Debates on gay marriage
In quotes: Gay marriage debate
MPs have been debating whether to allow same-sex couples to get married. Here are some key quotes from the debate:
Minister for Women and Equalities Maria Miller
"Marriage is one of the most important institutions we have, it binds society and families together, it is a building block that promotes stability. This bill supports and cultivates marriage."
Shadow minister for women and equalities Yvette Cooper
"Call us hopeless romantics, dial it the triumph of hope over experience - most of us consider when people cherish each other and want to produce that long-term promise , that is a wonderful thing. So why would we stop a loving couple getting married just because they are gay?"
Stephen Gilbert, Liberal Democrat
"We have come a long way in a short territory of time but it is absolutely right we seize the next step and delivers complete legal equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in our country. This view is one that is borne of a hatred of discrimination and prejudice of all types, whether it's about gender or skin colour or religion."
"True Christians are not bigoted and this is actua
Australia's heated same-sex marriage debate
BBC News, Sydney
Twenty years after Tasmania became the last remaining Australian state to decriminalise male homosexuality, the country is having its say on same-sex marriage.
Voting is under way in a non-binding, voluntary postal survey to measure support for reform. It has been, at times, an ugly and bruising process.
On Friday, the Australian media was awash with reports of an alleged headbutt on Tony Abbott, the former Australian prime minister and opponent of homosexual marriage. A 38-year-old DJ called Astro Labe was charged obeying the incident.
Witnesses said he was wearing a badge supporting same-sex marriage, but he told Australian media that his behavior were not connected to the debate and he did it "because I didn't think it was an opportunity I'd gain again". Mr Abbott described the incident as "politically motivated violence".
Elsewhere, employees have complained they tackle punishment or unfair treatment at work if they don't display their backing for a "Yes" vote, while police in Sydney were called to a confrontation betwe
Debating Same-Sex Marriage
In this book, John Corvino argues that gay marriages should be established for the sake of the would-be married individuals themselves and for population as a whole. Maggie Gallagher argues that such marriages should not be recognized both because such unions are not right marriages and because she believes that the recognition of such relationships will have negative consequences. Each sets out his or her view in a main essay and then responds to the other's position in a shorter piece. While they suggest no new arguments, they present their favored views in a clear and accessible style.
Corvino, a philosopher, devotes part of his essay to uncovering the logical flaws in his opponents' positions. He also describes the tangible and intangible benefits of marriage. He makes a number of telling points explaining why the arguments upon which his opponents rely are circular or are over- or under-inclusive, e.g., that those who argue that same-sex couples should not be permitted to marry due to the members' inability to procreate through their union should also say that sterile couples should not be permitted to wed due t
Same-Sex Marriage Debate Heard by Senate Committee
On March 23, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on a proposed amendment to the Constitution that states, “Marriage in the United States shall consist of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to demand that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman.” Earlier this month, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights examined recent judicial rulings concerning gay marriage and their impact on traditional marriage laws in the states (see The Source, 3/5/04).
Contending that most Americans believe that the traditional institution of marriage is worthy of protection, Subcommittee Chair John Cornyn (R-TX) argued, “The only way for people of good faith to defend democracy and the traditional institution of marriage against this judicial onslaught based on wrong charges of discrimination is a constitutional amendment.”
Subcommittee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) disagreed, pointing out that an amendment to the Constitution is unnec