In California, the debate about legalizing same-sex marriage is coming to a head with a vote in the November election. An argument to keep marriage between one man and one woman is made in David Blankenhorn’s Op-Ed in the LA Times:
Marriage as a human institution is constantly evolving, and many of its features vary across groups and cultures. But there is one constant. In all societies, marriage shapes the rights and obligations of parenthood. Among us humans, the scholars report, marriage is not primarily a license to have sex. Nor is it primarily a license to receive benefits or social recognition. It is primarily a license to have children.
In this sense, marriage is a gift that society bestows on its next generation. Marriage (and only marriage) unites the three core dimensions of parenthood — biological, social and legal — into one pro-child form: the married couple. Marriage says to a child: The man and the woman whose sexual union made you will also be there to love and raise you. Marriage says to society as a whole: For every child born, there is a recognized mother and a father, accountable to the child and to each other.
There is lots to say about this, but Blankenhorn’s piece is refreshingly cogent for such an emotionally charged issue.
Comments (5)
in light of the marginal passing of proposition 8 in california, i wonder if the anger of pro-gay-marriage activists is a repercussion of a long history of unloving behavior largely by the christian community. the thoughts to ponder at this time would be (1) how to have open and compassionate dialogue between peoples of opposing views, (2) how to demonstrate that opposing same-sex marriage is not about taking rights away from individuals, (3) how to demonstrate care and compassion to those who disagree.
A friend of mine referred me to your blog. I read this entry awhile ago and have been thinking about it since. I support traditional marriage because of my religious upbringing, but I have real qualms about your entry and the article. If the only reason why same-sex marriage should not be legal is because of its lack of value for the society, I don't think that is a good reason. Does everything need to have value in order for it be maintained and supported? What about the child who is born with severe disabilities? Does he have value or worth even if he cannot do things as most of us can? I get that there are sociological consequences for gay marriage, but isn't this more an issue about absolute sexual morality?
I have to take issue with this post. If the primary purpose of marriage is child-bearing, then we would also not allow couples who choose to remain childless and those who cannot biologically have children to receive marriage licenses either. It would follow that, like same-sex marriage, their marriages are not fulfilling the "primary" purpose of marriage, so there should be no reason for them to be allowed to marry each other. Of course we would never think of doing that as a society because marriage is a fundamental, constitutionally-protected, civil right. To deny that right to an entire class of people is discrimination, plain and simple. To say that the reason why we are not required to confer those rights upon all citizens is because they cannot bear children (while conferring the right on other couples who fit that same description) is a farce.
Just wanted to let you know that I had e-mailed our President in regards to removing "At home care resources" for our elderly parents. Soon after that I started receiving e-mails from a site called "Courage Campaign" which has the official California logo on it. They are asking for donations so they can place an "Equality initiative on the 2010 ballot." They want another vote to try and make gay marriage legal. Their website is as follows.
http://www.actblue.com/page/CourageForMaine
Explain to me why my sister can have test tube babies to her fiance which are considered both their children even though there not natural born children, there scientifically made.
however scientist must get "approval" to experiment with bone marrow to create sperm for 2 women to create a child, which is biologically both theres.
In my case im a transgendered male (born a female) and im more than proud to state here and now i've been a lesbian since i was 6 years old and as long as i have a vagina ill always be a lesbian even though i've legally changed my name and sex... Lets face it love is love and to DISCRIMINATE how YOU PEOPLE do is not fair to your brothers, sisters, cousins and friends to tell them they dont deserve equallity.
Your not protecting marrige your encouraging hate and discrimination. I can legally get married to my queer girlfriend and i will because its my right to do so and soon everyone wil be able to create there own biological family if not in this life than the next. HONEST LOVE IS TRUE LOVE AND NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO JUDGE BUT GOD!!!!!
ALWAYS EQUALITY
Malcolm