OPPapers.com

Gay Marriage

Same-sex marriage
Analysing the arguments
Analysing the arguments in favour of same-sex marriage
We shouldn't just allow gay marriage. We should insist on gay marriage. We should regard it as scandalous that two people could claim to love each other and not want to sanctify their love with marriage and fidelity.
Do the arguments in favour of same-sex marriage stand up to examination? Let's tackle some of the most popular and see...
In favour of same-sex marriage
Those in favour of allowing same-sex marriages argue that:
• banning same-sex marriage discriminates against gays and lesbians
• legalising same-sex marriage doesn't hurt heterosexuals
• same-sex marriages would benefit societies in the same way that heterosexual marriages do
• same-sex marriages would benefit individuals in the same way that heterosexual marriages do
• same-sex marriage would benefit any children involved
• allowing same-sex marriages could benefit the institution of marriage
• banning same-sex marriage restricts freedom of choice
• banning same-sex marriages labels gays and lesbians as second-class citizens
• banning same-sex marriage mixes Church and State in an illegitimate way
By the way, there is no suggestion that now same-sex civil marriage is a legal right, there should be any requirement for religions to marry people of the same sex.
Discrimination
Banning same-sex marriage discriminates against gays and lesbians
This is true, and some Western superior courts have agreed that such discrimination against gays and lesbians is unlawful.
The issue of discrimination is the most important of the arguments for permitting same-sex marriages, and it is the only argument that operates on a purely ethical level.
Opponents accept that the ban is discriminatory, but try to show good reasons for the discrimination; that the discrimination is not illegal; reasons why same-sex marriage is wrong; that the costs of allowing same-sex marriage are too high.
Banning...