I just posted the following on a comment thread about gay marriage, in response to a couple of people who made the usual arguments about gay marriage leading to polygamy and incest and such. My response:
Suppose the slippery slope argument is true? What if gay marriage *does* lead to legalization of polygamy, incestuous marriage, and so forth?
So what?
If you don’t have a good reason to ban polygamy, then polygamy should be allowed. Likewise for incestuous marriage.
My point is that if there *are* good reasons to ban polygamy and incestuous marriage, those reasons will still exist regardless of what happens with gay marriage.
Think about it.
I’ve thought much the same thing for a while now, but you explained it far more articulately than I ever have. Good work.
Okay, you’ve sold me on polygamy (and you almost had me on incestuous marriage, except my brother isn’t quite attractive enough). Good job!
From what I’ve seen on AOL, the anti-gay marriage people either don’t have a non-religious reason for banning it or, if they use the incest/polygamy arguement, can’t come up with how it could do anyone any harm.
I’m still waiting for a straight answer (sorry) to the question of exactly how same-sex marriage damages the marriages of “normal” people. When I’ve asked that question, the replies have either included quotations from the Bible or else dismissed me as incorrigibly ignorant (or worse, liberal).
Those religious folks are afraid gay guys will have uber-fabulous weddings and get all the nice gifts. That is the only logical reason I can think of, pure, unadulturated jealousy.