# A question for opponents of gay marriage

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [May 26, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645 "2009-05-26T03:13:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 23

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**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/441 "2009-05-28T15:28:31Z")

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> [@ElvisL1ves](#):
>
> Please answer the question.

Well it’s not your place to get someone to reconsider their religious opinion. You can fight to make something law, but their religious belief is their religious belief, it has nothing to do with you.

> [@](#):
>
> Tell us how it isn’t one here.

Again more, “repeat what you’ve said over and over again already.”, if you haven’t gotten it by now…

> [@](#):
>
> Speaking of hurting your credibility. You’re “honestly” saying it does. Have you an example or two to offer, to demonstrate that it isn’t a fabrication after all? No? :dubious:

Calling me a liar doesn’t matter. Those who are intelligent enough to understand my point have shown that they do understand it, and their credibility is all I care about. Whether or not I am credible to you doesn’t matter one bit because I have no respect for your rhetorical style.

> [@](#):
>
> It’s fine to condemn someone else’s “lifestyle choice” if you like. It’s not fine to condemn their _identity_. The latter is bigotry

That’s a fair way of looking at it but doesn’t even scratch the surface of the line of questioning I am delving into as Christianity fairly much obsesses about denying our animal urges.

> [@](#):
>
> Then why the comparison to prostitution?

You can take it to the appropriate thread. This question was already answered there. I hope you will be able to parse the answer even though it was posed to other people.

> [@](#):
>
> Are you classifying homosexuality as a brain disorder?

Are you incapable of not jumping to silly conclusions?

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**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/442 "2009-05-28T15:29:45Z")

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> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#):
>
> And what do you suppose that means, Dr. Freud?

I think it means that one is a commentary on the group of people in opposition and the other is a commentary on the results of actions. That’s actually quite clear.

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**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/443 "2009-05-28T15:31:18Z")

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> [@mswas](#):
>
> Are you incapable of not jumping to silly conclusions?

Are you incapable of not offering silly arguments?

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**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/444 "2009-05-28T15:31:56Z")

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> [@Lobohan](#):
>
> Can’t a person commit evil while believing he is doing good? Hitler (_OMGodwin!_) thought he was the good guy you know?

Yes, of course.

> [@](#):
>
> I’m sure many slave owners thought that they were helping to \*civilize \*blacks. Will you concede that someone can do very very evil things if they believe they are doing the right thing?

Yea, I’m not even going to go there as all comparisons to slavery are meaningless hyperbole and rely on an incredibly superficial view of both the current issue and slavery/civil rights.

> [@](#):
>
> Preventing people who love each other from marrying because they believe that god doesn’t want that, for instance?

If Romantic attachment is the sum total of what marriage is then I suppose so.

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**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/445 "2009-05-28T15:33:32Z")

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> [@Lobohan](#):
>
> Are you incapable of not offering silly arguments?

Are you? I mean how many, b…b…but slavery! arguments am I going to continue to be subjected to?

If the puerile, “It’s all bigotry.”, superficial analysis satisfies you, then go ahead continue it. If anything that tries to actually give the issue some real thought is, ‘silly’, in your opinion, then why do you even address me?

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**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/446 "2009-05-28T15:34:32Z")

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> [@mswas](#):
>
> There’s another word with four letters you could have chosen, ‘harm’, but you chose evil.

So, what, are you drawing a distinction between doing harm and doing evil? Because that’s a pretty fine hair to split in this situation.

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**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/447 "2009-05-28T15:38:00Z")

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> [@mswas](#):
>
> If Romantic attachment is the sum total of what marriage is then I suppose so.

It’s not the sum total, but it’s enough.

As I said upthread, marriage is the middle-aged nerd with a teenage Russian bride. It’s the twenty-something giggalo with an elderly matron. It’s two young lovers. It’s a pair of PhDs who have no intention of having children. It’s two Florida retirees who’ve lost their lifetime loves and want companionship in their old age.

I’d like to clear up that I don’t think all people against SSM are evil through and through. I do however believe that they are committing evil acts, whether they know it or not.

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**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/448 "2009-05-28T15:38:40Z")

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> [@mswas](#):
>
> I think it means that one is a commentary on the group of people in opposition and the other is a commentary on the results of actions. That’s actually quite clear.

Well, I think it means you found a rationalization to dismiss my reasoned arguments because you can now tell yourself that I’ve revealed _myself_ to believe, even subconsciously, that Christians are “evil”.

Congratulations, give yourself a trophy. Meantime, the question of what reasonable argument one could make against gay marriage remains unanswered.

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**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/449 "2009-05-28T15:41:16Z")

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> [@mswas](#):
>
> Are you? I mean how many, b…b…but slavery! arguments am I going to continue to be subjected to?
> 
> If the puerile, “It’s all bigotry.”, superficial analysis satisfies you, then go ahead continue it. If anything that tries to actually give the issue some real thought is, ‘silly’, in your opinion, then why do you even address me?

Oddly that right there is a silly argument. 😃

I am thinking about the issue. I’m honestly looking for the argument that doesn’t stem from prejudice. And as I said above, I don’t think that religious people are necessarily evil if they oppose SSM because of religious indoctrination. They are still doing evil acts however. And if someone is performing acts to an outward observer indistinguishable from prejudice or bigotry why isn’t it right to call it as it is?

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**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/450 "2009-05-28T15:41:20Z")

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> [@mswas](#):
>
> So? It’s ok to stop someone from making a free choice based on religious belief?

The wording here is a bit ambiguous, but I’m coming up with “no” both ways:

Stopping an informed, consenting adult from making a choice, which harms no one but himself, said choice being predicated upon his own religious beliefs: Not OK.  
(Example: Forbidding an adult woman who is a member of the FLDS church to become the plural wife of an adult male who is also a member of the FLDS church would not be OK. Both parties are adults, the behavior affects no one but the parties involved, and the behavior is permitted by their religion)

Stopping an informed, consenting adult from making a choice, which harms no one but himself, the decision to stop him being predicated upon someone else’s religious beliefs: Not OK.  
(Example: Forbidding two adult men, both atheists, to marry because most of the Abrahamic religions teach that only marriage between one man and one woman is moral and appropriate would not be OK. Both parties are adults, the behavior affects no one but the parties involved, and the religion of the parties involved is irrelevant in this case)

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**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/451 "2009-05-28T15:46:52Z")

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> [@mswas](#):
>
> Well it’s not your place to get someone to reconsider their religious opinion.

IOW, by declaring something to be a religious belief it can’t be questioned, huh? Convenient.

> [@](#):
>
> You can fight to make something law, but their religious belief is their religious belief, it has nothing to do with you.

If they want to impose it on me, it certainly does. Please.

> [@](#):
>
> Again more, “repeat what you’ve said over and over again already.”, if you haven’t gotten it by now…

You haven’t said it even once. Please.

> [@](#):
>
> Calling me a liar doesn’t matter.

IOW you don’t have any examples to offer, and did fabricate that slur. Not that we didn’t all know anyway.

> [@](#):
>
> Those who are intelligent enough to understand my point have shown that they do understand it, and their credibility is all I care about.

Are you here to convince anyone else of anything or not?

> [@](#):
>
> Whether or not I am credible to you doesn’t matter one bit because I have no respect for your rhetorical style.

With all of its “facts” and “reasoning” and “examples” and all that nonreligious stuff, that is? 😃

> [@](#):
>
> Christianity fairly much obsesses about denying our animal urges.

There’s that blanket use of the word again. Note that even your version does not call for denying hetero and homo urges to the same degree.

> [@](#):
>
> You can take it to the appropriate thread. This question was already answered there.

Dodging isn’t answering. And that’s all you’ve done.

> [@](#):
>
> Are you incapable of not jumping to silly conclusions?

Please answer the question.

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**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/452 "2009-05-28T15:50:46Z")

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> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#):
>
> Well, I think it means you found a rationalization to dismiss my reasoned arguments because you can now tell yourself that I’ve revealed _myself_ to believe, even subconsciously, that Christians are “evil”.
> 
> Congratulations, give yourself a trophy. Meantime, the question of what reasonable argument one could make against gay marriage remains unanswered.

I answered it. The problem is you guys are all holding up your personal opinions as the bellwether standard. The question has been answered dozens of times. You don’t think the answer is sufficiently convincing, but it’s been answered over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and it’s irrational to continue to insist that it hasn’t been answered, because it has.

It’s too bad you guys don’t know the difference between, “What is an answer that will convince me?”, and “What is an answer to this question?”

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**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/453 "2009-05-28T15:53:50Z")

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> [@mswas](#):
>
> It’s too bad you guys don’t know the difference between, “What is an answer that will convince me?”, and “What is an answer to this question?”

Well, you’re 0 for 2, so what does it matter?

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**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/454 "2009-05-28T15:56:18Z")

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> [@mswas](#):
>
> I answered it. The problem is you guys are all holding up your personal opinions as the bellwether standard. The question has been answered dozens of times. You don’t think the answer is sufficiently convincing, but it’s been answered over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and it’s irrational to continue to insist that it hasn’t been answered, because it has.
> 
> It’s too bad you guys don’t know the difference between, “What is an answer that will convince me?”, and “What is an answer to this question?”

TLDR.

Wall of text crits for OVER 9000!!!11111oneoneone

You are dead 😃

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/455 "2009-05-28T15:56:26Z")

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> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#):
>
> Well, you’re 0 for 2, so what does it matter?

I’m not 0 for 2, you are just IRRATIONAL about the whole thing. You will not accept that the question HAS been answered. You don’t like that answer, but that’s irrelevant, your personal BELIEF has nothing to do with it.

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**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/456 "2009-05-28T15:58:28Z")

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> [@cwthree](#):
>
> The wording here is a bit ambiguous, but I’m coming up with “no” both ways:
> 
> Stopping an informed, consenting adult from making a choice, which harms no one but himself, said choice being predicated upon his own religious beliefs: Not OK.  
> (Example: Forbidding an adult woman who is a member of the FLDS church to become the plural wife of an adult male who is also a member of the FLDS church would not be OK. Both parties are adults, the behavior affects no one but the parties involved, and the behavior is permitted by their religion)

I agree, though you can make an argument for the children resulting from the polygamous marriage in the case of the FLDS.

> [@](#):
>
> Stopping an informed, consenting adult from making a choice, which harms no one but himself, the decision to stop him being predicated upon someone else’s religious beliefs: Not OK.  
> (Example: Forbidding two adult men, both atheists, to marry because most of the Abrahamic religions teach that only marriage between one man and one woman is moral and appropriate would not be OK. Both parties are adults, the behavior affects no one but the parties involved, and the religion of the parties involved is irrelevant in this case)

Agreed.

Please stop over in the Prostitution thread and state how you think this applies to behavior that is not related to someone’s core identity.

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**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/457 "2009-05-28T16:08:34Z")

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> [@mswas](#):
>
> I’m not 0 for 2, you are just IRRATIONAL about the whole thing. You will not accept that the question HAS been answered. You don’t like that answer, but that’s irrelevant, your personal BELIEF has nothing to do with it.

Well, your capital letters _almost_ convince me, but I’m afraid I’m still gonna need a reasonable argument against gay marriage. Please allow me to try to help you out by regurgitating some of the “facts” that have been presented in these various threads. Reasonable arguments against gay marriage include:

[ul][li]Gays can’t reproduce[/li][li]Gays couldn’t possibly form an emotional pair-bond as deep as straights, without the “cleaving into one flesh” and such[/li][li]Gay marriage leads to polygamous and/or interspecies marriage[/li][li]It offends God[/li][li]It offends those who believe in God[/li][li]It undermines religion[/li][li]It confuses children[/li][li]It might have negative effects of some kind 40 years down the road[/ul][/li]  
I’m sure I’ve missed a few, and I invite you to fill in the gaps in an effort, once and for all, to spell out exactly why a rational person should oppose gay marriage.

Take your time.

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**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/458 "2009-05-28T16:16:16Z")

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> [@mswas](#):
>
> … but their religious belief is their religious belief, it has nothing to do with you.

I do believe that’s the goal. 😉

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**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/459 "2009-05-28T16:17:21Z")

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> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#):
>
> Well, your capital letters _almost_ convince me, but I’m afraid I’m still gonna need a reasonable argument against gay marriage. Please allow me to try to help you out by regurgitating some of the “facts” that have been presented in these various threads. Reasonable arguments against gay marriage include:
> 
> [ul][li]Gays can’t reproduce[/li][li]Gays couldn’t possibly form an emotional pair-bond as deep as straights, without the “cleaving into one flesh” and such[/li][li]Gay marriage leads to polygamous and/or interspecies marriage[/li][li]It offends God[/li][li]It offends those who believe in God[/li][li]It undermines religion[/li][li]It confuses children[/li][li]It might have negative effects of some kind 40 years down the road[/ul][/li]  
> I’m sure I’ve missed a few, and I invite you to fill in the gaps in an effort, once and for all, to spell out exactly why a rational person should oppose gay marriage.
> 
> Take your time.

So you don’t like the reasons. But the question HAS been answered. Arguing that it hasn’t is simply dishonest.

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**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-opponents-of-gay-marriage/497645/460 "2009-05-28T16:23:47Z")

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> [@mswas](#):
>
> So you don’t like the reasons. But the question HAS been answered. Arguing that it hasn’t is simply dishonest.

Well “because I said so!” is an answer too. The question is has logic and intellect been used to come to the answer or is it just fiat based on religion or prejudice or whatever.

I think you’ll find that the above answers aren’t thought through and can be logically defeated.

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