Dan Savage: What does the institution of marriage mean?

"What does the institution of marriage mean?"

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  Education

[Barbara Saunders]

Married heterosexual people are not required to have children.

[Barbara Saunders]

I love this. The talking point that "gay marriage doesn't redefine marriage" panders to the most conservative people, I think. I agree with Dan: gay marriage is the next logical step in a significant redefinition of marriage. And that's a good thing!

[amy glass]

Surrogacy does not take that away. No couple nowadays in their right mind, gay or straight, uses traditional surrogacy where the baby is related genetically to the surrogate. They all use GESTATIONAL surrogacy where the surrogate is just a carrier and has no genetic link to the baby because the egg didn't come from her. And why are u only talking about surrogacy- what about artificial insemination for hetero couples who use donor sperm. Besides, Dan and his partner adopted an unwanted baby.

[Dan Gerics]

Great. Deadbeat dad leaves or fucking dies. Then what? I don't really require an answer. It's a rhetorical question. I'm simply pointing out how quickly your argument falls apart with one of MANY examples of parent/child relationships not covered by your interpretation of UN policy.

[gexman31]

dan, you and david sedaris need to get together and do a show or write a book or something. there are so many similarities in what you say and the way your voices show through in your work.

[lukosius1221]

It is crucial to define what marriage is, because I noticed different ppl have diff views over what constitutes a marriage and that causes a clash and faulted debate. I personally think, that marriage is firstly and most importantly about 2 people committing to one another under the law and creating a special bond with special social rights. Gay ppl should have the same, cuz they, like sraight ppl also commit to another person to the level of marriage and they deserve to be recognized by state

[MrAudienceMember]

Views aside, the issue being debated is the legal recognition as a couple with all the benefits and duties associated, under law. Religion has no bone in the debate.

[rfrates10]

Marriage by law or marriage by fact? There are a variety of views on marriage. Some think marriage is about getting a license and registering the marriage. Others think marriage about living together as husband and wife without registering it.

[Fireflygamer]

It says that children has the right were possible to know and be cared for by their parents. first it dose not say biologic parents, second the child's rights dose not suppress the parent's rights to having nothing to do with the child if they so wish. This is so that were POSSIBLE the child can be placed with their parents or that one parent dose not have the right to prevent the child form seeing the other with out good reason. it has nothing to do with marriage.

[FireOps]

What about a woman that has a child with a man she did no marry, and years later has a same sex partner? What about a gay man that lives with a partner, which also happens to be a godfather and he adopts the child of his best friend which past away? What about a homosexual couple that adopts an orphan of which nobody knows who the parents are, and thus giving that child a much better life and chance for the future?

Got to Dan and tell him eye to eye he's not worth it.