Quote:
Originally Posted by HejiraNYC
...and what makes you assume that all civil rights should be subject to a popular vote? Fundamental civil rights such as interracial marriage, abortion, ADA, racial equality, women voting, and, um... the abolition of slavery were not subject to popular vote, and it could be argued that none of these would have become law if subject to a popular vote. In the case of marriage equality for gays and lesbians, why should their rights be subject to the tyranny of the largely unwashed masses? The private sexual and legal matters of people in a committed loving relationship is nobody else's freaking business, and there is no legitimate reason for NOT extending all of the legal protections and privileges of marriage to couples of the same gender. All of the arguments against marriage equality are based on red herrings, lies, gross exaggerations and fear mongering- not a single shred of factual evidence. I DO begrudge anyone voting on matters relating to civil rights for a minority because it always ends up oppressing the minority. Always.
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Did you miss the part where I addressed this? Nobody is saying gay people aren't human. People are saying marriage is between a man and a woman. A gay man CAN marry a woman. Thus his civil rights are protected.
And all of the issues you bring up are exactly why I don't think marriage should be a civil issue at all. As soon as it is, it is open to government regulation--and thus, to democratic vote.
Why is marriage a civil union? It's because the government (and the voters) wants to encourage certain types of behavior (monogamy, traditional family units, paternal responsibility) through incentives and privileges and penalties. I agree with mezzoforte who said she doesn't want the govt up in people's bu'ness.