A Brief Post On A Complicated Topic

Several of my friends have asked me why I believe Same-Sex Marriage would be detrimental to marriage in general, and I'll try and more exhaustively detail my responses a bit later (when I have more time); but I just came across (thanks to The Corner) an example of a post-SSM region that exemplifies the direction I believe SSM will take us [emphasis in original]:

Same-sex marriage has locked in and reinforced an existing Scandinavian trend toward the separation of marriage and parenthood. The Nordic family pattern--including gay marriage--is spreading across Europe. And by looking closely at it we can answer the key empirical question underlying the gay marriage debate. Will same-sex marriage undermine the institution of marriage? It already has.

More precisely, it has further undermined the institution. The separation of marriage from parenthood was increasing; gay marriage has widened the separation. Out-of-wedlock birthrates were rising; gay marriage has added to the factors pushing those rates higher. Instead of encouraging a society-wide return to marriage, Scandinavian gay marriage has driven home the message that marriage itself is outdated, and that virtually any family form, including out-of-wedlock parenthood, is acceptable.

Aside from any religious viewpoints, my opposition to the establishment of SSM has always been based in two areas: the issue of parenthood (addressed by the article), and the issue of top-down imposition of law (legislation handed down by a panel of unelected judges, rather than drafted and voted upon by the elected representatives of the people).

More will come later, but for now, read the whole thing.
-- posted by Austin @ 11:06 AM (PermaLink/Comment) ¶