I'm not heterosexual, but my marriage is. I didn't marry my partner because we're of different sexes; I had other reasons, which seemed good, and the difference in sexes was simply one of the things that made it possible to act on those reasons.
Whether other people respect the institution of marriage has little or nothing to do with the likelihood and hope that my partner and I will stay together as long as we both shall live.
More to the point, "some people won't respect marriage as much if just anyone can do it" is a sad basis for legislation.
"some people won't respect marriage as much if just anyone can do it"
I like that! Maybe "just anyone" should be not be allowed to do it. But how many of each sex should not be one of the qualiications.
How about couple stress tests? Required counseling? (Even if you do not believe in them, being willing to put up with the torture counts. You should see some of the tests the early space program had. Most of what they tested was determination.)
And those artificial babies some of the schools hand out, where they can tell if you mistreat them. Yes, even for gay couples. It's a great test of character.
And make it "family" stress tests. No reason to restrict it to just a pair.
The problem with that level of government intrusion into marriage is that it would either impose government meddling into the religious institution(s) of marriage, or it would both force and depend on most people telling the difference between state marriage and religious marriage, which most folks debating marriage lately can't seem to distinguish (probably because not only do they share a name, but they usually happen at the same time).
But y'know, that would almost certainly reduce the divorce rate noticeably.
(no subject)
Whether other people respect the institution of marriage has little or nothing to do with the likelihood and hope that my partner and I will stay together as long as we both shall live.
More to the point, "some people won't respect marriage as much if just anyone can do it" is a sad basis for legislation.
(no subject)
I like that! Maybe "just anyone" should be not be allowed to do it.
But how many of each sex should not be one of the qualiications.
How about couple stress tests? Required counseling? (Even if you do not believe in them, being willing to put up with the torture counts. You should see some of the tests the early space program had. Most of what they tested was determination.)
And those artificial babies some of the schools hand out, where they can tell if you mistreat them.
Yes, even for gay couples. It's a great test of character.
And make it "family" stress tests. No reason to restrict it to just a pair.
(no subject)
But y'know, that would almost certainly reduce the divorce rate noticeably.