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Doesnt hurt anyone Hurts everyone?
Debate Score:723
Arguments:330
Total Votes:1195
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 Doesnt hurt anyone (281)
 
 im scared now (4)
 
 Doesnt hurt - does affect (3)

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How can gay marriage hurt any one?


Doesnt hurt anyone

Side Score: 500
VS.

Hurts everyone?

Side Score: 223
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16 points

While a person may not agree with it morally, Gay marriage does nothing that physicly hurts anyone. Opponents of this, are forgetting that there is a separation of church and state. Its time to quit policing peoples morals and learn that two concenting adults should be able to have the same rights as anyone else. Its called America folks...Remember "The Land of the Free"?

355 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
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6 points

I am a straight Christian and support gay marriage. Why? Simple. Separation of church and state.

Gay marriage opposition states that they want to preserve the sanctity of marriage. Let's look at the definition of sanctity: the quality or state of being holy or sacred.

That tells me: you cannot preserve the holiness of an act that is governed by the law. That is a violation of church and state.

If someone, a Christian or other religious person, wants to get married under the eyes of God in their church, then fine. But it is not our place to impede upon the rights of others that want to be married under the eyes of the law. Or even God, for that matter. I know many gay Christians. It is not our place to judge others or take away from them. Prop 8 is threatening to take away the rights of 18,000 ALREADY MARRIED couples. And all because our religious views clash with their lifestyles. This is not our battle.

I support gay marriage, and I support my gay married friends and will continue to fight with them for their equality.

Gay marriage does not hurt anyone except those of whom we are stripping away rights. There is no way to prove that gay marriage would impose upon our children in our schools. And besides, kids are going to learn about it anyway, right? Look at MTV right now. You think these kids don't know what's going on?

342 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
- ledhead818(579) Supported
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2 points

I applaud your ability to not impose your personal beliefs on others. If only more religious people could be like you.

193 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone

Straight people love to pull morality and self righteous dogma from their religions and throw them into this argument but it just doesn't fly anymore. Gay marriage hurts no one in any way whatsoever. From all the studies they've done through the years plus the definitive information that was culled from the brains of dead AIDS patients, it is a fact that there is a center of the brain that is much different than that of the heterosexual, that it can no longer be denied. We're different than you are.

355 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
- kirstie1126(467) Supported
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1 point  

I agree with what you said above, but I am curious, and don't have time to do a literature search (because I am currently doing one of my own for my real job =), do you have the reference to the brain argument? Is it a physiological difference or a genetic difference between hetero- and homosexuals? Is this the case for all of them? At what age does this "kick in"? I am just trying to learn, it is some thing that I have been interested in, I am not trying to be disrespectful or pick on details. =)

354 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
+ joecavalry(8552) Supported
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-3 points
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3 points

That is exactly the caliber of response I would expect from a homophobic person. Pick a different word? Different from what? Marriage? I don't care if tradition has heretofore dictated a union between a man and a woman because, guess what? Tradition is on the verge of being expanded to incorporate homosexuals as well and it's high time.

We are different from the majority of people that live on this earth insofar as we are only attracted to our own sex but we are also the same in many ways if not every other way. In another post I told you that we have already shown you how we are different and you couldn't or wouldn't accept that. I'm not forcing you or the world to do anything Joe. When the final votes are in and tallied and we win, bit by bit and mile by mile...you and the rest will see you had nothing to fear, nothing to object to and nothing to lose. You and millions of others will see how alike we really are.

354 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
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2 points

That is such a bogus argument Joe. "You claim to be different but want to be seen as the same." My God man, take a black man and a white woman, they're not the same but they can now marry (since 1967!). You've seen us as different for eons and that hasn't allowed people to accept us! For all intents and purposes we are very much the same insofar as we all want the same things in life. From you, we can't get that without the fight of a lifetime ensuing. I, for one, couldn't care less if genetic engineering can one day change a gay gene! There'll be less pain in the world if that happened BUT, does anyone have the right to do that? Go work on the autism gene or the Downs syndrome gene or the idiot savant gene...then you will have accomplished something!

354 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
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1 point  

Sorry Joe, I didn't answer you in good time. Yes, the words are there Joe. I am a homosexual woman and you are a heterosexual man. Those words have always existed but it's the straight community who makes us much more different than we really are as people. I've have always shown myself as I really am and I must say that I haven't had too much of a problem with people across the board. You see me Joe...you see me as I really am, for every word I have written and spoken to you is me. I am no different off-line.

215 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
- simoriah(199) Disputed
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1 point  

gay people shouldnt have to choose a different word.

marriage refers to the union of two souls

yes, generally from different genders, but if not, so what. a word is a word.

this isnt semantics. people need to stop saying "no, bc 'marriage' means a man and a woman"

when we say should gays be allowed to get "married" we mean, "should they have the right to be allowed official union"

162 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt - does affect
- JakeJ(2532) Supported
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0 points

I agree with just about everything you just said. Thank you!

354 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
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4 points

Ok, after reading the uhh, dare I say, controversial opinions ;)

I am scared to post my own!

Well, sorry, I am going to anyway! =P

I am not gay.

I read Kukla's argument putting down the moral and religous reasons behind people who are against gay rights.

Therefore, I will say only this. The Bible says a man shall not sleep with another man, and a woman with a woman. So, personally I don't agree with those who are gay individuals.

However, I am not one to tell you how to live your life. I do believe that some people are born with an attraction to the same sex. I won't deny that. Now, I have heard in some cases where an individual who was born with more of the opposite sex's hormones is attracted to the oppisite sex. However, they chose to live life as a straight person because they believed that's what God wanted them to do.

Does it hurt anyone? Hard to say. Me, personally? No,just because I disagree doesn't mean I have to be effected with someone else's decision.

So, that's my opinion. Go ahead. Chop me to pieces. I can take it! ;)

353 days ago | Tagged As: im scared now
- Kuklapolitan(4217) Supported
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5 points

Why would anyone chop you to pieces for putting up a well written rebuttal? Is it me you fear?

I've heard of people trying to repress their desire to be with their own sex but I don't know how they could possibly know about their hormones! Many Catholics have tried to do what the church says is right to do...some have failed and some have not, on some level. Look at it this way for a moment. You're straight...you were born that way. 90% of the rest of the world is gay because they were born that way. Could I or anyone convince you, or would you be happy if someone were to try and change you into being gay? I don't think that would be possible, do you?

It's also interesting to me that the churches have softened their views of this too. Not the Catholic church but others. Some even ordain gay people into the priesthood or the ministry. That tells me something has changed through the years. Could it be the medical findings of all those poor dead people who succumbed to AIDS that changed their minds? It certainly would mine or at the very least, re-think it. If people are born this way, how can they help what they were born to be?

353 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
- repubgal(333) Supported
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1 point  

No, I do not fear you. If I had made a more controversial argument, possibly, but I was trying to make the point that this was most certainly a heated debate.

If I am not mistaken, there is a hormone balance test. With this test you can measure the amount of hormones your body contains.

I know what research says, but I believe that gay is a relative term. However, if you take a look at many of my past debates you can see I find a ton of things relative ;)...

Now, what I mean is...Let's say Joey is gay (random name, I promise)

Joey was born with a unbalanced of hormones, and he chooses to live the way his hormones balanced him to be.

Now, let's say Mark is also gay. (random, really)

Mark was born with unbalanced hormones. However, Mark is a Christian, and believes God does not want him to live his life as a gay man. Therefore, Mark decides to suppress his gay feelings. By doing this Mark chooses the Lord over his sexuality. It does happen, rarely.

Now, I might come across as a raging Christian here, but that is not my intention. While I am a Christian, I don't run around yelling at people who choose to live a different lifestyle. Like I said, that is not my place.

I also find it interesting how churches have accepted the gay community. My philosophy is we are in urbanized America. When I say that I mean that we have churches that don't use old-time principles any more. Whether that is wrong or right is all in the eye of the beholder.

353 days ago | Tagged As: relative again
- andsoccer16(1254) Supported
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2 points

wow, repubgal, that sounded almost human ;)

I think that you hit the nail right on the head when you said homosexuality doesn't affect you personally. If more religious people took this approach then we would live in a world that had a lot less hate. I think Mark Twain put it best:

So much blood has been shed by the Church because of an omission from the Gospel: "Ye shall be indifferent as to what your neighbor's religion is." Not merely tolerant of it, but indifferent to it. Divinity is claimed for many religions; but no religion is great enough or divine enough to add that new law to its code.

- Mark Twain, a Biography

353 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
- repubgal(333) Supported
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4 points

Well, great.

I had never heard Mark Twain's quote. Put simply, that is exactly what America should aim for. We call ourselves the country of equal opportunity, and slowly we are becoming just that. To each his own.

353 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
- iamdavidh(1850) Disputed
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1 point  

Don't be scared of posting your opinion (I don't think you really are anyway.) I'm probably one of the biggest a-holes on this site, so take it from me nothing is personal.

That said, if you want to take the Bible literally, it says sleep not fuck. So fine then, I'm nit-picking.

But the Bible also says this about sex, "It's better to spill your seed on the belly of a prostitute, than to let one drop fall to the ground."

So then, in one sentence the Bible says that both prostitution and "safe sex" (the pull-out method) are better than jacking off.

So where is all the moral indignation at the practice of jacking off? Sure they say not to do it. But what religion has donated money to movements in order to end the practice?

And if it is better to have sex with a prostitute for strictly recreational reasons (not baby-making) where then on the moral hierarchy would homosexuality fall? Is it more or less evil than masturbation?

The point is that, if you choose to believe there's a big, all powerful daddy in the sky, and he's so bored he watches everything we do in our comparitively miniscule lives, yet so communications impaired that he'll only talk to us through a book written hundreds of years ago, you have to believe he meant it when he said, "he who has not sinned throw the first stone" and "judge and you will be judged."

Make no mistake, this denial of gays to participate in basic rights is "throwing stones" and it is "judging."

Fine, the Bible says what it says of marriage. One can choose to follow what it says. But one at least who truely believes it is the word of god cannot deny another their choice of whether they will follow what it says or not.

"So, personally I don't agree with those who are gay individuals." Sure, you agree with a lot of gay individuals on a lot of things. What that sentence really says is that you think either they should not exist, which they obviously do, or that they should just pretend not to be gay. You cannot "disagree" with a state of being. You may not like them, you may not believe in them, but it is impossible to say you "disagree" with something that you yourself claim in another sentence is real.

You're being very melevolent in your paragraph, so I'm not "chopping you to pieces."

If you think about it though, there is an underlying and glaring hypocricy in your arguement.

In one point you site the Bible as a reason for being against something, even though you admit it does not hurt you. And by using the Bible as your reasoning for being against something, you are disobeying the Bible - judge not and all that.

So, you have some very defined opinions. Perhaps if you stopped hiding behind the Bible, and use your own intellect instead, they would hold up better in a debate.

351 days ago | Tagged As: bible
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3 points

Who's likely to be a better parent, statistically? Those who HAVE to adopt? Or those who can become pregnant by accident, and be forced to marry and raise a child they resent with a person they barely know?

353 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
- Kuklapolitan(4217) Supported
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3 points

I don't have the stats on that but logically I should think it would lean toward the adoption...although in my own case I've heard the horror stories of my daughter growing up as an adoptee...it wasn't pretty.

352 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
+ Bradf0rd(1295) Disputed
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-4 points
- HGrey87(737) Disputed
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1 point  

What do you mean by statistically? Are you saying there's statistical evidence?

Did you misconstrue my argument? I said if you're able to get pregnant by accident, you're more likely to raise a child you do not want. If you adopt, you're more likely to actually want the child.

How many adopted children do you know who resented being adopted? For me, zero. I think your whole argument is on very shaky ground.

351 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
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1 point  

Unless I am misunderstanding you, how can an infant feel alienated if he/he is brought up by straight people? The child has no idea that one of the parents are gay!

In 1967, all adoptions and all information was sealed...forever!Even if it weren't there is nothing to say the mother was telling the truth about herself or the father of the child! No one checked these things.

And where, may I ask, you're getting your statistics from?

350 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
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2 points

What I love is we have 4 people saying it hurts them but all 4 don't have the guts to say how. Come on. If it hurts you personally.. HOW? Have some testicular fortitude and explain your pain.

355 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
- joecavalry(8552) Supported
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1 point  

I hope you are not lumping in with those 4. I'm not hurt by it personally. I'm an outsider looking in and providing input as to what it looks like from where I'm standing and suggesting a way forward. Bypass the religious right, forget the word "marriage" and focus on obtaining your rights through civil unions.

Gays should embrace their difference and chose to create a word that elevates gay unions above the divorce wrought hetero marriages.

The religious right thinks the word belongs to them. They're going to fight for it. Proposition 8 is indicative of how hard they are willing to fight. They are willing to go to the mat. They are not going to roll over. This battle is going to slow the gay community as they attempt to gain their rights. They need a fast track to their rights. Go around the religious right. Forget the word, get your rights now! Focus on what is truly important like being by your partner in his/her time of need if (God forbid) they are ever in the hospital. You should have that right now. You shouldn't have to wait while you argue over a silly word.

355 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
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0 points

Hasn't it become obvious to you as yet that one "silly" word is NOT silly at all to gay people? We wish it to mean exactly what the word 'Marriage' connotes and carries with it. It's a real simple thing but straight people think they are more than we are and that's why they want a copyright on the word.

354 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
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2 points

Gayness is as natural as sex and food.

Treating people worse because of them being gay is like treating black or Asian or Indian people worse than others.

Except I've actually seen a black person change his colour (Michael Jackson), but I've never heard of a real story where a gay guy became straight (and not asexual or faking it trough whole life).

355 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
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2 points

If two consenting adults love each other and want to make a life long commitment of marriage they should be allowed to do so.

336 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
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2 points

I say, keep gay marriage OUT of religion. HOWEVER, allow it as a legal form of marriage. Shouldn't gay people be allowed to be happy(or gay...lol) as well.

277 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
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2 points

Truly I do not see how it can hurt anyone at all. Studies are showing that some people are born gay and if you want to marry your lover who is anyone else to say that they should not be wed?

Is seeing 2 guys or gals with rings on their fingers really that obscene? What is the difference between seeing a married gay couple and a gay couple? Is there really that huge of a difference? I do not believe so.

277 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
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2 points

First of all, the two options for this debate are a bit limiting and ambiguous. If we define "hurt" as directly set back or disadvantage, then no, gay marriage doesn't hurt even the most vehement of bigots. However, if we define "hurt" as having any influence in which a person may deem negative to themselves, then yes, it is very possible that it does.

I've sided with the "doesn't hurt anyone" because in GENERAL and DIRECTLY it does not influence people who oppose it.

John and Jim getting married and having sex behind closed doors, does not affect the daily life of big Pastor Joe in a direct way.

However, the long term social and political effects will have very real consequences for both Pastor Joe and the rest of society.

If we examine the effects of abortion laws, especially the revision those of 1973, we see how it is possible for legislation intending to provide more individual freedoms may affect the social dynamic. The 1.7 million abortions a year are seen with a more liberal attitude after Roe and other similar historic legal moments.

Compare the average attitude on abortion in 1920 to today, and you will find that the social dynamic has changed. As society becomes more liberal on a certain issue because of legislation, it is possible that Pastor Joe is now surrounded with a warped culture he does not enjoy. This culture, the effects of gay marriage, may very possibly "hurt" Pastor Joe in the sense that he is not happy with the effects of allowing it, later down the road.

Forced to chose one of the absolutist sides, "Doesn't hurt anyone" -- In general, right now, if John and Jim wish to go get a married, this does not influence my life. In an ideal philosophy, the actions of two consenting adults in private are of no business to anyone but themselves, thus "doesnt hurt anyone."

271 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt - does affect
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2 points

It's this simple.....

You love who you love.

And for those religious nuts out there.....

doesn't it say Thou shalt not judge???

YOU ARE NOT GOD.

Let him sort it out, and you should worry about yourself instead of a gay couple.

250 days ago | Tagged As: nosey conservatives
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2 points

It can't. It's a free choice, it's not like married gay people are out to get us and murder us in our sleep. I honestly don't know why everyone makes such a fuss about it I MEAN HONESTLY. GOODNESS. That's kind of discrimination.

243 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
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2 points

As quoted, they have every right to believe what they want to believe and behave the way they do. I think that every single one of us should have the right to be with the person they want to be with; be it a man or a woman.

225 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
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2 points

I don't believe gay marriage hurts anyone. The only people truly making it such a mad case is religious people. Sure, marriage is somewhat an act out of religion, but like others said, what is it if someone unreligious gets married? If people are going to make a big deal out of two people of the same sex getting married, then people of different religions, people of no religion, even people guilty of adultery shouldn't be allowed to marry either. Being against gay marriage really comes down to what people that follow the bible say the bible says. Which makes gay marriage against the bible, right? But then again, every single person on this planet is doing lots of stuff against the bible. So, really, what gives these religious people the right to say someone can't do something they disapprove of? Otherwise, I'd like to meet a non-religious person, or even a person acquainted with gay's, who is against gay marriage. (Just because it proves my case otherwise that it's all about religious bitching and it has not one thing to do with them personally). So, really, gay marriage is hurting those that let it hurt them for no rightful reason.

193 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone

Haven't you heard? The instant that two people of the same sex are married, a cloud of noxious gas descends over the area around them in a six-mile radius.

Of course gay marriage doesn't hurt anyone! It doesn't hurt anyone's religious beliefs, as I'm sure the religious right will cling to their religion with a determination that can only be produced by fear. It doesn't hurt anyone morally, as marriage is something that happens out of love. And, obviously, it doesn't hurt anyone physically.

So what's the problem?

179 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
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1 point  

While I think that it could bring about a whole new class of social implications, I don't believe that any of them have the inherent ability to hurt anyone.

It's like the prohibition of marijuana on the bases that it's a "gateway drug". It may be true that people that are now on heroin have tried weed, it doesn't mean that it lead these people without control, to heroin. The same as saying people that do drive-by-shootings began their vehicular criminal life by driving to the mall, or at the DMV.

The theoretical implication to marriage between a man and man or a woman and a woman are the same as a man and woman. Then again, maybe you should be so bold as to ask a more correct question "How can marriage, in general, hurt anyone".

353 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone
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1 point  

Jake said:

It hurts families, the more gay marriage the less families there will be, children need a mother and a father to look up to.

Good job voting that idiotic statement down everyone. I don't think the source of that idea has been explored enough though. And personally, I believe in humilating idiotic statements as a form of social punishment, so here goes. Hopefully you read this Jake.

gay marriage = less families only if you believe that people would choose to be gay instead of heterosexual.

that is, you jake, think that someone who is otherwise attracted to the opposite sex, would have had kids and raised them, will now move in with someone of the same sex and not have kids.

ignoring for a moment that this isn't all together bad since there are too many people. what kind of person would think that may be the case?

I know for myself, being very comfortable in my heterosexuality, I would not magically turn gay because a law was passed.

do you fear, jake, that you may magically turn gay if a law were passed?

because that is really the only reason for your statement. if you actually think about what your wrote, I mean, that's the only possible end conclusion.

and if you do stand behind that statement jake, I have to ask myself, what kind of person would have such a ridiculous fear.

and I can only think of one kind jake. a closet gay person.

so if you want to come out, which I'm assuming from your statement deep down you do, then this is the place for it. There seems to be a lot of open people here, and at least one very popular openly gay member.

it's okay jake, be brave.

and if you do choose to not come out, that's okay, I understand it's a cold hard world out there for a gay person. but know this at least.

whatever you do, whatever you say, no matter how much you deny it, I at least will always know that, you jake, are gay. and I accept that.

351 days ago | Tagged As: Doesnt hurt anyone