(December 6, 2010 at 3:28 pm)tavarish Wrote: Since when did benefits of marriage become rights?
A marriage is a legally binding contract. It can have religious and social roots, but in the eyes of the law, that's all it boils down to. If you engage in such a contract, you are entitled to benefits. If you breach this contract, you can be fined/reprimanded.
This issue was about the right TO marry and to enjoy the benefits associated with such an institution, which homosexuals do not have.
Married people aren't granted extra rights, they are given benefits that single people do not have, because they entered into a lifelong contract with another person. A marriage can be had for a myriad of reasons, not only for love.
Actually I was responcing to Lrh9 saying "People in a relationship deserve some legal benefits and privileges that single people don't and shouldn't have."
Related to that and the original topic somewhat is huge lists of privelges given to heterosexual marrages and denied of everyone else. http://gaylife.about.com/od/samesexmarri...nefits.htm
I've met a few people who only care about gay marrage because they are denied these benefits.
Again, I've yet to hear why being a couple means you should be given anything, what makes married people special?
