31 arguments against gay marriage (and why they’re all wrong)

[Penny Lane 8,159]

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This attitude will get you far. Everyone who doesn't agree with you hates America.

[JohnR! 5,495]

The usual issue with homosexuality arises: everyone focuses on the act of sex. Being a homosexual isn't JUST about sex

For you and for many who enjoy a healthy sex life. For others however, speaking of homosexuality and insisting on the sexual aspect of it alone, is comparable to one who roams around the new car lot at the dealership, lusting after a brand new model all the while trying to convince oneself of reasons not to buy a brand new automobile.

Scientists have proposed that homophobia is oftentimes the result of deep set homosexual desires... It makes sense...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/opinion/sunday/homophobic-maybe-youre-gay.html?_r=0

WHY are political and religious figures who campaign against gay rights so often implicated in sexual encounters with same-sex partners?

Enlarge This Image

Chloé Poizat

In recent years, Ted Haggard, an evangelical leader who preached that homosexuality was a sin, resigned after a scandal involving a former male prostitute; Larry Craig, a United States senator who opposed including sexual orientation in hate-crime legislation, was arrested on suspicion of lewd conduct in a men’s bathroom; and Glenn Murphy Jr., a leader of the Young Republican National Convention and an opponent of same-sex marriage, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge after being accused of sexually assaulting another man.

One theory is that homosexual urges, when repressed out of shame or fear, can be expressed as homophobia. Freud famously called this process a “reaction formation” — the angry battle against the outward symbol of feelings that are inwardly being stifled. Even Mr. Haggard seemed to endorse this idea when, apologizing after his scandal for his anti-gay rhetoric, he said, “I think I was partially so vehement because of my own war.”

It’s a compelling theory — and now there is scientific reason to believe it. In this month’s issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, we and our fellow researchers provide empirical evidence that homophobia can result, at least in part, from the suppression of same-sex desire.

Our paper describes six studies conducted in the United States and Germany involving 784 university students. Participants rated their sexual orientation on a 10-point scale, ranging from gay to straight. Then they took a computer-administered test designed to measure their implicit sexual orientation. In the test, the participants were shown images and words indicative of hetero- and homosexuality (pictures of same-sex and straight couples, words like “homosexual” and “gay”) and were asked to sort them into the appropriate category, gay or straight, as quickly as possible. The computer measured their reaction times.

The twist was that before each word and image appeared, the word “me” or “other” was flashed on the screen for 35 milliseconds — long enough for participants to subliminally process the word but short enough that they could not consciously see it. The theory here, known as semantic association, is that when “me” precedes words or images that reflect your sexual orientation (for example, heterosexual images for a straight person), you will sort these images into the correct category faster than when “me” precedes words or images that are incongruent with your sexual orientation (for example, homosexual images for a straight person). This technique, adapted from similar tests used to assess attitudes like subconscious racial bias, reliably distinguishes between self-identified straight individuals and those who self-identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual.

Using this methodology we identified a subgroup of participants who, despite self-identifying as highly straight, indicated some level of same-sex attraction (that is, they associated “me” with gay-related words and pictures faster than they associated “me” with straight-related words and pictures). Over 20 percent of self-described highly straight individuals showed this discrepancy.

Notably, these “discrepant” individuals were also significantly more likely than other participants to favor anti-gay policies; to be willing to assign significantly harsher punishments to perpetrators of petty crimes if they were presumed to be homosexual; and to express greater implicit hostility toward gay subjects (also measured with the help of subliminal priming). Thus our research suggests that some who oppose homosexuality do tacitly harbor same-sex attraction.

What leads to this repression? We found that participants who reported having supportive and accepting parents were more in touch with their implicit sexual orientation and less susceptible to homophobia. Individuals whose sexual identity was at odds with their implicit sexual attraction were much more frequently raised by parents perceived to be controlling, less accepting and more prejudiced against homosexuals.

It’s important to stress the obvious: Not all those who campaign against gay men and lesbians secretly feel same-sex attractions. But at least some who oppose homosexuality are likely to be individuals struggling against parts of themselves, having themselves been victims of oppression and lack of acceptance. The costs are great, not only for the targets of anti-gay efforts but also often for the perpetrators. We would do well to remember that all involved deserve our compassion.

[keysjangle 145]

Fantastic article, thanks for sharing it. You see this phenomenon in action when homophobia-touting preachers get busted for having secret homosexual relationships.

[Danno 1,228]

For you and for many who enjoy a healthy sex life. For others however, speaking of homosexuality and insisting on the sexual aspect of it alone, is comparable to one who roams around the new car lot at the dealership, lusting after a brand new model all the while trying to convince oneself of reasons not to buy a brand new automobile.

Scientists have proposed that homophobia is oftentimes the result of deep set homosexual desires... It makes sense...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/opinion/sunday/homophobic-maybe-youre-gay.html?_r=0

WHY are political and religious figures who campaign against gay rights so often implicated in sexual encounters with same-sex partners?

Enlarge This Image

Chloé Poizat

In recent years, Ted Haggard, an evangelical leader who preached that homosexuality was a sin, resigned after a scandal involving a former male prostitute; Larry Craig, a United States senator who opposed including sexual orientation in hate-crime legislation, was arrested on suspicion of lewd conduct in a men’s bathroom; and Glenn Murphy Jr., a leader of the Young Republican National Convention and an opponent of same-sex marriage, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge after being accused of sexually assaulting another man.

One theory is that homosexual urges, when repressed out of shame or fear, can be expressed as homophobia. Freud famously called this process a “reaction formation” — the angry battle against the outward symbol of feelings that are inwardly being stifled. Even Mr. Haggard seemed to endorse this idea when, apologizing after his scandal for his anti-gay rhetoric, he said, “I think I was partially so vehement because of my own war.”

It’s a compelling theory — and now there is scientific reason to believe it. In this month’s issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, we and our fellow researchers provide empirical evidence that homophobia can result, at least in part, from the suppression of same-sex desire.

Our paper describes six studies conducted in the United States and Germany involving 784 university students. Participants rated their sexual orientation on a 10-point scale, ranging from gay to straight. Then they took a computer-administered test designed to measure their implicit sexual orientation. In the test, the participants were shown images and words indicative of hetero- and homosexuality (pictures of same-sex and straight couples, words like “homosexual” and “gay”) and were asked to sort them into the appropriate category, gay or straight, as quickly as possible. The computer measured their reaction times.

The twist was that before each word and image appeared, the word “me” or “other” was flashed on the screen for 35 milliseconds — long enough for participants to subliminally process the word but short enough that they could not consciously see it. The theory here, known as semantic association, is that when “me” precedes words or images that reflect your sexual orientation (for example, heterosexual images for a straight person), you will sort these images into the correct category faster than when “me” precedes words or images that are incongruent with your sexual orientation (for example, homosexual images for a straight person). This technique, adapted from similar tests used to assess attitudes like subconscious racial bias, reliably distinguishes between self-identified straight individuals and those who self-identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual.

Using this methodology we identified a subgroup of participants who, despite self-identifying as highly straight, indicated some level of same-sex attraction (that is, they associated “me” with gay-related words and pictures faster than they associated “me” with straight-related words and pictures). Over 20 percent of self-described highly straight individuals showed this discrepancy.

Notably, these “discrepant” individuals were also significantly more likely than other participants to favor anti-gay policies; to be willing to assign significantly harsher punishments to perpetrators of petty crimes if they were presumed to be homosexual; and to express greater implicit hostility toward gay subjects (also measured with the help of subliminal priming). Thus our research suggests that some who oppose homosexuality do tacitly harbor same-sex attraction.

What leads to this repression? We found that participants who reported having supportive and accepting parents were more in touch with their implicit sexual orientation and less susceptible to homophobia. Individuals whose sexual identity was at odds with their implicit sexual attraction were much more frequently raised by parents perceived to be controlling, less accepting and more prejudiced against homosexuals.

It’s important to stress the obvious: Not all those who campaign against gay men and lesbians secretly feel same-sex attractions. But at least some who oppose homosexuality are likely to be individuals struggling against parts of themselves, having themselves been victims of oppression and lack of acceptance. The costs are great, not only for the targets of anti-gay efforts but also often for the perpetrators. We would do well to remember that all involved deserve our compassion.

You are so right.... so why then do you debate the Gay detractors? When you know they are actually gay and have lots more experience on the topic than you.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

You are so right.... so why then do you debate the Gay detractors? When you know they are actually gay and have lots more experience on the topic than you.

Knowing it is a near futile task, hope springs eternal you will realize your true orientation, embrace it, and get on with a fulfilling life.

[Danno 1,228]

Knowing it is a near futile task, hope springs eternal you will realize your true orientation, embrace it, and get on with a fulfilling life.

But maybe I have embraces the "#######" inside and this is how it manifests its self, who are you to judge?

Edited November 22, 2012 by Danno

[ready4ONE 5,400]

But maybe I have embraces the "#######" inside and this is how it manifests its self, who are you to judge?

That is certainly what numerous credible studies regarding homophobia indicate.

[zuluweta 250]

Here's legal analysis of the US Supreme Court same-sex marriage arguments by law school professor Curt Benson:

Edited June 3, 2015 by zuluweta

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Here's legal analysis of the US Supreme Court same-sex marriage arguments by law school professor Curt Benson:

Holy reserected thread batman

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Who is the banned member that started this thread? I don't remember the name.

[zuluweta 250]

THE SCOTUS will issue a same-sex marriage ruling later this month. This thread is relevant. Should I have started a new thread? Someone please let me know.

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

The thread is about three years old and there are much newer ones discussing the current supreme court hearings.

[zuluweta 250]

The thread is about three years old and there are much newer ones discussing the current supreme court hearings.

This thread is one of the first ones that showed up when I did a search. This forum's search engine should return the most recent threads first.

[TBoneTX 46,338]

The search engine can pose challenges. Passe thread closed to further comment.