What are some pros and cons on same-sex marriage?

Answer 1

Opinions from contributors:

Arguments For (Pros)

1. Denying same sex couples the right to marry is a violation of civil rights because marriage is a legal civil status. It provides homosexual couples with the same legal rights as heterosexual couples.
2. It standardizes the rules of inheritance in the event that a deceased spouse does not leave a will.
3. It creates the same responsibilities to spouse and children as does heterosexual marriage.
4. Marriage benefits (such as joint ownership, medical decision-making capacity) would be available to all couples.
5. Homosexuality is an accepted lifestyle nowadays with most evidence proving biological causation.
6. Denying these marriages is a form of discrimination.
7. It commits the community which grants the marriage license to honoring that relationship.
8. It doesn't hurt society or anyone in particular.
9. The only thing that should matter in marriage is love.
10. The number of child adoptions should increase since gay couples cannot pro-create (although some might see an increase in gay adoptions as an argument against same-sex marriages).
11. It encourages people to have strong family values and give up high-risk sexual lifestyles.
12. The same financial benefits that apply to opposite sex marriages would apply to same-sex marriages.
13. More children would find themselves in a family with married parents since many gay and lesbian couples have children of their own with either gay friends or through in vitro. Many children look forward to when their parents can be married.
14. Contributes to family stability.
15. Allows for assignment of distinct household roles, such as breadwinner and caretaker, if desired.
16. Reduces economic burden of income tax, inheritance tax, real estate transfer tax, etc.
17. Creates a new family, which takes precedence over both partners' prior families and thereby prevents them from remaining as "children" well into adulthood.
18. Provides security of knowing that spouses will be acknowledged and treated as one family unit in times of crisis and that their relationship will not need to be proven or explained to others.
19. It has no effect whatsoever on the institution of marriage since marriage is a civil legal institution.
20. It strengthens family values by including and welcoming same sex spouses and their children into the community. This has been indicated to lead to less bullying of homosexuals and their children.
21. There are lower STD rates among married homosexuals than among non-married or cohabiting homosexual couples.
22. Married homosexual couples on average have more children then non-married homosexual couples. If homosexuals are married, they are more likely to be raising children, thus contributing to the future.
23. As with heterosexual marriage, same-sex marriage tends to "stabilize" people. Keeping the marriage intact requires forethought, personal responsibility, personal and financial self-discipline, etc.
24. The spouse of a sick, injured or disabled person is the "first responder" and care-giver, and has the legal authority to deal with doctors, hospitals, care residences, etc. The spouse also becomes eligible for inclusion in the other spouse's medical insurance. The spouse thus provides services that might otherwise be the responsibility of the state.
25. It automatically grants a spouse the right to make medical decisions in the event that the partner cannot, which saves time and -- potentially -- a life.
26. The married couple forms an economic unit with joint responsibility for debts. This not only helps to protect the bank or business that holds the debt, it can also help the couple to exercise financial responsibility. And if one partner is not working (or is working as a homemaker and child-raiser) the other person's income can support the household.
27. In times of emotional stress, partners support and guide each other through difficult decisions. Spouses have the legal authority to assume full responsibility if their partners are disabled or otherwise incapacitated.
28. Married couples have more resources for raising children, and there is no ambiguity about parental legal authority nor question of gender based parental superiority.
29. It will boost the economy because of the number of people who will commit.
30. Allowing it will reaffirm the separation between religion and the state.
31. Married gay couples have higher average incomes than non-married or cohabiting gay couples.
32. They can file joint tax returns
33. Treating people with equality is good for all societies
34. Marriage makes a stable basis for adopting children
35. Marriage is a time-honored institution, and gay people deserve the personal dignity and respect to marry the person they love.

Arguments Against (Cons)

1. Most religions consider homosexuality a sin.
2. It would weaken the definition and respect for the institution of marriage.
3. It would further weaken the traditional family values essential to our society.
4. Many people believe the gay lifestyle is not something to be encouraged.
5. Both cannot be biological parents of their own children.
6. Minor reduction in revenues due to additional tax break to homosexual couples in marriages.
7. Many tax breaks for couples were designed with the idea of relieving burden from a family in mind. However, homosexual couples are less likely to have children then heterosexual couples.
8. The possibility of same-sex marriage requires social reconsideration of the meaning of "marriage". This is an inherently stressful situation for some people.
9. Standards for marriage in the United States are generally set by individual states. Currently, opposite-sex marriages in one state are generally honored in all the other states, and by the Federal government. If some states allow and recognize same-sex marriages while other states do not, the legal landscape becomes very confusing. Further, there are now same-sex couples whose marriages have subsequently been threatened by revocation of the laws which permitted them through legislative or judicial action.
10. Many of the legal rights can be bestowed with civil-unions or designated beneficiaries.
11. It's a new idea to the rest of the world and gay married couples may experience opposing opinions (discrimination?).