Philosophy On the Ground 05 Christopher Plante

Philosophy On the Ground is a series of interviews with people at the center of some of the most compelling and difficult issues of the day. We examine how our philosophical beliefs influence our lives, how our thoughts and values drive our actions, and what happens when, philosophically speaking, the rubber meets the road.

Christopher Plante is the head of NOM RI, (National Organization for Marriage, Rhode Island) which lobbies extensively against same-sex marriage, and has made Rhode Island a critical battleground. Christopher Plante is unafraid to speak his mind, and is sure to outrage those in support of same-sex marriage.

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  Nonprofits & Activism

[Khalil Reid]

Why would you stop important stuff to do a stupid organization like this.

[ToHoldNothing]

The very principle of separation of church and state protects churches and religious individuals from being sued by discrimination based on those religious beliefs. As long as they are not trying to legislate their morality on everyone as if they all share their beliefs, when they don't, I don't see any reason why people would have any justification to sue someone when they are technically allowed to discriminate as organizations not supported by the government.

[ToHoldNothing]

His daughter can't be gay? What, has he genetically engineered her? Even if she was straight, he's phrasing the question they would ask in a purposely ridiculous fashion to discredit them.

The fact that he tries to phrase this in such a way that homosexuals are trying to leech off benefits is not only offensive, but intellectually dishonest. No one's saying this is about just two people that have no romantic interest in each other being called married. There is love, and love is good, right?

[wimsweden]

*Look at Sweden

[wimsweden]

At 21:32- "Loot at Sweden. Pastors there [...] were in fact arrested for teaching biblical truth about marriage."

I guess he's referring to pastor Åke Green who was found guilty and sentenced to one month by the district court for hate speech, but who was later aquitted by the court of appeals and the Supreme Court). You can read what the pastor said on the Wikipedia page on "Åke Green", and it goes a little further than "teaching biblical truth about marriage".