Only homophobic myths deny gay rights
I‘m getting tired of the gay marriage debate in this country. There are no intelligent reasons to deny gay people the right to marry, only homophobic myths. These include: The Bible says homosexuality, and thus gay marriage, is wrong. Gay marriage is harmful to the institution of marriage. It will promote homosexuality, and "turn" young people gay. And gay people don’t need to be married, because civil unions provide the same legal rights as marriage.
First, evidence that the Bible condemns homosexuality is shaky. According to Yale professor John Boswell’s book, "Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality" "The New Testament takes no demonstrable position on homosexuality." In the Old Testament, Boswell writes that only two passages in Leviticus clearly forbid homosexuality, calling it an abomination that is punishable by death. However, Leviticus also punishes adultery, cursing one’s parents and being a wizard with death. We better hang Bill Clinton, Gandalf and any kid who swears at mom and dad. Not everything in the Bible should be held up as how society should be.
Second, two NIU sociology professors don’t think gay relationships have caused the decline in the number of heterosexual marriages. According to Kei Nomaguchi, assistant professor in sociology, more gay families haven’t caused a decline in heterosexual marriage at all, but are instead a result of it. Marriage is declining because of changes in gender roles and a tolerance of divorce, which isn’t all bad. Many women won’t put off a career for marriage or tolerate abusive marriages.
Chet Meeks, assistant professor in sociology, reminded me that the tradition of marriage once included polygamy, arranged marriages and legally-recognized spousal battery. Change is often better than tradition. Not all change is good, though. Meeks said marriage is also declining because popular culture reduces relationships to superficialities. When "Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire" or "The Bachelor" links America’s wedding vows with dollar signs or hairstyles, gay marriage is not the institution’s real problem.
Third, homosexuality or gay marriage won’t "turn" anyone gay. A 2002 American Academy of Pediatrics report stated that children raised by couples in a non-traditional relationship do as well as those in traditional marriages. Quoted in U.S. News and World Report, the report found "no increase in depression, anxiety, gender identity problems or adjustment problems" in such children.
Finally, civil unions do not provide the same rights as marriage. The 1996 Defense of Marriage defines marriage as between a man and a woman, for purposes of federal law. It also lets states refuse to recognize same-sex marriages from other states. So gay couples can’t file jointly on their federal taxes or have their union recognized if they move to the wrong state.
These ideas don’t stand up to scrutiny. Myths cannot be allowed to deny people fundamental human rights, like marriage. What is truly pathetic is that I’ll probably get more responses to this column than the ones I did on murder or genocide. If you need something to protest, I’d suggest the ethnic cleansing occurring in Darfur, which has killed more than 100,000 people.
First, evidence that the Bible condemns homosexuality is shaky. According to Yale professor John Boswell’s book, "Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality" "The New Testament takes no demonstrable position on homosexuality." In the Old Testament, Boswell writes that only two passages in Leviticus clearly forbid homosexuality, calling it an abomination that is punishable by death. However, Leviticus also punishes adultery, cursing one’s parents and being a wizard with death. We better hang Bill Clinton, Gandalf and any kid who swears at mom and dad. Not everything in the Bible should be held up as how society should be.
Second, two NIU sociology professors don’t think gay relationships have caused the decline in the number of heterosexual marriages. According to Kei Nomaguchi, assistant professor in sociology, more gay families haven’t caused a decline in heterosexual marriage at all, but are instead a result of it. Marriage is declining because of changes in gender roles and a tolerance of divorce, which isn’t all bad. Many women won’t put off a career for marriage or tolerate abusive marriages.
Chet Meeks, assistant professor in sociology, reminded me that the tradition of marriage once included polygamy, arranged marriages and legally-recognized spousal battery. Change is often better than tradition. Not all change is good, though. Meeks said marriage is also declining because popular culture reduces relationships to superficialities. When "Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire" or "The Bachelor" links America’s wedding vows with dollar signs or hairstyles, gay marriage is not the institution’s real problem.
Third, homosexuality or gay marriage won’t "turn" anyone gay. A 2002 American Academy of Pediatrics report stated that children raised by couples in a non-traditional relationship do as well as those in traditional marriages. Quoted in U.S. News and World Report, the report found "no increase in depression, anxiety, gender identity problems or adjustment problems" in such children.
Finally, civil unions do not provide the same rights as marriage. The 1996 Defense of Marriage defines marriage as between a man and a woman, for purposes of federal law. It also lets states refuse to recognize same-sex marriages from other states. So gay couples can’t file jointly on their federal taxes or have their union recognized if they move to the wrong state.
These ideas don’t stand up to scrutiny. Myths cannot be allowed to deny people fundamental human rights, like marriage. What is truly pathetic is that I’ll probably get more responses to this column than the ones I did on murder or genocide. If you need something to protest, I’d suggest the ethnic cleansing occurring in Darfur, which has killed more than 100,000 people.
This entry was posted
on Monday, April 11, 2005 at 9:23 AM.
Want to discuss? Leave a comment below.
ByI don't think it's a matter of fear or homophobic - it's simply that "lifestyle" is not normal. It is a choice and those that make that choice shouldn't expect those that don't make the same choice to feel guilty about something.
I've mentioned before I have friends that are gay. I'm not against it yet I I know the difference between normal and abnormal.
Now I'll let all those that don't know the difference start with their "whose to say what's normal" arguments.
By
No - it is fear and ignorance. Your posts here before were so sad to read. I honestly feel sorry for you. More than that though I feel sorry for your 'gay' friends.
It's so funny and typical that you take a pop shot at gays and lesbians by saying they are abnormal - then you following that by saying "Now I'll let all those that don't know the difference start with their "whose to say what's normal" arguments."
It's as if you are the final say in what is "normal/abnormal". I am pretty confident though that everyone is their own version of normal. This is so high school.
Come back and leave comments when you have something intelligent to say.
By
Hhahahhahahhhaaha.
Sigh.
Mad dog, you crack me up.
The line of "I have friends that are gay" is so classic. So what! "Lifestyle, abnormal, guilty": these words you throw around are about judging real human beings. The choice thing is an assumption you're making and it's plain wrong.
Now I'm going to go back to laughing about the line "I have friends that are gay." I'm proud to say I don't have friends that hate and judge like you do.
By
Let me start by saying that I have no gay friends.
You are incorrect that homosexuality is not adressed in the New Testament. Romanns 1:26 - “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error.”
That's pretty clear. I also don't think that children will develop a healthy idea of gender roles in a household with two parents of the same sex. And I'll state for the record that boys who think that they are girls is NOT normal.
http://danielisright.blogspot.com
By
Daniel - First of all aren't we friends by now? :) I mean after all this back and forth.
On the note about the Bible. Romans 1:26 and 27, at first glance, appears to condemn gay and lesbian activity. Paul criticizes sexual activity which is against a person's nature or disposition. But in Greek society of the time, homosexuality and bisexuality was regarded as a natural activity for some people. Thus Paul might have been criticizing heterosexuals who were engaged in homosexual activities against their nature. He might not be referring to homosexuals or bisexuals at all.
The verses preceding 26 might indicate that he was referring to sexual acts associated with idol worship. The verse is too vague to be interpreted as a blanket prohibition of all same-sex activities.
Next. Children raised by same-sex couples. As I have stated before I know many gay couples who have children. In fact two of my closest friends have 3 children. They are all one of the dads biological kids. In all honesty I have never seen such amazing kids brought up in such an amazing/privileged household. I don't need to argue who are better parents - if you need to see examples of what heterosexuals put their kids through just turn on the tv for the 10 o'clock news.
As far as boys wanting to be girls - you've honestly got to respect everyone regardless of their private life. What effect do these people have on you? What happened to tolerance as a Christian? Set a better example Daniel. You always disappoint :) I look forward to next time!
By
So now I can say I have a gay friend! I enjoy our banter. You are starting to make more civilized and cogent arguments now. I disagree with your very loose interpretation of scripture though. HRC does the same thing on their website. Their argument is "well, maybe Paul just didn't mean it like that" or "he couldn't understand the concept of homosexuality."
I agree with you that Paul did not criticize homosexuals (or lesbians) at all, he criticized their behavior.
This is essentially my position. I can respect you as a person and child of God without condoning or approving of your choices or behavior. We are all sinners and I don't think that God has a sliding scale with one sin being worse than another (homosexual acts are the same as coveting your neighbors wife) but I know that it is a sin. Once I come to that conclusion I can't support public policy, advocacy groups, or organizations that condone or celebrate this sin. That includes public policy where boys who think they are girls get to share a bathroom, locker room, dressing room, etc with my wife or daughter!
As for kids, being straight doesn't make you a good parent and being gay doesn't make you a bad parent I just think that kids need to grow up in a household where boys can see how to treat a woman and how to act like a man, and girls can see how to treat a man and act like a woman.
By
Justadog, or whatever. How can you sit there and say I have gay friends, and then sit there and talk about how their not normal. It seems that you have a secret problem with these "friends" of yours. It seems that you feel quilty that about being friends with people that condone different lifestyles that you think is abnormal. I don't see how your friends with them, if you can't be true to them, and I definitely don't see how their friends with you if you don't support who they are. I wouldn't want my friends going behind my back saying that I'm abnormal. And who are you to judge what people do in their lifes.
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