I'd like to say that I'm impressed with the general tone of the discussion on this thread, especially for this area of the board. Kudos to you guys!"Bunk", you say? You're obligated to back up your POV with a cite illustrating where any society here-to-fore ever formally defined marriage as a bond between two individuals of the same sex.
Like interracial marriage, I think the gay marriage resistance will eventually die out as the older generations that make up the bulk of the resistance passes on. The younger generation, regardless of political leanings, overwhelmingly supports it.
The fact is, more and more people have gay friends, family, coworkers and that exposure to it teaches them that they are no different than the rest of us and should have the same rights.
The "redefinition of marriage" argument is bunk. The definition of marriage has continually changed throughout human history. Marriages in the past were normally arranged for financial / political reasons - marrying for love is a relatively new change. We no longer treat women as chattel when marrying. Women are continuing to gain more equality in marriages. Marital rape is less acceptable.
These are good things, but were all changes from what used to be a "traditional definition of marriage". Originally Posted by jbravo_123
I'd like to say that I'm impressed with the general tone of the discussion on this thread, especially for this area of the board. Kudos to you guys!The exact same argument should eliminate bigamy laws.
Like interracial marriage, I think the gay marriage resistance will eventually die out as the older generations that make up the bulk of the resistance passes on. The younger generation, regardless of political leanings, overwhelmingly supports it.
The fact is, more and more people have gay friends, family, coworkers and that exposure to it teaches them that they are no different than the rest of us and should have the same rights.
The "redefinition of marriage" argument is bunk. The definition of marriage has continually changed throughout human history. Marriages in the past were normally arranged for financial / political reasons - marrying for love is a relatively new change. We no longer treat women as chattel when marrying. Women are continuing to gain more equality in marriages. Marital rape is less acceptable.
These are good things, but were all changes from what used to be a "traditional definition of marriage". Originally Posted by jbravo_123
The exact same argument should eliminate bigamy laws. Originally Posted by DSKSo? Who cares? If all parties freely consent, who's business is it? How many wives did King David have? And other "Christian" heroes. Not everyone should have to conform to your narrow values and definitions.
Then how do you explain bisexuals? Seems like they have a choice. Are they hard-wired to swing either way?Yes.
. Originally Posted by lustylad
Yes.No, but they do contradict the argument that homosexuality is never a choice. The fact that there are bisexuals means sexual preference may be a continuum rather than a discrete question of straight versus gay, at least for some people. If that's the case, then a bisexual could be 90% straight and 10% gay, or vice versa. Or maybe 50/50. Clearly there is an element of free choice involved - and a likelihood that at least some bisexuals could respond successfully to therapy if they wanted to go one way instead of both ways. That's not something the queers want to acknowledge. They hate any suggestion that there might be a "cure" for homosexuality.
You don't have to "explain" bisexuals to determine that homosexuals are wired to be attracted to the same sex.
Bisexuals don't offset or contradict homosexuals. Originally Posted by ExNYer
No, but they do contradict the argument that homosexuality is never a choice. The fact that there are bisexuals means sexual preference may be a continuum rather than a discrete question of straight versus gay, at least for some people. If that's the case, then a bisexual could be 90% straight and 10% gay, or vice versa. Or maybe 50/50. Clearly there is an element of free choice involved - and a likelihood that at least some bisexuals could respond successfully to therapy if they wanted to go one way instead of both ways. That's not something the queers want to acknowledge. They hate any suggestion that there might be a "cure" for homosexuality.I think you are onto something here. Probably correct on the continuum and also you have illustrated where conversion therapy should concentrate to regain its credibility.
. Originally Posted by lustylad
So? Who cares? If all parties freely consent, who's business is it? How many wives did King David have? And other "Christian" heroes. Not everyone should have to conform to your narrow values and definitions.I didn't communicate that very well. I want to eliminate bigamy laws. In a rational world a successful man should have several wives, and losers should do without.
And as far as the cake is concerned, that bakery shouldn't have to bake a cake for anyone they don't want to. If they want to lose money, let them. Somebody else will take the money, and probably bake a better cake. And stay in business. Originally Posted by CuteOldGuy
No, but they do contradict the argument that homosexuality is never a choice. Originally Posted by lustyladNo, they don't. Because they are not homosexuals. They are bisexuals. They are different to begin with.
The fact that there are bisexuals means sexual preference may be a continuum rather than a discrete question of straight versus gay, at least for some people. If that's the case, then a bisexual could be 90% straight and 10% gay, or vice versa. Or maybe 50/50. Originally Posted by lustyladAnd your point is? The "split" attraction of bisexuals is no more relevant to homosexuals than it is to heterosexuals. That sword cuts both ways. Are you not really straight - like you think you are - because someone else is at least partially attracted to both sexes? That means heterosexuality is a choice, too, right?
Clearly there is an element of free choice involved - and a likelihood that at least some bisexuals could respond successfully to therapy if they wanted to go one way instead of both ways. Originally Posted by lustyladNot true. Even if it was something of a choice, that does NOT mean that therapy can affect it one way or another.
That's not something the queers want to acknowledge. They hate any suggestion that there might be a "cure" for homosexuality. Originally Posted by lustyladAnd there you give away your whole argument. Thanks for putting cure in italics