Debating Homosexual Marriage By Jesse Smith As some of my readers may be aware, homosexual marriage is now recognized by the Canadian government. Or, at least in British Columbia, the western most province Canada. The change in law has caused a few waves. Political, religious and sexual. I had the...opportunity to talk on-line with a few people last night regarding this change in Canadian law. Perhaps even a change in Canadian culture. The conversation took place between myself and two Americans, with extra dialogue thrown in buy third parties. The following debate has been edited some what. An attempt has been made to repeat arguments and points as stated. However, due to the nature of the conversation (and the media in which it took place) I have decided to make certain changes. These changes include some spelling corrections, minor grammar corrections, removal of profanity and lines consisting of seemingly pointless dialogue such as "You suck". I have also removed other topics that were mentioned during the chat. Such as sex with cows, whether Bush really won the election and the idea that the CIA controls the media. That aside, I will try to repeat good points as they were made. Since the conversation was somewhat mixed, and since both the people whom I talked with had similar arguments, I have narrowed the debate. Their names have been removed (to protect the innocent) and I will present the points made as "Them" and "Me". I hope the persons I with whom I talked and my general audience will forgive these changes. Them: Gays can now get married in Canada. Canadians are homo lovers. Homosexuals are crossing the boarders to get married. Me: Yea, Canada. Them: It's disgusting. Canada is, like, 50% homosexual now. Me: Not quite. But we do have a fairly high per-capita here. Them: Next thing you know, Canadians will be allowed to perform bestiality. Me: What does (having sex) with a dog have to do with gay marriage? Them: They're both wrong. Me: There are a large number of homosexuals in Canada. Canada, being a democracy, has given them the right to marry. Them: Next you'll be allowed to get married to a cow. Me: If a cow doesn't mind and the guy likes it, who am I to judge? Them: That's sick. Me: Maybe it is. Maybe not. But what right do we have to judge who can sleep with who...or what? Them: You're a sick, sick man. Third-Person: People who are most anti-homosexual are most likely homosexual themselves. Them: That's not true! Me: Agreed. People usually hate what they don't understand. Them: Right. I don't understand why a man would want to have sex with another man. Me: Mutual attraction? Them: It's disgusting. Me: Have you ever tried it? Them: Sex with a man? No. Me: Then how do you know what it's like? Them: Homosexuality isn't right. It's disgusting. Surely you don't think it's healthy? Me: Physically or mentally? Them: Physically. Me: Physically, I think that homosexuality is healthy. Them: Then mentally? Me: Well, it seems that most homosexuals are the way they are due to early, traumatic sexual experience. So, perhaps it isn't a healthy condition mentally. However, some research shows that homosexuals may be born with a tendency toward the same sex. Then: Homosexuality isn't physically healthy. They (homosexuals) have diseases. AIDS and stuff. Me: That's a bit outdated. I know more straight people with STDs than homosexuals. Them: You don't know as many homosexuals. Me: True. But I know a few. None of them are infected. Them: They're just hiding it. Me: That's silly. Gay and straight people are both capable of getting AIDS or any other STD. You just have to be careful of your partner. Them: What if the world was all gay. What would happen to the human race. Me: That's really silly. Them: Come on. What would happen? Me: I don't think that's a possibility. It would be pretty far odds against all people being turned or born gay all in the same generation. Them: Okay, what if we put all the gays on their own planet. Wait sixty years and come back. What would we see? Me: They'd die off? There are six billion people on Earth. I think less than five hundred million are gay. That's pretty far odds. Them: They shouldn't be allowed to marry. Me: It's not like they're going to reproduce.... Them: There are too many. Five hundred million. That's too much. We have to tip the balance back in our favour. Me: How? Them: Do you know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah? Me: Yes. Them: Tell it to me. Me: The whole (!) thing? Them: Yes. Me: (Tells story of angels, Lot and the destruction of Sodom.) Them: You're a bad story teller. Me: I didn't write it. What's your point? Them: You're not a very religious man, are you? Me: I am. I am not, however, a man deep in Christian dogma. How did my religion come into this, anyway? I believe in equal rights for everyone. Whether they be black or white, gay or straight. Them: Not all people are equal! Me: I said, equal. Not the same, but equal. Third-party: (Them) is a racist. Them: No, I'm not. I think marriage should be between a man and a woman. Me: I prefer it that way too, myself. But other people might want to do it differently. Them: I meant between only a man and a woman. Me: I think that if you live with someone for ten years it should qualify as a stable relationship. Whether it's a friendship, lovers or family. Them: So you think that gay marriages should be recognized. Me: I think common law should be granted to anyone who can live together for a year. Them: I didn't mean legally. I meant as a normal couple. Me: I don't know of any relationship, gay or straight, that strikes me as "normal". Them: Normal as in a straight couple. Me: Yes. I think they should be regarded as the same. Have you ever tried being with a man? Them: No. Me: Then who are you to judge what you've never even tried? That's like saying "I don't like apples," without tasting one. Them: I will never experiment with a man. That's digesting! Me: How do you know if you haven't tried it? Them: Homosexuals are disgusting. Me: I've never met one I didn't like. How many do you know? Them: Enough. Me: I don't see why you should even care if they get married. It doesn't hurt them and it doesn't hurt you. So why do you care? Them: Homosexuality is for everyone or no one! Me: No one is forcing you to have gay sex. Though it might open your mind a bit. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. It's odd how people can be so up tight about things that don't hurt the people involved...or anyone else for that matter. The most common argument I've heard is that religion forbids the whole homosexual marriage thing. So what if one religion does? I think us heathens should be able to do what we want, thank you. Haha. Jesus forgave adulators, whores and his own killers; Said they should all live in peace. Where in the new testament did Jesus say "Kill all the fags?" I would like to conclude with another point. In British Columbia, Canada, (where I currently reside) there is a category of violence known as "hate crimes". A person found guilty of assault due to "hate" is, in theory, supposed to receive a more strict sentence. On the list of possible "hate" crimes are crimes against the following: blacks, Jews, Asians, and other members of minorities in culture and religion. On the list there is no mention of homosexuals. The members of this minority feel that they should have a stronger legal representation. Personally, I agree with them. Hate is hate and assault is assault. A person's choice in bed partner, should not be used as a reason to hurt people, in my opinion.