Comments on: Russ Douthat’s irrational argument against gay marriage http://www.syntheticzero.com/?p=1169 art, life, philosophy, architecture, literature, film, performance, and other stuff Fri, 01 May 2026 23:25:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: mitsu http://www.syntheticzero.com/?p=1169#comment-957 mitsu Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:03:24 +0000 http://www.syntheticzero.com/?p=1169#comment-957 He's specifically saying that the state has an interest in privileging heterosexual marriage because it is involved in reproduction, as he notes at the end of the quoted paragraph, above: "And the fact that this interplay determines how and when and whether the vast majority of new human beings come into the world..." But it still makes no sense, whatsoever, even if it were true (which it isn't) that somehow heterosexual love is more "thick" than homosexual love, because the state interest, if there is a state interest at all, only hinges upon its effect on our reproductive habits (as he himself admits). But clearly homosexual marriage would have no impact on heterosexual reproductive habits whatsoever! So the whole argument there is total nonsense. Furthermore, Douthat elides over the fact that preventing gays and lesbians from marrying causes them great harm by preventing them from taking advantage of the many benefits society confers upon married couples. So one really has to justify pretty strongly a compelling state interest and I can't see any state interest whatsoever that makes any sense, beyond "I just happen to think heterosexual relationships are better and I want the state to officially say so even if it makes no difference whatsoever to me personally or to my life, other than validating me and my love life as better, richer, more valuable than the love life of homosexuals." He’s specifically saying that the state has an interest in privileging heterosexual marriage because it is involved in reproduction, as he notes at the end of the quoted paragraph, above: “And the fact that this interplay determines how and when and whether the vast majority of new human beings come into the world…” But it still makes no sense, whatsoever, even if it were true (which it isn’t) that somehow heterosexual love is more “thick” than homosexual love, because the state interest, if there is a state interest at all, only hinges upon its effect on our reproductive habits (as he himself admits). But clearly homosexual marriage would have no impact on heterosexual reproductive habits whatsoever! So the whole argument there is total nonsense.

Furthermore, Douthat elides over the fact that preventing gays and lesbians from marrying causes them great harm by preventing them from taking advantage of the many benefits society confers upon married couples. So one really has to justify pretty strongly a compelling state interest and I can’t see any state interest whatsoever that makes any sense, beyond “I just happen to think heterosexual relationships are better and I want the state to officially say so even if it makes no difference whatsoever to me personally or to my life, other than validating me and my love life as better, richer, more valuable than the love life of homosexuals.”

]]> By: Gubatron http://www.syntheticzero.com/?p=1169#comment-956 Gubatron Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:16:50 +0000 http://www.syntheticzero.com/?p=1169#comment-956 I have to read his article, can't believe he meant to say that OTHER straight relationships would be affected by homosexual relationships, specially in a society where we don't even know the name of our next door neighbors. I think he's just saying heterosexuals experience their relationship and the expectancy of fertility in ways a homosexual couple never will, even at different stages in life. Whatever the case, I really wish a law will be passed to grant them rights for marriage, I couldn't care less who other people marry. Plus it'll be very fun to also see the effects on immigration (and immigration law) once the stats on gay marriage start looking a little too inflated, 1. because of all the LGBT international community coming here LEGALLY to get married and living a life with full rights (which in a way is already happening, literally all but one of my gay friends come from latin america and eastern europe.) 2. because of all the LGBT international community looking to get married with Americans legitimately and staying and... 3. because of all the LGBT international community and the non-LGBT looking for an easy green card to escape their countries. I have to read his article, can’t believe he meant to say that OTHER straight relationships would be affected by homosexual relationships, specially in a society where we don’t even know the name of our next door neighbors.
I think he’s just saying heterosexuals experience their relationship and the expectancy of fertility in ways a homosexual couple never will, even at different stages in life.

Whatever the case, I really wish a law will be passed to grant them rights for marriage, I couldn’t care less who other people marry.

Plus it’ll be very fun to also see the effects on immigration (and immigration law) once the stats on gay marriage start looking a little too inflated,

1. because of all the LGBT international community coming here LEGALLY to get married and living a life with full rights (which in a way is already happening, literally all but one of my gay friends come from latin america and eastern europe.)

2. because of all the LGBT international community looking to get married with Americans legitimately and staying and…

3. because of all the LGBT international community and the non-LGBT looking for an easy green card to escape their countries.

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