Quote:
Originally posted by johnnymysto
If you discount what I said about man-boy and woman-girl unions, you still have the polygamy issue to deal with. Why not allow that while we're changing the laws?
|
Why not, indeed? As long as everyone involved is a consenting adult, why not allow them to organize their legal and romantic affairs as they see fit?
The issue is that "marriage" as it stands automatically conveys certain benefits: inclusion in insurance policies, property rights, powers of attorney, etc.
I would propose that "marriage" as a religious institution should be separated from government oversight. If you want to get married, great. Talk to your clergyperson.
All the rest of it can be handled through the legal system. Allow people to put whomever they want on their insurance benefits as long as they pay for it. Make everyone who wants to be committed fill out power of attorney forms giving their partner(s) legal, financial, and medical rights if they're incapacitated. Allow non-biological same-sex parents to adopt their partner's children. There are ways to make things fair by separating the legal from the religious aspects of wedlock.