I could really use your help!

Hi everyone! I realize that this could come off as insensitive, so I want to apologize for that in advance.

I'm taking a Women's Studies class this semester and for our final, we have to present debates. Whichever side wins the debate gets 30 extra credit points that I could really use. The problem? My group was assigned to debate against same-sex marriages. Out of the 12 of us in my group, 3 are gay, 2 of us are straight but super supportive of the glbt community, and all but 1 of the rest of us feels that love should have no boundries. The one person in our group who actually is against same-sex marriage feels that way because of religion and that's it.

So, I need some help. If this is an offensive question, please forgive me and just don't reply. But... I was wondering if anyone would be willing to share with me some of the responses you've gotten from people who are less than supportive of the idea of two dudes or chicks getting hitched. I'd love to just say "screw it" and debate for the pro side, but I desperately need to get an A on this. Anybody who'd be willing to help me out would rock for EVER AND ALWAYS!

Thanks!

 

Um... I guess you could play up the (supposed) historical function of marriage as being linked to child-rearing. Or just argue that homosexuality is immoral, for a laugh. Or... okay, this is a little tenuous, but you could argue against marriage of any kind. Maybe argue that straight people should be encouraged to have secular civil unions unless they're actually part of the religion they'd be getting married under?

Honestly, I've yet to meet anyone who's ardently against gay marriage. I'm guessing most people who are against it have shit reasons like "It just ain't right" or whatever, so if you have to do a write-up or anything it seems reasonable for you to mention it if you genuinely believe you're being asked to defend an indefensible position (there are a lot of things being debated, particularly in America, that really shouldn't be any more!).

 

Maybe go with the idea that marriage is a function of religion and as such only the religions get to saction marriage...You're up against a tough one here because common sense says whats it matter if two people want to get married... Research the origins and use of the word marriage as one starting point, see where that leads. Hell, even the early catholic/christain religion had ceremonies to join people of either sex into a committed relationship. If it doesn't make you gag, go to some fundie site thats against gay marriage and see what they babble about.... Does your teacher hate you? is this why you got stuck with this?