[extropy-chat] Gay marriage in Spain, a world of change

[Samantha Atkins]

On Jul 20, 2005, at 9:01 AM, Evan Hamlin wrote:

> I live in Madrid, Spain so this post obviously hits close to home.  
> Personally, I can live with civil unions between homosexuals. I  
> accept the fact that society is beginning to view homosexuality  
> with a degree of normalicy that would have nauseated our  
> forefathers. Myself, I have gay friends and treat them no  
> differently than any of my other friends. Hell I even go down to  
> Chueca (Madrid's gay district, what an insane place) to party from  
> time to time. However, I do not believe that gay unions should be  
> made equal to the union between a man and woman; the only kind of  
> union which makes sense in the eyes of nature, and even God for  
> that matter (though that matters little to me, being non-religious).

What?  This is the only kind of real love relationship, the only kind  
of mutual commitment, the only kind of partnering and support that  
are real in "the eyes of nature" whatever the heck that is, is  
heterosexual?    How so?

> To put gay marriages on the same level as heterosexual marriages is  
> to declare that our society views homosexuality as being as normal  
> as heterosexuality, which makes no sense in the natural order of  
> mankind or all other animals.

No.  It says that these relationships are just as deep, just as real  
and that people of same sex orientation have the same rights as  
everyone else including the right to have their relationships as  
recognized and respected.

> To say that it has existed for thousands of years doesn't validate  
> it either. I'm sure dendrophelia has also existed for many years,  
> but does that mean we should allow a man and a tree to marry? I  
> hasten to admit that my example is extreme, but everyone has become  
> so wrapped up in their politically correctness to admit the  
> obvious: Homosexuality is not NORMAL

Statistically it is a minority orientation.  So what?  How many  
"normal" people do you think are around these parts anyway?

> . That doesn't mean it is evil or terrible or anything of the sort.  
> It is simply not normal. And to pass laws making it so seems to me  
> to be a step in the wrong direction.
>

Laws do not make something normal they just strive to make things  
more just and balanced.

- samantha