Interracial Marriage: Equal Rights vs. Special Rights
E.L. Frederick makes a similar argument today:
Many in the homosexual community are screaming that their rights are being trampled on because they cannot marry. Frankly, this is incorrect, there is no law in effect that says if your gay you cannot marry.
Homosexuals have the same right to get married as everyone else does. They can marry any member of the opposite sex, of legal age, that is not current married; just like everyone else in the US.
The fact they they choose not to engage in a relationship that meets the criteria for marriage, frankly is not a problem that is realted [sic] to “equal rights“. They have the same rights everyone else has.
Frederick probably thinks that this argument is clever and dispositive, but I wonder if he is aware of the fact that precisely the same argument was made against interracial couples. If it is special rights for same-sex couples to marry like different-sex couples, then it’s special rights for different-race couples to marry like same-race couples.
Conservative defenders of traditions often insist that there is no valid analogy between interracial marriage and same-sex marriage. It’s true that there are many differences, but conservatives’ insistence here would be more credible if they didn’t keep using the same arguments in both situations.
On the same blog, Mike Williams writes:
Marriage has it’s roots deeply embedded within religion and religions as a whole, prohibit gay anything. It’s a tough position to be in if you happen to be gay.
It has nothing to do with “homophobia.” It’s more like “leaveusaloneia.”
…and keep that unholy filth to yourselves. A man’s penis does not belong in another man’s rear end. It’s a shame that the common sense, biology, and world wisdom escapes you.
Now, go away.
It’s true that marriage has deep roots in religion, but does this mean that religion gets to define the parameters of civil marriage today? If so, which religion gets to do the defining — and which group within that religion? Should divorce be made illegal? Should polygamy be made legal? Should women be returned to a subservient, second-class status within the relationship? Should parents once again choose their daughters’ mates?
Of course not. It would be absurd to institute any of these changes merely because one or another religion’s traditions uphold it. Even most Christians would refuse to stand for such a thing happening (which would make most of them hypocrites). People aren’t opposing gay marriage because they genuinely believe that civil, secular marriage laws should be defined by religion, but because of a deep-seated hatred and disgust of gays.
Mike Williams makes this abundantly clear in his denunciation of the "filth" of homosexuality even as he disclaims any homophobia on his part. Opponents of interracial marriage and desegregation made similar claims about the "filth" of those who would mix the races and encourage the degeneration of society. They, too, claimed that they merely wanted to be "left alone," even as they insisted on interfering with the lives of others.
It must really burn them that on every cultural issue, they lose and lose again. Women got the right to vote and society didn't disintegrate. Divorce was legalized and the cities didn't burn to the ground. Interracial marriage was legalized and segregation ended without civilization falling apart around us. Gays and gay relationships are being normalized at every level of society and overall, things are only getting better. Gay marriage will become legal, sooner or later, and eventually conservatives will look back upon it, denying their efforts to thwart it just as they refuse to acknowledge their complicity with segregation and bans on interracial marriage. It's pathetic.
Quick Poll: Are there parallels between the opposition to interracial marriage and opposition to gay marriage?
- Yes, strong ones - both have been opposed for very similar reasons and with similar results.
- There are a few important parallels that need to be considered.
- There are a couple of parallels, but nothing significant.
- Only in the minds of liberal wackos.
- I don't know.
- I don't care.
Gay Rights & Gay Marriage:
- Marriage: Religious Rite or Civil Right?
- Gay Rights & Marriage News
- Gay Rights Polls
- Books On Gays, Homosexuality
- Gay Rights & Marriage Timeline
- Evangelical Christianity & Homosexuality
- Catholicism & Homosexuality
Arguments Against Gay Marriage:
Comments
I just want to mention that since women now work, children are being left to the dogs to fend for themselves. Women are being expected to work right after childbirth and many children get molested because their mothers are not there. Men are not as good at caring for a childs needs. You say that society has not disintegrated, you are totally incorrect about that. Many children are suffering because they are latch key children, exposed to sex way to early and many children who are gay are gay because they have been molested. I know that you are fighting for what you believe is your belief, but look deep within and find whose belief you are defending with your objective moralistic writings. Who are you serving? Are your interests in society or in your own lifestyle? The Rockefellars funded feminism in order to destroy our families, and make sure that our kids are raised by the government to become blatant followers of whatever they choose to teach. Homosexuality was one of those ideas taught in order to destroy our country. I know that in your heart you feel very passionate about your sexual preferance and you will go as far as to compare it to an ethnicity. I was raised by my father in an all gay community and was indoctrinated into the homosexual world, but I never accepted it. I still think it’s a silly behavior and has no scientific basis, but is the result of abuse towards a human being creating a very vulnerable and insecure person. I wish you the best. But, I wish you would stop encouraging others to live like you so you can feel more comfortable in your discomfort.
Kasandra,
‘I just want to mention that since women now work, children are being left to the dogs to fend for themselves.’
How much actual knowledge of this to you actually have? Also, how much actual knowledge do you actually have of how children where when mothers were forced to stay at home? Generally beaten down people don’t make the best parents. If a woman wants to stay at home to look after the kids, that’s great, but if she’s forced into it, as you seem to wish, she’s hardly going to be child-rearing at her best.
‘Women are being expected to work right after childbirth and many children get molested because their mothers are not there.’
That’s a pretty big/ridiculous claim. Children get molested when they are in contact with molesters. Do you have any real evidence to support this? Or is it just a shock tactic that also conviniently coincides with your sexist beliefs?
‘Men are not as good at caring for a childs needs.’
Evidence please?
‘Many children are suffering because they are latch key children, exposed to sex way to early and many children who are gay are gay because they have been molested.’
Well this claim is even more spurious that the last, do you have any reason to think that molestation leads to being gay? Or does this simply pander to your homophobia as your previous comments pander to your sexism?
‘I know that you are fighting for what you believe is your belief, but look deep within and find whose belief you are defending with your objective moralistic writings.’
How are the beliefs written based on objective morality? You seem to be/are misusing the term.
‘The Rockefellars funded feminism in order to destroy our families,’
You sure do like your crazy theories don’t you? Its a shame your not so hot on providing evidence of any form.
‘and make sure that our kids are raised by the government to become blatant followers of whatever they choose to teach.’
Whereas your personal brand of sexism and hompohobia is in no way dictorial?
‘Homosexuality was one of those ideas taught in order to destroy our country.’
I thought you said homosexuality was a result of molestation, now its being taught? Ok I’ll ignore the blatant contradiction and just ask, how exactly is homosexuality being taught?
‘I still think it’s a silly behavior and has no scientific basis, but is the result of abuse towards a human being creating a very vulnerable and insecure person.’
How exactly is it a behaviour? And also, what does scientific basis have to do with it? That’s like saying there needs to be a scientific basis for people to be of a specific ethnicity.
‘But, I wish you would stop encouraging others to live like you so you can feel more comfortable in your discomfort. ‘
Can you point to a single example of any homosexual doing this? Requesting/demanding equal treatment isn’t asking that others be like you.
Also, you speak of discomfort, which is ironic seeing as everything you’ve said seems to come from your own discomfort against people not living as you want, your lack of any substantiation for any of your wild claims makes this more than clear.
It is always interesting when religious extremists offer up interpretations without any evidence to back them, then try to criticize their opponents for not having any “scientific basis.” It shows how confused people are about the nature of truth and we are capable of perceiving it (even if we are capable). But on the other side of this little debate, I would like to comment that homosexuality has been observed in literally hundreds of other animal species besides humans. However, it has been a pretty taboo subject until recently so there are few good scientific explanations. I have some thoughts on this, but they are based on neurochemistry, which would take some time to explain. Still, there are no human behaviors that cannot be explained, there are only behaviors that have not been adequately explained for whatever reason.
I think science is very close to proving a genetic component to homosexuality. I guess homophobes will not “believe” the scientific evidence, just like they don’t “believe” evolution. Besides that, I am always amazed at why people don’t just mind their own business?!! I think stats show that most perverts and child molesters are heterosexual. “Marriage” should be a religious contract. As far as a legal state-sanctioned union goes, they should be called “civil unions.” LIVE AND LET LIVE !!!
“many children who are gay are gay because they have been molested”
If that were true, 3/4 of American women would be lesbians.