What is your best argument for or against gay marriage?

Obviously I'm for equal rights for gays, including the right to have their marriage recognized by our secular government.

The belief that homosexuality is wrong/an abomination/whatever is just that: a belief. More specifically, it's usually a religious belief. And here in the US, religions aren't allowed to legislate their beliefs onto other people or else they're violating the 1st Amendment, just like Prop 8 did in California. It's even further violating the 1st Amendment because there ARE religions that have no problem with gay marriage, but their unions aren't being recognized while those of other religions are.

Furthermore, the Constitution also gives all citizens equal rights under the law. If the government is going to recognize straight marriage, then it's treating gays unequally if it's not recognizing their marriages. The idea that a majority vote should be allowed to see if a minority group can have equal rights or not is the most un-Constitutional thing I've ever heard of!

No one religion created marriage, regardless of what anyone's holy book says, and no one religion gets to define it for our religiously neutral government. Regardless of whatever revisionist history some religious sect wants to put out, factually and historically this is NOT a Christian nation, or a nation in any way based on Christian beliefs, laws or principles. And if you disagree with me I suggest you do some research outside of your pastor's library.

And last but not least, if it doesn't directly affect your life you don't get a say in it. Gay marriage harms no one who doesn't agree with it, and legalizing it will not force those opposed to do against that goes against their beliefs. However outlawing it would deny a whole group of people their rights.

"Do you need to be married? Really? A bond of love isn't created by a ring on a certain finger, a public ceremony, or a piece of paper titled "Marriage Certificate". Marriage is just a concept of commitment, yet it has nothing to offer that cannot be obtained without it."

In my view there are specific benefits that are not available without marriage. My aunt knows a gay man who has to pretend to be cousins with his partner in order to see him in the hospital. Not all private businesses will honor contractual agreements between gays. I also view gay marriage as a symbolic privilege that will put them on equal legal standing as straights.

"To me, gay pride is somewhat an arrogant, unnecessary display. If you're content with yourself, then great :D Keep it that way. But gays shouldn't criticize public religious pride without first considering their own public displays."

I consider gay pride parades to be fun spectacles that play on cultural stereotypes. I like the fact that gays can be open today despite conservatives who just want homosexuals to go into hiding or seek "rehabilitation" for their "condition."

Depends on the country you live in. If you live in America; none. The only arguments are based on religion or personal opinion. We have separation of church and state. The Establishment clause of the first amendment, specifically. You cannot force people to follow anti-homosexual religious beliefs via the government any more than the government could outlaw non-kosher food or instate sharia law. Then there is the "I believe marriage is one man and one woman" argument. Anyone could counter that by saying "I believe marriage is between two consenting adults who love each other, regardless of your opinion". Frankly, neither statements are valid from a legal standpoint because they are OPINIONS. You cannot outlaw broccoli because you don't like it. You cannot outlaw baseball because you don't like it. You cannot outlaw same-sex marriage because you don't like it. All arguments comparing homosexuality to bestiality, pedophilia, etc etc are strawman arguments. Even the stupidest politician would laugh you out of the room for thinking such reasons were valid excuses for making something illegal. They are logical fallacies, for one. So really...there is no legal, constitutional reason against same-sex marriage. Just as there wasn't for interracial marriage in the past. In fact, people used to use the SAME ARGUMENTS against interracial marriage (but with different wording) as they do now for same-sex marriage. Obviously, that did not work. Live and let live. If some gay couple you will probably never meet in your lifetime gets married halfway across the country, why would you even care? Heck, there may have been a gay couple or two married in NY or MA today. Did it affect you? Do you even know about it? No. It only affects the couple in question. So you shouldn't care to begin with. EDIT: Oh yeah, Forgot about some other commonly used arguments; The Procreation argument; Children are not legally required in a marriage. Impotent couples who cannot bear children can get married. This is not a credible argument The Marriage is a Religious Institution argument; No it is not. Atheists get married. Non-Christians get married, including those of religions that have no problem with homosexuality. Also, again, Establishment clause. Not a valid argument. The Redefinition argument; Marriage has already been redefined n the past. Women used to have no say in marriage. Marital rape used to be okay. Polygamy used to be legal. Interracial and inter-religious marriages used to be illegal. The definition has been changes numerous times. Also the "if marriage can be changed to THIS, what is stopping people from changing it to THAT?" arguments are just another form of strawman.

Well, I also feel that love shouldn't be bound by a little piece of paper. Adam and Eve didn't have a piece of paper. Love and marriage is all about commitment. It's just being with that one person forever, in love, till death do you part.

Now on the gay marriage issue and rights...I'm christian so I was always told that being gay is a sin and it's against God. But if I were to meet someone who were gay, I'm not going to judge them. The way i see it, whatever floats your boat. Everyone needs to be respected no matter their sexuality, race, or whatever.

I"m only 13, but that's what i think. God bless, happy holidays! xoxo

Ah, my favorite! Yay!

1) Religion has no place dictating our laws (referring mainly to the U.S. here). So there goes that argument.

2) Every other argument against same sex marriage relies on the assumption that it will negatively effect society. It's bad for marriage; it's bad for the family; it's bad for the kids. However, this argument has always puzzled me because, whether or not those assumptions are correct the fact is it's already happening. The gay community has existed and will continue to exist regardless of the legal status of their relationships. There are thousands of same sex couples living together, going about their lives just as they would if they were married. They're not going to take over the world if we grant them the right of marriage. You can deny them legal benefits, but you can't deny them life.

You'd have to understand the true purpose of our sexuality in order to fully understand why gay marriage is an oxymoron.

I would truly recommend reading "The Good News about Sex and Marriage" by Christopher West for a full explanation on this and every other matter dealing with marriage (including divorce).

If gay people get married it doesn't interfere with heterosexual's rights in any way. And it doesn't negatively impact society in any way. The notion that marriage is between a man and a woman is a religious view.

Equal protection under the law.

The government should either extend the protections and rights of marriage to same-sex couples, or get out of the marriage business altogether.

Individual churches can continue to discriminate against whomever they like (as they already do).

There is no good secular reason to deny gay marriage.

Theists admit this by the very reason they think gay marriage shouldn't be allowed: God deems it sinful.

Take God out of the equation, and now come up with a solid reason to oppose it that can be logically arrived at by someone outside your theological worldview. Can't be done. Resistance to gay marriage is a purely religious idea.

I agree, marriage is not totally necessary.

However, if we allow heterosexual marriage, we must give the same to homosexuals.

Marriage is not the point, it is that gays deserve the same rights as straights.