Far right has no rational case against same-sex marriage

If the New Bosses of the General Assembly have their way this week, we’ll all be voting next year on a state constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriages in North Carolina. Yes, same-sex marriage is already against the law here. The GOP, though, says its anti-gay prejudice must be enshrined in the constitution or else some “activist judge” will overturn the law and hand the state over to hordes of yucky queers in sequins, probably from San Francisco. Or something. It’s not that clear. Which is fitting, since their concerns aren’t exactly rational.

The anti-gay folks’ irrationality, in fact, is the core problem. You see, there is no rational reason for their position. Sure, there are strong feelings, primarily fear. There are anecdotal myths and cultural traditions, too, along with a few Bible verses. But real, rational arguments? No.

Here is the primary, underlying argument for banning same-sex marriage: “Gay marriage is bad because gays are bad. Gays are bad because that’s what I always heard growing up; it’s the traditional consensus and we have to stick to it.” That argument may indicate weak, circular thinking, but hey, it wouldn’t be the first time irrationality has driven legislators to pass a harmful law.

Here are arguments made by N.C. senate Majority Leader Paul “Skip” Stam while presenting the bill at a Raleigh news conference. At the time, reporters were left scratching their heads, but see what you think.

• Banning same-sex marriage is not the same as discriminatory bans on miscegenation (sex between people of different races) because, “People can’t choose their race.” That argument only makes sense if being homosexual is a choice. A number of studies have presented evidence of at least some genetic predisposition (or “orientation”) toward homosexuality. Dr. Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project, concluded that “sexual orientation is genetically influenced but not hardwired” (my italics).

• Same-sex marriage will “lead to the legalization of incest and polygamy.” Anti-gay bigots repeat this odd fantasy (or projection of their fears) all the time, but there’s not an iota of evidence to support it. Considering how many states and nations allow same-sex marriage, evidence should be easy to find, if it exists.

• One cannot argue logically for same-sex marriage while opposing the legalization of incest and polygamy. Actually, Skip, yes one can, especially since there are, as yet, no studies indicating that anyone is genetically predisposed to incest and/or polygamy.

• “Morality” dictates that same-sex marriage be outlawed. That is Skip’s opinion. Many others have the opinion that morality dictates LGBT people be treated like human beings with equal rights. Either way, they’re just opinions, not reasoned arguments.

• Same-sex marriage “will lead to the inevitable demise of marriage as an institution.” Yet another unexplained fantasy — or supposition based on fear — with no rational basis. As one reader of the BlueNC website put it, “I guess Skip is telling us only the law can protect him from marrying a man.”

• “All social science” shows that it’s best to be raised in a marriage of one man and one woman. The truth is that there have been numerous studies showing that children raised by two men or two women, gay or straight, are no more apt to “turn out bad,” or even be homosexual, than in a traditional marriage set-up.

At a GOP press conference last week, some African-American ministers added to the irrationality, declaring that homosexuality, never mind same-sex marriage, is “an abomination.” Why? Because it says so right there in the Bible, in Leviticus. Of course, Leviticus also says that eating lobster, having sex during a woman’s menstrual period, cursing one’s parents, or wearing clothes made of two kinds of material are all “abominations.” You know what Leviticus is OK with? Slavery. So why, again, should we base state law on that book?

But, again, these are rational arguments, which, I admit, makes them nearly irrelevant in the same-sex marriage debate. There are hundreds of arguments against this moronic amendment, more than I have room to go into in this space, but here’s the only thing that will really make a difference: Contact your state legislators ASAP and let them know how you feel. Seriously. If the Skip Stams of the state win this battle, that would be an abomination.

This article appears in Sep 13-19, 2011.