OOps...I forgot to address one of the questions.
Heterosexual marriages between barren/infertile couples are different from homosexual partnerships insofar as the heterosexual marriage implies a marital embrace that is hardwired naturally to have certain possibilities--the fact that one person or both may be infertile, is an exception to the rule, one that does not change the general rule of marriage. If you are curious about more of the innate characteristics of heterosexuality in the marriage embrace, see the article by Dr. Robert George "What Is Marriage?".
Homosexual partnerships are not naturally wired towards fertility--inherently and at the most basic level (unimbued by particular personal intentions, agreements, etc.) they seem to me to include only homosexual attraction (can anyone correct me on that, please, if there's more inherently in a homosexual liaison). Obviously partners can care for each other more, and pledge themselves to fidelity. Obviously some heterosexual partners flatly contradict their own marriage vows. Obviously you can undergo surgical procedures to make new powers and possibilities in either relationshiop. But at the most basic level, before human decisions and interventions are made, there's the material nature of the act itself. And there are differences between the two acts that are not only immediately practical, but integrally meaningful (again, if you want to know more about this, please look up that article by Dr. Robert George).
Finally--when I made the analogy of homosexual unions to two brothers or best friends sharing an apartment, I was referring to the benefit to the state--not saying that there's no exceptional affection among homosexual partners. The state doesn't recognize my having a best-friend, because it's not necessary to them. I'm okay with the state recognizing beneficial relationships and endorsing them with benefits. What I'm asking for is an understanding of why it should, when it doesn't endorse two confirmed bachelors taking care of each other, for instance. In doing so I'm not spitting on people's desires or feelings. I don't know why that would make me a jerk.
Heterosexual marriages between barren/infertile couples are different from homosexual partnerships insofar as the heterosexual marriage implies a marital embrace that is hardwired naturally to have certain possibilities--the fact that one person or both may be infertile, is an exception to the rule, one that does not change the general rule of marriage. If you are curious about more of the innate characteristics of heterosexuality in the marriage embrace, see the article by Dr. Robert George "What Is Marriage?".
Homosexual partnerships are not naturally wired towards fertility--inherently and at the most basic level (unimbued by particular personal intentions, agreements, etc.) they seem to me to include only homosexual attraction (can anyone correct me on that, please, if there's more inherently in a homosexual liaison). Obviously partners can care for each other more, and pledge themselves to fidelity. Obviously some heterosexual partners flatly contradict their own marriage vows. Obviously you can undergo surgical procedures to make new powers and possibilities in either relationshiop. But at the most basic level, before human decisions and interventions are made, there's the material nature of the act itself. And there are differences between the two acts that are not only immediately practical, but integrally meaningful (again, if you want to know more about this, please look up that article by Dr. Robert George).
Finally--when I made the analogy of homosexual unions to two brothers or best friends sharing an apartment, I was referring to the benefit to the state--not saying that there's no exceptional affection among homosexual partners. The state doesn't recognize my having a best-friend, because it's not necessary to them. I'm okay with the state recognizing beneficial relationships and endorsing them with benefits. What I'm asking for is an understanding of why it should, when it doesn't endorse two confirmed bachelors taking care of each other, for instance. In doing so I'm not spitting on people's desires or feelings. I don't know why that would make me a jerk.
