argument top image

What are the views on the legalization of gay marriage?
Back to question

Gay marriage would undermine the fidelity of marriage

Gay people are more prone to extra-marital affairs. Allowing them legal marriage rights would undermine the fidelity of marriage.
Discriminatory LGBTQ Offensive
< (3 of 3) Next argument >

Context

Gay people are more likely to explore extramarital affairs than heterosexual couples. Therefore, allowing them to marry would undermine the fidelity of marriage.

The Argument

In a recent survey, more than 79% of heterosexual men and women and lesbians in civil unions said they strongly valued sexual fidelity. Just 50% of gay men said the same. This illustrates the disregard for sexual fidelity among the gay community. [1] Sexual fidelity is a widely accepted and celebrated norm of marriage. To allow homosexual couples to marry or enter a legally recognised union would be at best a disregard to marital fidelity, and at worst an endorsement of infidelity.

Counter arguments

We allow serial cheaters to get a marriage license and marry a new partner. The government’s role is not to uphold the fidelity of marriage. Additionally, this argument does not rule out allowing gay people to enter civil partnerships.

Premises

[P1] Fidelity is an essential component of marriage. [P2] Gay people are more likely to have extra-marital affairs than heterosexual couples. [P3] To allow gay people to enter the institution of marriage would undermine the fidelity of marriage. [P4] Therefore, gay people should not be allowed to marry.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P3] The government's role is not to protect the fidelity of marriage. [Rejecting P4] Gay people can still enter civil unions or partnerships.

References

  1. https://www.frc.org/issuebrief/ten-arguments-from-social-science-against-same-sex-marriage
This page was last edited on Monday, 14 Sep 2020 at 12:22 UTC

Explore related arguments