Anonymous wrote:Help please. I'm a sleep deprived mom of two young kids and am not thinking clearly and therefore want to borrow others' arguments ... I'm visiting my Catholic family over Memorial Day weekend and know my Dad and sister are going to bait me on this one. They see me as the "liberal DC daughter" who left the Church. In reality, I go to an Episcopalian church and work in a (fiscally) conservative company. My most standards around here, I'm not liberal at all! They're going to want to know why I believe my Christian beliefs are not at odds with legalizing gay marriage - and actually would mandate it. I know this post may generate comments more in line with their thinking, but I'm looking for some nuggets on how to articulate why legalizing gay marriage is in lock step with my values. I was raised Catholic, so I don't know the Bible well, but my understanding is that you can find anti-gay and neutral perspectives there. I'm not prepared to start quoting scripture. I just haven't heard any reasonable argument yet about why NOT to legalize it. Plain and simple, gay people are due no fewer rights or protections than anyone else as far as I'm concerned. Why the hell not legalize their marriages (and divorces, etc.)? Thanks for humoring my ramble!

First, the bolded portion made me giggle. I've often suspected that myself (hello, Mr. Santorum!), but was never really sure.

I can't help you with biblical justification, but what about expanding on what you said here - this is a secular issue, not a religious one, and gay people are entitled to the same protections as anyone else when it comes to civil law. While you consider yourself a Christian, you think it's wrong (and unconstitutional) for the government to discriminate against its citizens and deny certain citizens rights based SOLELY on religious principles. If you really want to tweak them, say that you believe there were biblical justifications for anti-miscegenation laws, and you don't want to be thought of by your grandchildren and great-grandchildren the way we think of people who supported those laws, many of whom did so because of a misplaced reliance on Christianity. (I'm kidding about making that last argument - not guaranteed to pave the way for a smooth visit - but it's a valid point.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Play the Zack Wahls speech on Youtube for them. What an amazing young man:

Hes not gay

Who said he was?

Anonymous wrote:Play the Zack Wahls speech on Youtube for them. What an amazing young man:

Hes not gay

In addition to the Wahls video, you might want to look at the argument made by staunch Republican David Brooks http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/22/opinion/22BROO.html.

Play the Zack Wahls speech on Youtube for them. What an amazing young man:

^I changed my mom's mind, but I approached it without the intention of doing so.

OP says her family will want to argue about it though, and that's not something my mom would have done, so I don't know if it's going to be a very successful or even civil conversation, OP. Maybe just don't engage with them if they bring it up to pick a fight.

Why?

You aren't going to change their mind and they aren't going to change yours. Just pass the bean dip and try to enjoy your visit.

I don't believe in gay marriage..
Ok. Can you pass the peas please?

I can't stand all this gay marriage talk.
Hmm. Alright. Can you pass the peas please?

People who always want to argue and prove a point are irritating as hell...especially when they can't even think of the points themselves because they've been spoon fed.

No, really need help. I'm tired and I'd like to at least get my dad thinking about another point of view. He went to Jesuit schools, so I know it's in him to make his own decisions, I just need a good enough argument.

Help please. I'm a sleep deprived mom of two young kids and am not thinking clearly and therefore want to borrow others' arguments ... I'm visiting my Catholic family over Memorial Day weekend and know my Dad and sister are going to bait me on this one. They see me as the "liberal DC daughter" who left the Church. In reality, I go to an Episcopalian church and work in a (fiscally) conservative company. My most standards around here, I'm not liberal at all! They're going to want to know why I believe my Christian beliefs are not at odds with legalizing gay marriage - and actually would mandate it. I know this post may generate comments more in line with their thinking, but I'm looking for some nuggets on how to articulate why legalizing gay marriage is in lock step with my values. I was raised Catholic, so I don't know the Bible well, but my understanding is that you can find anti-gay and neutral perspectives there. I'm not prepared to start quoting scripture. I just haven't heard any reasonable argument yet about why NOT to legalize it. Plain and simple, gay people are due no fewer rights or protections than anyone else as far as I'm concerned. Why the hell not legalize their marriages (and divorces, etc.)? Thanks for humoring my ramble!