IS THIS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY? David Barnes replies to Mark Barton

Mark Barton divides participants in the same sex marriage debate into three broad camps:
(i) "liberals," who see no problem with gay sex (at least between consenting adults not encumbered by commitments to other relationships),
(ii) "libertarians," who disapprove of gay sex but disapprove even more strongly of the government passing laws that require invading people's bedrooms to enforce,
(iii) "social conservatives," who'd like to see the government actively discouraging gay sex.

This strikes me as a bizarre classification, because SSM opponents and supporters can be grouped in (i) and (ii), and no one on this site is really arguing position (ii) or (iii).

There are obviously those who think that intimate homosexual relationships can be every bit as wonderful as intimate heterosexual relationships. However, from that belief it does not follow that we ought to allow same sex couples to marry, as there are a whole host of reasons why legalized same sex marriage might be bad which have little to do with "gay sex."

As such, the "liberal" position is not a position in the marriage debate. It is a side belief which may or may not affect one's actual stance. I'm sure that there are some "liberals" who oppose SSM, because I am one.

Regarding (iii), I can’t recall anyone writing on this site that he'd "like to see the government actively discouraging gay sex." While such people obviously exist, that position is not being argued here, or at least only rarely.

I also can't recall any arguments from explicit "libertarians" as described by Mr. Barton on MD.com, probably because, as with the "liberal" position, a firm stance on SSM does not follow strictly from the "libertarian" position, which he recognized in his own post, suggesting how a "libertarian" could oppose or support SSM depending on how he interpreted his libertarianism.

Hopefully, this provides more explanation why the SSM debate need not depend on beliefs about homosexuality. It depends on beliefs about what role, if any, the government has in helping the family.
posted by Eve at 2:40 AM VOTE

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