[Sovr'gnChancellor£]

In response to this thread , I have some points of discussion, with this thread being the first.

Will the legalisation of homosexual marriage enable a better life?

Will young people thus find it easier to 'come out' now that they are, as homosexual people, seen equal to heterosexual people (in my opinion, I can't see how they aren't equal to heteros anyway - even with the silly 'gay is a disease' opinion, we don't exactly say that people with cancer or gluten intolerance are not equal to others without those conditions).

Will it undermine the anti-gay stance of some parents towards their children for example? Will there be less persecution for example?

Thoughts?

(I'll make one more related thread so as not to clog up D&CA )

[Highlander03]

(Original post by Sovr'gnChancellor£)
In response to this thread , I have some points of discussion, with this thread being the first.

Will the legalisation of homosexual marriage enable a better life?

Will young people thus find it easier to 'come out' now that they are, as homosexual people, seen equal to heterosexual people (in my opinion, I can't see how they aren't equal to heteros anyway - even with the silly 'gay is a disease' opinion, we don't exactly say that people with cancer or gluten intolerance are not equal to others without those conditions).

Will it undermine the anti-gay stance of some parents towards their children for example? Will there be less persecution for example?

Thoughts?

(I'll make one more related thread so as not to clog up D&CA )

I don't really think it will make much of a difference tbh. Married or not they're still allowed to be together. I see it as an act of desperation really.

[tieyourmotherdown]

It will have an effect, not a massive one but still an effect. The main consequence is that for the generation who are now growing up, they will always know marriage as between two individuals rather than between two people of an opposite-sex, which breaks down that barrier which shows gay people to be unequal. The change is a subtle one, but amongst young people especially, I think it'll have an effect.

[Sovr'gnChancellor£]

(Original post by Highlander03)
I don't really think it will make much of a difference tbh. Married or not they're still allowed to be together. I see it as an act of desperation really.

Yes, but surely it's the thought that counts? It's surely meant to convey a message? For example, what of the two separate drinking fountains - one for Caucasian people and one for African-ethnic people?

You can't have homosexual people having one thing (i.e. civil partnership) and heterosexual people being able to have another (full-blown marriage) - it basically says that homosexual people are not worthy of marriage, therefore implicitly saying that they are below those who are allowed marriage.

[najinaji]

Yes. Now we won't feel so much like second-class citizens.

[mmmpie]

It's more important as a point of principle. Legitimising same-sex relationships and accepting them on equal terms is a powerful symbol. What practical effect it will have (other than people getting married) is difficult to measure.

(Original post by Highlander03)
I don't really think it will make much of a difference tbh. Married or not they're still allowed to be together. I see it as an act of desperation really.

Desperation?

[thunder_chunky]

(Original post by Highlander03)
I don't really think it will make much of a difference tbh. Married or not they're still allowed to be together. I see it as an act of desperation really.

It's many things but desperation it is not.

[dotty_but_good]

(Original post by Sovr'gnChancellor£)
Yes, but surely it's the thought that counts? It's surely meant to convey a message? For example, what of the two separate drinking fountains - one for Caucasian people and one for African-ethnic people?

You can't have homosexual people having one thing (i.e. civil partnership) and heterosexual people being able to have another (full-blown marriage) - it basically says that homosexual people are not worthy of marriage, therefore implicitly saying that they are below those who are allowed marriage.

Or perhaps the other drinking fountain is better. Perhaps in reality heterosexual couples want civil partnerships.

[Aek-94]

(Original post by dotty_but_good)
Or perhaps the other drinking fountain is better. Perhaps in reality heterosexual couples want civil partnerships.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11625835

[madders94]

I think it's good - I'm not gay, but it means that there's more equality which is always a good thing unfortunately there'll always be homophobia from the religious types who like to pick and choose which bits of their religion to follow, but hopefully this will go towards making it acceptable for homosexual people to come out and to admit they're gay, and even if there aren't many people who do want to be married and they're fine with civil partnerships, at least it will be something homosexual people can choose to have, just the same as heterosexual people can

[Jester94]

As a matter of principle, legalising gay marriage would have a huge effect, because it acknowledges that homosexual people deserve to get married just as much as heterosexual people. Practically, no, it won't make much of a difference beyond gay people getting married, but seeing as that is the intended result, nothing to moan about there! We will probably never be able to fully overcome homophobia, but this would go a long way to overcoming some of the legal discrimination still in place.

(Original post by Highlander03)
I don't really think it will make much of a difference tbh. Married or not they're still allowed to be together. I see it as an act of desperation really.

I fail to see how this is an act of desperation. Perhaps you could explain?