"Accepting gay marriage as an equivalent to traditional marriagewill create a crisis far more severe than any current dangermarriage is facing. In particular, the vital role of marriage inraising children will be uprooted. Furthermore, the boundaries thatdefine marriage will be forever blurred ... American society willbe forced to accept any relationship, no matter what form ittakes."
The end of civilization is nigh here claims Marilyn Musgrave (R-- Colorado), who introduced the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA)in October 2003. Yet, is she waging illegitimate hostilitiesagainst the approximately two to five percent of Americans whoidentify as gay, lesbian or bisexual (GLB)?
Musgrave states that the vital role of marriage in raisingchildren will be uprooted. Would we rather have children stayunadopted, or reared in one-parent or neglected households? Aresame-sex individuals ineffectual to raise children?
Leading academic and professional bodies have denounced suchdisparaging assertions. The American Psychological Association, theAmerican Psychiatric Association, the American Medical Association,the National Association of Social Workers, the American Academy ofPediatrics, the Australian Medical Association, and the AmericanAcademy of Family Physicians advocate same-sex parenting and/orsame-sex marriage. Converging evidence from empirical studies haveshown negligible effects of same-sex parenting on children.
According to Musgrave, if same-sex marriage is allowed, we must"accept any relationship, no matter what form it takes." This isthe most obtuse argument that the dissent posits. The demarcationbetween same-sex marriage and other forms of sexual practices, suchas bestiality, incest, and pedophilia, is the demonstration ofconsent.
Consent is "compliance in or approval of what is done orproposed by another." Neither an animal nor a child can voluntarilygive assent in sexual practices. And for those who instantly chargethat we would have to accept polygamy, there is historical evidenceof polygamy's detrimental consequences to society.
Furthermore, unbeknownst to many, gay clerics participated insame-sex marriage ceremonies, which were widely recognized in theCatholic world from the fifth century on. There is a tradition ofsame-sex erotic lyricism before the High Middle Ages and theensuing despotic societal policies.
Nor does the "activist judge" contention support the dissent.Judges who afford same-sex rights are akin to those who struck downmiscegenation and segregation laws. At that time the majority ofAmericans coincided with the extant laws and disagreed with thejudges' rulings; as do a majority of Americans now disagree withcourts' rulings on same-sex rights. Yet, the idea of proscribingmarriages based on race or creating "separate, but equal"facilities today would be considered appalling.
Same-sex marriage would boast benefits, also. According to theCongressional Budget Office, same-sex marriage would result in anapproximately $1 Billion surplus to the national budget, as well asreduced spending for Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, andMedicare. And think of the associated money that would be spent onweddings.
Lastly, religion is extraneous to our discussion. The US SupremeCourt's Lemon Test (1971) nullifies any theological contentions tosame-sex marriage.
Any anti-sexual orientation law that fails "to bear a rationalrelationship to legitimate state interest" should be stuck down. Insubsequent columns, I will further advance this conversation; I amcompelled to expose such fallacious intrigues by some right-wingcorps that attempt to further divide America while sustaining anatmosphere of fear and animus.
Write to Russ at
rjwpsy@yahoo.com
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