Home » Voices » Columns »

COLUMN: Gay marriage: What’s the big deal?

By Ben Harris on October 24, 2011 9:30 am in Columns / 49 comments

 

Some day in the distant future, I will probably get married.

And if the wedding in the chapel right before mine is one between two men, it’s not going to diminish the value of my marriage at all.

I’m baffled as to why gay marriage isn’t legal yet. A lot of times when I hear two sides of an argument, I can at least understand where each is coming from, even if I may not agree. However, none of the arguments I’ve heard against gay marriage make any sense.

It seems to have a lot to do with the children. The children are, of course, the most important thing, and if gay people could get married, then we’d have to let them raise children. How could a child possibly grow up to be normal when raised by two dads or two moms? Forget about what mom and dad’s divorce is going to do to their own kids, because it’s okay if little Timmy suppresses his feelings, just as long as he’s not gay.

Although it’s probable every child raised by gay parents will turn out gay. Look at the statistics. Everyone knows every child raised by straight parents turns out straight.

Because really, it’s not about the kids. It’s all about God and using God as an excuse to be a bigot. We can’t let gay people marry because God doesn’t want them to. God doesn’t want two men raising a child, because, God forbid, that child grow up with an open mind. If God were real, he’d be ashamed.

Here’s the kicker: Those who fear gay people will beat their children over the heads with anti-gay propaganda are the same people who are beating their children over the heads with bibles.

And here we come to the heart of the problem. More than the deprivation of rights from people who are just as good as anyone else, more than the wild assumptions naysayers make about homosexual couples who raise children, the hypocrisy of everything might be what bothers me most.

It’s alright to brainwash your own children with what you believe. However, when someone else might be teaching their own kids something you don’t like, watch out. It’s a travesty.

But God says gay people can’t marry. That should be good enough for anyone. One must not lie with a man as he does with a woman — it’s written out in Leviticus.

Also in Leviticus: Anyone who blasphemies the name of the LORD should be put to death.

I expect we should begin the killing soon.

 

Tags

, , , ,

Related Posts

 
  • Anonymous

    Republican lawmakers are concerned that their boy-toys might start wanting commitment. 

  • Anonymous

    Republican lawmakers are concerned that their boy-toys might start wanting commitment. 

  • Anonymous

    Republican lawmakers are concerned that their boy-toys might start wanting commitment. 

  • Badusernamewithnopassword

    lol republicans. screaming “HOMOSEXUALITY IS IMMORAL” while getting theirs in an airport bathroom. stay classy!

  • Badusernamewithnopassword

    lol republicans. screaming “HOMOSEXUALITY IS IMMORAL” while getting theirs in an airport bathroom. stay classy!

  • Badusernamewithnopassword

    lol republicans. screaming “HOMOSEXUALITY IS IMMORAL” while getting theirs in an airport bathroom. stay classy!

  • Badusernamewithnopassword

    lol republicans. screaming “HOMOSEXUALITY IS IMMORAL” while getting theirs in an airport bathroom. stay classy!

  • Maggie

    Love it!

  • David_in_Houston

    The whole ‘children and marriage’ thing is a red herring. Straight couples are not required to have children after they get married; and straight couples have also been known to have children without ever getting married. You’ve got Maggie Gallagher from NOM spewing out platitudes about children having the right to a mom and dad. Of course, she never acknowledges that there are 20 million children being raised in single-parent families. So apparently that’s perfectly okay with her as long as the single parent is straight. Even though it’s actually a worse scenario than if the child was being raised by two parents of the same gender. Math isn’t my strong suit, but I’m pretty sure that if all things are considered equal, two parents are better than one.

    “It’s all about God and using God as an excuse to be a bigot.” –  I love that phrase. Because it’s 100% true. People choose to be religious; and that gives them a free-pass to demonize gay people. In the past, the Bible also gave them a free-pass to validate slavery, and to condemn interracial marriage. The Bible also supports polygamy. So why do they continue to use the Bible to defend their bigotry aimed at gay people, when all of the other Bible-supported issues have been deemed outdated and discriminatory? I’m not sure if the word ‘hypocrite’ is strong enough to describe these people.

  • David_in_Houston

    The whole ‘children and marriage’ thing is a red herring. Straight couples are not required to have children after they get married; and straight couples have also been known to have children without ever getting married. You’ve got Maggie Gallagher from NOM spewing out platitudes about children having the right to a mom and dad. Of course, she never acknowledges that there are 20 million children being raised in single-parent families. So apparently that’s perfectly okay with her as long as the single parent is straight. Even though it’s actually a worse scenario than if the child was being raised by two parents of the same gender. Math isn’t my strong suit, but I’m pretty sure that if all things are considered equal, two parents are better than one.

    “It’s all about God and using God as an excuse to be a bigot.” –  I love that phrase. Because it’s 100% true. People choose to be religious; and that gives them a free-pass to demonize gay people. In the past, the Bible also gave them a free-pass to validate slavery, and to condemn interracial marriage. The Bible also supports polygamy. So why do they continue to use the Bible to defend their bigotry aimed at gay people, when all of the other Bible-supported issues have been deemed outdated and discriminatory? I’m not sure if the word ‘hypocrite’ is strong enough to describe these people.

  • lelother

    From the beginning it was not so…I can say that because i use to be one.  There were circumstances in my life that pre-disposed me to make some wrong choices.  One thing God did give us was the privilege to make choices–otherwise we would be puppets.  It is so great to know that He doesn’t condemn us but came to rectify our mistakes and choices.  After 23 years of making the wrong choices, His entrance into my life gave me the privilege to reset the beginning…Inside all along were normal masculine tendencies that were latent.  Since then I’ve been joyfully married to the same wonderful woman for 25 years and have fathered three awesome sons.  After coming out and looking back, you can see the deception and error of low self esteem, absence of father, rejection and bullying by “jocks”, etc…A person gets so desperate he will do anything including the abuse of his sexuality to gain acceptance, friendship, etc. even the fantasy of it.  I don’t judge gays.  I reach out to them.  The sad part of most heterosexuals is they actually really don’t care enough about the homosexual at all…there are really small percentages on both sides.  Thank God, He cared enough to do something about it.  There’s a whole lot of truth to the verse, “…and you shall know the Truth (Jesus) and the Truth (Jesus) shall make you free.  

  • Anonymous

    You have to wonder why republicans, who are professed to care so much about the constitution, continually bring God into discussions about what the government should and shouldn’t do.

  • Anonymous

    You have to wonder why republicans, who are professed to care so much about the constitution, continually bring God into discussions about what the government should and shouldn’t do.

  • Badusernamewithnopassword

    “I hope one day that you’re able to see things in a new light with an open mind.”

    lol thats not gonna happen

  • IfYouDon’tLikeItDon’tDoIt

    This is an amazing column. I agree with you completely. If you don’t like gay marriage, then don’t marry someone of the same sex. It is simple as that. I don’t understand why people get their panties in a bunch about it…

    I pose a question to the people against gaymarriage: Do you think that women belong in the kitchen and don’t need an education, oh and that black people aren’t equal either? Those statements and feelings are just as stupid as your statement opposing gay marriage.

    STOP TRYING TO OPRESS PEOPLE! They deserve to marry the people they love as much as you do!

    Sincerely,

    Proud Educated Woman and LGBTQIA Ally

  • KsDude

    I am so turned on right now.  LOL!  No seriously man, this is an amazing post and so incredibly needed at this point in our social evolution.  I wish more people were of this mind, but I also know that’s changing… with messages like this, so thank you!  Now back to how cute you are…

  • Mille5jc

    Wow, thanks for writing this column, Ben Harris! Glad to see CMU is as open-minded/educated as other universities like MSU and UM. I’m not going to get into any debate–because I don’t have all the necessary information to back it up–but I would like to address one thing:If marriage is so “sacred”, than why do so many (I’ve heard at least half of all) marriages end in divorce? If marriage is so “sacred,” why is it acceptable for people to get married two, three, four, or five times? And I’m sure there are some celebrities out there married more than five times.
    In 10 or fifteen years from now, we’ll look back at these debates of what is considered a “sacred,” or “constitutional” marriage and think to ourselves “why did we get our shorts in a bunch?”sure, there will be some whom will still have an issue with gay marriage, but I believe the majority of the country won’t care if the neighbors across the street are two married men raising their children.

  • manthor

    I am a hardcore conservative Republican and cannot understand the opposition to gay marriage.  As conservatives we oppose being told by the government what we can and cannot do – we prefer the government to be silent on issues.  Heck, I oppose needing permission from the government to get married at all – yes, I understand there are contractual implications to getting married, but the end result is we need a license (permission) from the government to get married… that is a problem.  As conservatives we oppose government social engineering – lets not by hypocritical on this issue then.  How is this any different from the old laws that prevented black and white people from getting married?  And no, chairs, dogs and goats do not have rights under the Constitution, so this is not the first step to allowing people to marry their cars. 

  • Lloyd Duke

    Michmediaperson,

    You are aware that over time, the Republican and Democratic parties switched ideologies, right? When the Republican Party first came into existence, it was a far more progressive party than the Democratic Party. And it stayed that way for a long time. Look at Theodore Roosevelt, one of the most progressive presidents the US has ever had. Republican. Look at Lincoln, Republican. 

    The Democrats controlled the South, sure, but it wasn’t the Democrats specifically that were denying an entire race of people their voting rights–it was racism. 

    And also, on the gay marriage front, just because voters across the nation have voted in favor of prejudice-laden legislation doesn’t make that the right choice. There are certain things that shouldn’t be left up to voters. They don’t always make the right decisions.

    Sincerely, 

    Lloyd Duke.

  • Michmediaperson

    Lloyd, you are an anarchist. 

    “Certain things that shouldn’t be left up to voters”

    The people who run the country.  The people should make the decisions.

    I agreed with the majority of people when they elected Ronald Reagan.

    I disagreed with the majority of people when they elected Barack Obama.

    But, that’s what makes the USA the greatest country on earth.  The people in the end on election day make the decisions.

    I think they made the wrong decision on Barack Hussein Obama but I’d rather live in a country that makes this kind of mistakes by people than live in Cuba or North Korea, two very liberal Democratic Party countries where a ruler makes all the decisions!!!

  • Michmediaperson

    Hey everyone, at the end of the day, Michmediaperson and about 60 percent of the country–Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans are in agreement—–No Gay Marriage!!!

    I’m sure 20 or 30 years from now, if moral standards and less church attendance continues, it will change!

    But, for now and foreseeable future, we will this debate!

  • Badusernamewithnopassword

    “we”

    lol you think this is baseball, so dumb

  • Lloyd Duke

    If I were an anarchist, I would not support any government or unbelievably small government.

    I should clarify that when it comes to basic rights, like the entering of a contract as two consensual adults, it shouldn’t be left to the voters. I’m sure there are sections of the country that would vote to outlaw interracial marriage. Would you support this because it was the voters’ decision? Or would you support the voters’ decision if they just outlawed marriage completely? How about if the voters decided to ban the the purchase of non-fuel efficient cars? Or the sale of gasoline?

  • Michmediaperson

    Lloyd, if you don’t like the ballot box, democracy, etc., then move to Cuba or Iran.

    America, Love it or Leave it.

    If I recall the vote in Michigan, thousands of Democrats joined us in saying no to Hank and Sam getting married. The state which consists of the taxpayers and voters have the final say-so on contract law.

    The reason we have laws on marriage is so down in Bill Clinton’s neighborhood in Arkansas, the Clinton-loving brothers would be marrying their Clinton-loving sisters or Clinton-loving cousins.

    Now, with that being said, Lloyd, if the homosexuals in Michigan paid me a million dollars to get gay marriage passed, I could sell it and get it approved.  The key to getting it passed, you all are missing the point.   You have to understand from contract law, that in negotiations and winning, you have to take the opposition’s strongest point and turn that into your strength.  And, all of you, are missing that.  But, I could never sell my soul for money since it’s still a moral issue.  I know how I’d sell it.

  • Is Glenn Beck A Terrorist?

    Rush Limbaugh, hard core conservative: adulterous opiate addict.

  • Is Glenn Beck A Terrorist?

    It already has changed, but small minded extremists like you lie profusely to continue the oppression of those you hate.

  • Is Glenn Beck A Terrorist?

    “Most of you are like anarchists!  Like Hitler, Castro, Stalin, Lenin.”

    It takes a spectacularly ignorant mind to post such utter nonsense. You should find a dictionary and a history book, then beat yourself to death with them.

    “By the way, since you all are multiculturalists, do they allow gay marriages in muslim multicultural countries like Iran???”

    If you like how Iran does things so much, go take a hike. I don’t know if they’d be happy to have you, but I’d be happy for them to have you. You deserve each other.

  • Is Glenn Beck A Terrorist?

    “when 58 percent of Michigan voted NO on gay marriage”

    That’s never happened, dumbass.

  • Is Glenn Beck A Terrorist?

    Remember, it’s mythology, not history.

  • Is Glenn Beck A Terrorist?

    “A lot of what Gays say is nonsense.”

    Most of what you post is nonsense. Do you post from your closet?

  • Is Glenn Beck A Terrorist?

    “Lloyd, if you don’t like the ballot box, democracy, etc., then move to Cuba or Iran.”

    When did the Emancipation Proclamation get approved by voters?

    “But, I could never sell my soul for money since” you don’t have one.

  • Is Glenn Beck A Terrorist?

    “Cuba or North Korea, two very liberal … countries” What? “where a ruler makes all the decisions” Oh, is the reason that you keep getting things backward that your head and your ass swapped places?

  • Is Glenn Beck A Terrorist?

    “Until the Voting Rights Act in 1965, it was Democrats who didn’t want blacks voting.”

    Now, it’s the Republicans. Times and parties have changed.

    “My party, the Republican Party has always been color-blind!”

    Your party blows the racism dog whistle, and you bark.

    “A huge majority of the black community” doesn’t vote for Republicans.

  • manthor

    I prefer Mike Church.  Hannity and Limbaugh are great for red meat – does not mean I need to parrot every opinion they voice or agree with every position they hold.  Levin is a great legal and constitutional thinker, but I remain baffled by his blind support of Christine O’donnel.  Talking like Hannity and Limbaugh does NOT make one a conservative – thinking and acting like a conservative does.  Abolish social security, disband the NEA, disband the TSA, repeal Obamcare, 50% across the board federal spending cut (to start), constitutionally limit the scope of the commerce clause, balanced budget ammendment, let STATES determine their fates – those are conservative principles.  Gay marriage is a sideshow for social conservatives that creates a wedge that the left can use do demogogue us as backwards narrow-minded extremists. 

    Marriage is a SOCIAL issue – as conservatives we oppose social engineering and having the government tell us what we can and cannot do.  Take the government out of marriage COMPLETELY and this whole issue goes away.  Why is the government involved in the social and religious bond my wife and I have formed?

    “Sanctity of marriage” is a JOKE between many heterosexual couples – look at the divorce and infidelity stats.  Why not let homosexuals share the same burdens and responsibilities?

  • manthor

    I prefer Mike Church.  Hannity and Limbaugh are great for red meat – does not mean I need to parrot every opinion they voice or agree with every position they hold.  Levin is a great legal and constitutional thinker, but I remain baffled by his blind support of Christine O’donnel.  Talking like Hannity and Limbaugh does NOT make one a conservative – thinking and acting like a conservative does.  Abolish social security, disband the NEA, disband the TSA, repeal Obamcare, 50% across the board federal spending cut (to start), constitutionally limit the scope of the commerce clause, balanced budget ammendment, let STATES determine their fates – those are conservative principles.  Gay marriage is a sideshow for social conservatives that creates a wedge that the left can use do demogogue us as backwards narrow-minded extremists. 

    Marriage is a SOCIAL issue – as conservatives we oppose social engineering and having the government tell us what we can and cannot do.  Take the government out of marriage COMPLETELY and this whole issue goes away.  Why is the government involved in the social and religious bond my wife and I have formed?

    “Sanctity of marriage” is a JOKE between many heterosexual couples – look at the divorce and infidelity stats.  Why not let homosexuals share the same burdens and responsibilities?

  • manthor

    I prefer Mike Church.  Hannity and Limbaugh are great for red meat – does not mean I need to parrot every opinion they voice or agree with every position they hold.  Levin is a great legal and constitutional thinker, but I remain baffled by his blind support of Christine O’donnel.  Talking like Hannity and Limbaugh does NOT make one a conservative – thinking and acting like a conservative does.  Abolish social security, disband the NEA, disband the TSA, repeal Obamcare, 50% across the board federal spending cut (to start), constitutionally limit the scope of the commerce clause, balanced budget ammendment, let STATES determine their fates – those are conservative principles.  Gay marriage is a sideshow for social conservatives that creates a wedge that the left can use do demogogue us as backwards narrow-minded extremists. 

    Marriage is a SOCIAL issue – as conservatives we oppose social engineering and having the government tell us what we can and cannot do.  Take the government out of marriage COMPLETELY and this whole issue goes away.  Why is the government involved in the social and religious bond my wife and I have formed?

    “Sanctity of marriage” is a JOKE between many heterosexual couples – look at the divorce and infidelity stats.  Why not let homosexuals share the same burdens and responsibilities?

  • manthor

    Yes, like thousands of others, he had an addiction problem that stemmed from painful medical procedures that he admitted to and overcame with treatment.  Now, shall we list the criminal, corrupt, and degenerate actions by lefty politicians, commentators, and activists?  No – the internet is not big enough to hold them all.

  • manthor

    Yes, like thousands of others, he had an addiction problem that stemmed from painful medical procedures that he admitted to and overcame with treatment.  Now, shall we list the criminal, corrupt, and degenerate actions by lefty politicians, commentators, and activists?  No – the internet is not big enough to hold them all.

  • manthor

    Yes, like thousands of others, he had an addiction problem that stemmed from painful medical procedures that he admitted to and overcame with treatment.  Now, shall we list the criminal, corrupt, and degenerate actions by lefty politicians, commentators, and activists?  No – the internet is not big enough to hold them all.

  • Abercombiekidd

    I do have to say that I greatly appreciate the maturity of the people who have posted in support of equality, as oppose to “michmediaperson’ who has to resort to references like ‘Hitler’ to get his point across. Its clear here who the true christians are, and the ones (michmediaperson) who wrongly use faith in a higher power to support their hateful and evil views on their neighbors. Oh, and i’m sure 60 percent of this country would not be happy about the fact that this guy is representing them.

  • Abercombiekidd

    I do have to say that I greatly appreciate the maturity of the people who have posted in support of equality, as oppose to “michmediaperson’ who has to resort to references like ‘Hitler’ to get his point across. Its clear here who the true christians are, and the ones (michmediaperson) who wrongly use faith in a higher power to support their hateful and evil views on their neighbors. Oh, and i’m sure 60 percent of this country would not be happy about the fact that this guy is representing them.

  • Anonymous

    and I thought you were doing so well.
    You laid out federalism and logic so pristinely.

    No need to make this some sort of insane L vs R crap that goes no where.
    Neither of those false institutions speak anything relatively close to truth of any kind.

    The one exists so that the other one can. Thusly we end up running in circles and bickering with each other over fake labels. That is our purpose in this game.

  • Anonymous

    Hey,

    Morals are mostly subjective.

    I personally believe I shouldn’t generalize about entire races or state baseless statistics all the time.

    You can do whatever you want though.

  • Anonymous

    God IS real. He created man and woman. He said it was good! He said “Be fruitful and multiply”. EVERY gay man or woman alive today is the product of that union between a man and a woman. Doesn’t that tell you something? How many children are produced between gay people? God’s plan and purpose has been twisted and perverted. You are free to do that. You also must bear the results of your disobedience. God’s word also says “you will reap what you sow”. You are free to sow whatever you want but you WILL get a crop from those seeds. God’s will is good and right and offers abundant life to all who will accept it. To those who refuse, please don’t blame God. Look in the mirror.

  • Anonymous

    I can do whatever I want?  I want your ipod. I want your car. I want your girlfriend. That is the result of what the Bible said, “And everyone did what was right in their own eyes”. That was the beginning of anarchy. Take what you want if you can get it. No laws. No restrictions. No rules. Good luck with that.

  • Anonymous

     Yes. You can do whatever you want, provided you don’t interfere with my right to do whatever I want.

    That is how I conceptualize the bill of rights.

    Screw this federalism and property rights crap. Things can be simple.

  • Eli Nuts

    there are thousands of religions. what tells you that yours is the right one?

  • sgfan

    the bible!

    ________________________________
    From: Disqus
    To: sgfan1212@yahoo.com
    Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 11:13 PM
    Subject: [cmlife] Re: COLUMN: Gay marriage: What’s the big deal?

    Disqus generic email template

    Eli Nuts wrote, in response to sgfan:
    there are thousands of religions. what tells you that yours is the right one? Link to comment

  • sgfan

    That book that has stood the test of time for 2000 + years. God’s word to man is truth and is contained in His holy word, the Bible. If you read it, you will see that it is as current as today’s news. Truth cannot be compromised and He spoke directly to the writers of His word to man as to how to live abundantly in humble obedience to His will. No Christian will kill you if you choose to go your own way. You have that right and privilege. However, when you have been faced with the truth and you reject it, you do so at your eternal peril. I pray you make the right choice. God is so good to those who choose willingly to obey Him. May God reveal His truth to you.

    ________________________________
    From: Disqus
    To: sgfan1212@yahoo.com
    Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 11:13 PM
    Subject: [cmlife] Re: COLUMN: Gay marriage: What’s the big deal?

    Disqus generic email template

    Eli Nuts wrote, in response to sgfan:
    there are thousands of religions. what tells you that yours is the right one? Link to comment