If the government doesn't get involved can a gay couple get married? If the answer is yes then I would agree, but it seems that in certain states (I might be mistaken) gay people still couldn't get married
When people say "marriage" in this debate they mean marriage licenses, issued by the state government. Anybody can have a ceremony, devote themselves to someone they love, or even have a religious marriage ceremony in a church, if the church supports them, etc.
I would agree if the human race were in trouble of not having enough children, but it's the opposite, we are to much, I'd go as far as encourage people not to have children haha. (I know it's not a very popular position, but it's based on environmental concerns).
Well, forget popular, I don't think it's accurate. Most claims about overpopulation are simply false. There's a semi-recent argument about this in another thread which starts
here. General summary: birth rates in most developed countries are below replacement level, and past concerns of overpopulation has all been
tremendously inaccurate.
Also, if you accept (which I don't) that we should encourage people to have children
But remember, the legal question doesn't hinge on whether or not you "accept" this idea as a good one. It's not the Court's job to decide if the legislation is smart, or even effective. Just if it violates the Constitution.
And on a fairly ethical standpoint it is wonderful because it gives opportunity to a kid that is born in a difficult situation to be raised in a good environment and then he can become a good citizen, etc.
I agree. I support gay adoption. I'd like to see a lot more research done on how kids fare in different types of households, but it's pretty clear that loving parents are better than none, regardless of gender. Part of the argument for the government's interest in marriage is that we have a wealth of research suggesting that it leads to better outcomes for children, in almost every way.
And to that end, we have things like the Child Tax Credit, the fact that children can be claimed as dependents, etc. which aren't contingent on marriage.
Honestly Yoda, don't you think that, even if it is in your subconscious there isn't some sort of religious belief behind your position about the normality of the couple and a quesionning about the morality of homosexuality (it's a question not an affirmation).
Well, if it's in my subconscious, then I obviously wouldn't know it. It's always possible. But of course, it's also possible that non-religious people enjoy the idea of sticking it to religious people in any political issue they can.
All any of us can do is try to make sure we have coherent, rational reasons for what we believe, as a check against subconscious biases. But we can never really know if we're succeeding.