individual self-worth, patriotism, or value as part of the polity. The SSM advocates who complain about the injustices the current situation foists on gay and lesbian people in areas like immigration or inheritance are looking in the wrong place for changes. If they think the immigration laws are unfair, advocate changes in immigration policy. If they think inheritance laws are unjust, propose legislation to remedy that injustice. But don't fiddle around with marriage.

By privileging the monogamous, heterosexual way of life over other ways of life through the institution of marriage, our country sends a loud message that children ought whenever possible to have both a mother and a father committed both to each other and to their children. To whatever extent that message causes real harms to gays and lesbians, we can remedy those consequences socially and legislatively. But the institution of marriage should remain.
posted by Eve at 2:41 AM VOTE

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