How do you make the case for same sex marriage?

[Justtristo]

Marriage equality would help a long way in combating homophobia and transphobia. Because the rubes will be more inclined to think of somebody being gay, lesbian. bi or transgender as morally acceptable, if the government were to fully recognize equality for the LGBT community. So by combating homophobia and transphobia would help save many lives which are currently being destroyed by both of those evils.

[Darth]

The assumption lies with liberty (not to mention decency, equality and justice). Here we have a situation where a group of people (LGBT citizens) are being prohibited from doing something, and being discriminated against in the most fundamental ways (marriage, adoption...). It is not for our side to justify why anybody should be allowed to do something or be treated equally. Those who would deny gay people their rights have the burden of proof, not us or the LGBT population. Those bigots have no reasons that are not based on religion, faulty 'reasoning' or faulty 'science'. The only right thing to do is to allow gay couples to marry. The very idea that a case needs for be made for it is ridiculous.

[Faith No More]

Perhaps the best speech would be one that is a rebuttle for the more common anti gay marriage arguments rather than trying to piece together a speech for the pro gay marriage argument.

[Napoléon]

[YahwehIsTheWay]

Everyone knows I'm a student, right? If you didn't know before, you know now.

Well, I'm taking a speech class and part of that is that I'm going to have to make a persuasive speech. So, I'm going to make a speech for something I already believe in: same sex marriage.

Thing is, from my perspective, same sex marriage is a no brainer. When you're queer, it's kinda hard to question your own rights. However, if I'm going to make an effective, persuasive speech, I would need to address the concerns of people who aren't already queer who are specifically homophobic.

Any suggestions on what those concerns are and how to address them?

You might want to quote that godless piece of trash that is the United States' Constitution.

Specifically, go to the 14th Amendment, Section 1, very last sentence where it says "equal protection". This section forbids the creation of second class citizens. You can't constitutionally grant a set of privileges to one group and then deny them to another.

Now my preferred solution would be to get rid of the Constitution. Christianity and democracy are enemies.

[TaraJo]

Ok, I think I have what I need here. Lemme see how this works for a start.

Most of the criticism for same sex marriage stems from religion. However, religion isn't a reason to institute a law. In fact, the establishment clause of the constitution, and further upheld by Lemon v. Kurtzman, you need a secular purpose for a law.

Some people claim that same sex marriage cheapens or weakens or threatens traditional marriage, but none of them can really explain how it cheapens or weakens or threatens traditional marriage. If anyone can explain their thinking here, I'd appreciate it, but if not, I'm just going to have to say that they're the ones that can't back up their claims.

Some people claim that the benefits for marriage are intended for couples who are raising children. This is flawed in that nobody is preventing infertile couples from getting married, nor are people being denies the right to marry because they don't intend to have children. Also, gay couples can have kids via adoption, previous relationships, artificial insemination or with a surrogate.

I think that would be the first part which addresses their concerns about gay marriage. The next part addresses the reasons for gay marriage, which are quite numerous. There's a whole list of rights that come with marriage that gay people deserve, many of which they can't get with 'civil unions;' this is especially true with marriage rights that come from the federal government in that DOMA specifically interferes with them.

Does this sound like solid speech?

[Puddleglum]

I say only this to Christians:

" If same sex marriage devalues your marriage then your marriage must be pretty flimsy".

[Cyberman]

Not to mention that

[TaraJo]

Not to mention that

Ah, yes, I don't think I addressed their concern over the changing definition of marriage. I suppose I can include that as a concern to address. And, yes, the meaning behind marriage has changed drastically over the years. The most common marriage arrangement over the years has been one man, several wives, and the fact that bigamy or polygamy are illegal also testifies to the fact that we've changed the meaning of marriage.

[TaraJo]

Ok, I decided to bring this question over to Reddit, right? I did get a little more input, with an interesting spin or two on it; I'm surprised I didn't think of the state's rights angle on my own.

However, one guy there....... I seriously don't know if the guy is some kind of Republican version of Poe's Law or if he's just really stupid and repetitive. He keeps comparing raising children to owning a dog, and refuses to elaborate on his position. What do you think? Real or satire?

http://www.reddit.com/r/PoliticalDiscuss..._marriage/