Why are so many people opposed to gay marriages and/or civil unions?

Question

I cannot believe the ignorance of so many people when it comes to this topic.

How would any person's heterosexual marriage be any different if a gay couple were allowed to wed or have a civil union?

How can anyone in this country in this day and age not believe that everyone deserves the same rights? It's the basis of the US constitution, yet a lot of people feel it is their right to decide otherwise.

I personally don't think the issue of gay marriage should be up to the voters, it is supposed to be up to the courts to interpret constitutional rights to protect minorities against the "tyranny of the majority".

The fact that I, as a gay man, am not allowed to marry my partner of 4 years, has all sorts of negative financial implications to me, while any 2 heterosexual people can get married on a whim and instantly have these rights that I am deprived of because I am gay.

How can our country ever overcome all the hatred and bigotry towards gays?

Answer 1

I couldn't agree with you more. The answer is religion and just plain ignorance. Anyone who opposes gay marriage is just an idiot and thinks "God" hates all homosexuals. Nobody realizes that maybe you're just born that way and you deserve the rights that everyone has. I'm not gay but I have two friends that are and I see the prejudices they go through everyday. Since when do people's opinions become laws? I don't agree anyone should get married or have kids before the age of 25 but that doesn't mean it should be a law; it's simply my opinion. These religious idiots, however, believe everything they believe to be morally correct should be a law. In conclusion, if it doesn't affect me in any way, why should I care if 2 gay consenting adults get married?

Answer 2

If you want a gay marriage or civil union then you need to live in a country that is more liberal that the USA I'm afraid.

As long as the US establishment is so Christian right-wing Conservative dominated, you'll never get any kind of liberal laws. Those states that are more liberal minded should be free to do as they wish in this respect. The federal government has no right to meddle in people's private lives in this way and it certainly doesn't warrant a change to the Constitution. However, as long as the majority of Americans are Christian neo conservatives, then banning gay marriage is a guaranteed vote winner.

Another problem is that the US has very few neighbours so lacks any kind of meaningful policy spillover of the kind that we get in Europe. For example here, the Netherlands and Denmark allow gay marriage, so Sweden follows, then Belgium, the UK, Spain etc etc etc... it has a kind of knock-on effect. A similar thing has happened here with smoking bans.

How can the US overcome hatred and bigotry towards gays? Hmmm, is it really that bad? At least you're not going to get hung for your sexuality like you would in some countries. As far as I'm aware there is some sort of gay scene in most American towns and I don't think the average American hates all gays. I just think it's a case of being less liberally minded.

Answer 3

Gays have the same rights to marry as straights. Both can marry people of the opposite sex and both are prevented from marring people of the same sex. Both are equal, do discrimination.

There are many examples where the majority votes on the rights of the minorities. How about taxing the rich? Clearly the rich are the minority. Why are we protecting the rich from the evil poor who are trying to take their money?

I believe you're looking at this argument incorrectly. The first amendment provides freedom of association. Marriage is a very specific association, so yes, you should be free to marry. However if everyones associations are equal, then even people living together should be treated equally as married. The gvmt has no business regulating peoples associations and no business giving people special privileges for their association in marriage.

It's time to get the gvmt OUT of the marriage business!!

Answer 4

While America professes to be number one, their Laws dont really reflect basic human rights. I live in Australia, and I dont think we have the same Laws. I think the Law recognises a same sex union. Maybe the US has become so big, that they think they are above the rest of the world. The US would have to be the most biggotted countries from all accounts. Even in this supposed high tech, modern society, I was talking to this woman from the US only a few months ago, and she still hangs onto the belief that black people are underlings. It is such an old age concept and I thought that kind of discrimination was old hat. Maybe its the people I hang around with, but we dont have any judgements about black, gays, jews, anyone....we are all equal and we allow people to be who they want to be.

It must be horrible for a gay man anywhere in this world. Its a disgrace and I dont understand it. Biggots are everywhere, and I guess your only defence is to stay strong, to hang around with people who have like minded ideas and ideals as you do. You cant change hundred of years of conditioning overnight. And while it may seem like such a long time that people have been fighting for equal rights and recognition, 100 years in the big scheme of things is only a drop in the ocean. Women started fighting for equal rights over 100 years ago....we are still not accepted as a man's equal, so maybe in another 100 more years we will be considered their equal. Maybe that will be the case with the Gay Rights Movement, maybe it will take another 100 years for people to accept a persons basic human rights. The only thing anyone can do when they fight for Rights is to realise that it is going to take time for people's perceptions to change. The old people die off, and if the Human Rights Activists continue their fight, even in the face of adversity, the new generation will grow up to think a gay man is just like everyone else. You cant give up your fight because if you do, the new generation of people will have the same idealistic viewpoints as their parents have because they are not learning anything different. Posting questions like the one you have is putting different perspectives forward...people will have opinions, sure, but you are voicing your opinion and the heartache and financial problems it is causing you. The majority of the answers you have received are positive ones....so dont you think your plight is being heard. More and more people every day are in agreement with you, and one day there will be so many people who are prepared to fight for Human Rights that it will have to affect how the Government make their Laws. It is happening right now, the trend is turning, and I believe it is turning in your favour. Hang on to your strong viewpoint, because it is only strong viewpoints that will eventually change the Law. You may not be alive when the trend turns totally in your favour, but be assured that your children and children's children will see the results of the people who have fought for basic Human Rights.

Answer 5

Well, you have presented all the logical points of our side of the argument. The problem is that people are blinded by some religious beliefs, and they expect other people to hold to THEIR beliefs, as law; although the US is NOT supposed to take that into account.

Many people here have posted idiotic things like "we voted against it, get used to it" but not realizing that it isn't a question that should have been put up to a vote at all. Unfortunately, I don't think that there is anything in our constitution that SPECIFICALLY states that civil rights should not be put up to a vote. People let their religious convictions cloud their judgment and try to forbid things never intended by the US founders. Then they have the nerve to say that judges that disagree with them are ACTIVIST, when they themselves are the activists, interpreting the constitution incorrectly based on their religious beliefs.

Answer 6

The main problem is the Christian right lobby. Come to think of it it's not just the Christians. Most Jews and Muslims have closed minds on the subject of gay equality as well.

I'm straight, but some of my most interesting, talented, humane and generous friends are gay agnostics.

I wish you well in your relationship, perhaps one day our society will see this appalling discrimination for what it is.

Answer 7

Personally I'm a Christian and I don't have a typical Christian answer for you, all I'll say is this: Why would anyone want to be defined by who they have sex with and then want everyone else to join in and label them. I don't agree with homosexuality, but I really don't care either. If you want "freedoms" go for it, soon you'll see that freedom is a state of mind, not a piece of paper, or a ceremony.

Physical pleasure will never compare to spiritual joy.

Answer 8

i think people would rather be right than make things right. they are trying to preserve their old traditions and repeat what their families centuries ago have passed on for a reason no body can explain. I am a straight woman and i publicly endorse all rights for GLBT. Things NEED to change!

Answer 9

Gays are nasty. U.S. Constitution says we have the right to free speech. So we can say or do what ever we want. You want to know how a strait marriage is different. Its a man and a women . Not a 2 dudes or 2 dudets. You shouldn't be able to marry that dude. No America will never over hatred and bigotry to GAYS! GET OVER IT!

Answer 10

because they are insecure about their own feelings. you heard the phrase "misery loves company." they're miserable people and they want to bring other people down so that they can feel better about themselves.