Instead of banning gay marriage, why not just ban state marriages all together?

Question

You don't need the state to tell you that your marriage is sanctified under your god. Why should married couples get benefits? It discriminates against single people!

Answer 1

Its an interesting concept if you really think about it, especially since marriage is often looked at more from a religious standpoint. That is really where much of the turmoil regarding gay marriage seems to come from anyways, religious beliefs. For a government that is supposed to stay neutral to religion it would make more sense that the states don't hold as much power when it comes to marriages- but that doesn't mean banning marriage all together. That simply means that the state shouldnt have the right to say which two adults can be married and which can't.

Answer 2

I think it's really incredible that this question hasn't been posed at high political levels publicly yet, because I'm sure it has been privately. It's a double edged sword. First, this would get the Right what they want, the ability to allow protection in the future to churches who say marriage is a holy institution between a man and a woman. Marriage, as a concept, has throughout history been a religious institution. In a country being more and more secularized, it makes sense that a secular government would disavow itself of religious instututions and say that it neither condemns, nor condones, religious marital rites--a stance of neutrality based on the First Amendment. It would allow for civil unions according to non-discriminatory policy, and that would be that. The Church, adhering to its own system of belief, would then allow or not allow gay marriage. Then the problem would be left to the Church, not the government, but it would be protected by the First Amendment. The second edge of the sword is that the Right must relinquish a "State sanctioned holy institution," which furthers the cause of secularization of government, which the Right doesn't want. The Right loves to legislate morality wherever it can, and the Left loves to thwart them. This will become a bigger problem in the future, as I predict gay marriage gaining a political foothold, and all of a sudden, Christian churches are forced by the government to allow gay marriage. Regardless of whether one thinks gay marriage is a good thing, I think it is safe to say that the government forcing a religious institution to go against its own system of beliefs is a horrible offense to the Bill of Rights. I believe that de-sanctioning marriage may be the only chance the Federal Government has of upholding the Bill of Rights while at the same time adhering to a policy of non-discrimination.

Answer 3

banning gay marriages is a political hot button just to get more votes from conservatives. it's about the personal beliefs and judgments affecting politics. it's also a way for the companies to limit their financial liabilities by not having to extend family benefits to gay couples. they say that it goes against the institution of marriage, but that is all BS. what goes against the institution of marriage is divorce. there should be a law that makes it harder to get divorced so that anyone getting married will think twice before they just into it. today the most consider their first marriage their trial marriage. their is nothing wrong with being gay and wanting to be married. what's wrong is the others out their trying to force their beliefs unto others. AMERICA!, wake up and stop trying to enforce your narrow minded minority beliefs unto others.

Answer 4

You are absolutely correct. Get rid of the state and federal sanctioned marriages (in the U.S.) and make it a civil ceremony only where either orientation is invited to participate. There is no other way to achieve equality in this area. I have a sibling that has been married 7 times. He is straight. Both my other siblings are divorced. I on the other hand am gay and was in a 16+ year relationship that only ended because of the untimely death of my partner. So who won that battle?

It is amazing to me that marriage is primarily a religious institution but divorce is civil. That makes no sense.

Answer 5

I feel that we as gay's put too much emphasis on being able to marry because of our rights. One thing is for sure, we are still people and we still love no matter who we are. That being said I do not believe in gay marriages but I do believe in loving the one of you can wake up next to everyday and look across the dining room table and say " I love you ". Do you need anything else? really?

Answer 6

Why can't people just do the right thing! I don't think getting rid of marriage all together would solve anything.It would cause more problems. Get married the normal way or don't at all. It's that simple.

Answer 7

You re so rght my friend.

IUts not fair that 2 people who love each other and want to join in marriage and be commited infront od GOd or whoever they beleive in, cannot in some states still.

Here in canada it is legal, and we even have Gay Pride parade every year in Toronto here. Its a huge party and millions come to celebrate how happy they are and that they can LIVE THEIR LIFE and BE FREE without any more pain or insecurities.

I do not know about which stated allow or not but I know some are still fighting the issue to make legal.

Answer 8

no, if straight people can marry then gay people can, i don't see what the problem is, if your against gay marriage, then don't marry one mind your own business, your just jealous, cause your marriages are falling apart while gay marriages are going strong,the next time you have an idea like banning gay marriage dont mention it cause they are dumb ideas, if it doesn't concern you then leave it alone

Answer 9

Yes then everybody can feel what its like to be gay and unable to marry......
Good Idea

If its not marriage for all then it should be marriage for none what happened to the equality here////

Answer 10

There are two ways to do away with double-standards. That's one of 'em, but most people don't consider I think because what do you do with the people that are already married? I say just let everybody marry whoever they want, as long as it is otherwise legal (so no marrying children, horses, etc.)