Are there any athiests who are opposed to gay marriage?

[Pale Blue Dot]

I'm asking because the only possible objections to it that I've seen are all based in religious doctrine. I want to make this argument elsewhere, but I don't want to have anyone throwing a bunch of names in my face.

Do any non-religious types oppose gay marriage?

[moggie]

1. You'll sometimes see libertarians argue against it

Not against gay marriage itself, but against the state "imposing" a change in the nature of marriage. I don't find the argument very convincing, but that's libertarians for you.

[ihavenobias]

6. I've heard people say they think gays will marry simply for the financial benefits.

Which is funny. I mean, if that's the case why not worry about the vast majority of people who get married (straight people) for the same reason?

Really, are MILLIONS of people going to get married just to save some money? Then again with this economy...

;)

[skepticscott]

7. The ironic thing is

that financial and social benefits were the main reason people got married for most of history. Until relatively recently, if love happened to enter into it, that was usually just a happy accident.

[Jokerman]

2. Many non-religious types oppose gays, period.

In my age group (40+) I know a number of people who are non-religious and largely non-political but they have some fucked up idea that being gay is just somehow wrong. It may be more of a generational thing, I know that gay = bad was hammered into me through years of school but eventually my mother's instruction that all people deserve respect won me over.

I think that, more than anything, it's a fear of someone "different" challenging their long-held belief. Unfortunately there are many otherwise good people who have been convinced that a gain by a minority group of any kind represents a net loss for them. I've never felt this way but I suspect it is a core reason that many middle class working people continue to vote republican.

As for atheists in specific, I would certainly hope that we would all feel some solidarity with any group facing discrimination.

[ihavenobias]

4. Yep.

My girlfriend's dad is like that (he's 64). He grew up with the idea that "queers" were wrong/weird/unnatural, etc.

But he's not a well reasoned atheist, it's more that he's really just not religious at all.

[Deep13]

3. Bill Mahr. He opposes all marriage. nt

[charlie]

5. Sure

I had friends years ago who would vehemently insist public displays of affection should be unallowed because they were "unnatural." If they couldn't bear handholding and hugs, they certainly wouldn't think much of marriage, let alone raising children. No dummies either, these guys were as astute and erudite as academics. Yet they would hold fast to the unnatural rationalization, when it was clearly absurd even to them.

[dmallind]

9. interesting point

But, without knowing these people, is it possible they simply did not like ANY PDAs? I'm not exactly fond of that kind of thing myself - not from prudity at least consciously, but from disliking the exercise of any ostentatious behavior in public for no valid need or reason. I couldn't give a toss whether the people doing it are gay or straight - I just think it's a bit lacking in taste.

[charlie]

10. I meant gay PDAs

It was a pretty uncommon sight back then. I'd see their faces and would enjoy giving them a hard time. These were guys who could cut me to ribbons in an argument, yet couldn't muster more than a peevish "it's UN-natural." Couples being couples didn't bother them, but gay couples being couples squicked them into stupid rationalizations.

[dmallind]

14. OK then yep in that case clear issues on their part

I must confess I'd probably pay more attention to gay PDAs than straight ones simply out of a rarity factor for seeing them in my neck of the woods (even in the gay bars for some reason, although I've only been to those in early evening hours so can't say what happens as the night wears on, which is when the inhibitions of anyone, gay or otherwise, tend to fall off). I suppose a valid case could be made to say that that would be a bit rude on my part, but I would certainly not have any different a reaction or opinion about their naturalness or appropriateness compared to straight PDAs.

[dmallind]

8. I'm sure some yep. I'm not one, and don't actually know any

But ther really is no atheist creed that all have to subscribe to so I'm sure there are some - plenty even - who just can't shake off their upbringing or personal negative feelings about homosexuality for whatever reason.

Never made any sense to me how allowing people to marry those whom they love could possibly do any harm to anyone else, and even if you forget questions of fairness or equal rights under the law (not of course that we should) that alone should make it a no brainer.

[Deep13]

11. It is easier to reject the idea of god than it is...

...to deprogram a lifetime of religious misconceptions.

[Joe the Liberal]

12. I could care less......

Gay people getting married affects me in no way, I'm more concerned about the religious institutions sticking their noses in government.

[PassingFair]

13. No, but many gays are still religious...

THAT'S what's driving this frenzy...

They want to be accepted by the "church".

They won't be.

We could really care less about their edicts,
as we have opted out.

How do gay atheists feel about the flap-up?

[Lost-in-FL]

15. It is sad to see that there is so much passion involved in this debate here in DU

My view on gay marriage is to let them marry if they want so they can suffer like the rest of us married people do.

Joke aside, I have not met an atheist against gay marriage but I know of some non religious or agnostic MEN that have a problem with relationships between gay men, they see it as unnatural. Maybe it could be the result of contamination by a prior religious upbringing (IMO).

[ihavenobias]

16. Let me guess

Those same men have no problem with two hot lesbians?

[Lost-in-FL]

17. How did you know?????

;)

[and-justice-for-all]

18. I think religion is wrong...

but I don't go around trying to get their right to whoreship as they choose to do so and as the constitution allows.

There is nothing in the Constitution that is against same-sex marriage and the bases for the anti-same-sex marriage nuts is purely and strictly religious, which the state or the courts should ignore and adhere only to the Constitution.