Why do some countries struggle with accepting gay marriage?

Gay marriage has been legal now in my country for just over 6 years. In the months preceding its legalization we suffered through much of the same painful, misinformed scaremongering and religiously motivated negative public discourse as we see in other countries now considering the same legislation.

We now have a 6 year track record to gauge exactly what effect legalizing gay marriage has on a society. Simply put: life goes on as usual, there is really just one tangible effect: the previously mentioned (and often horrible) public discourse on this subject is a thing of the past. That's it, nothing more.

As a matter of fact the only time it ever comes up in public debate these days is when air time is given to religious leaders who attempt to drudge up the old (and now proven to be completely ridiculous) slippery slope arguments decrying what such legislation will do to society. What is particularly strange about this recurring scenario is that the legislation is crafted in such a manner that no religious group is forced to perform a gay marriage. Anyone with the authority to perform a marriage ceremony in the private sector can opt out of any marriage ceremony they do not condone and for any reason.

So what the heck is their problem?

 

Going out on a limb here, I'm going to guess that it is a by product of the rising Creationist threat in the American schools. It is probably a multifactorial problem, like US support for Israel, which includes religious indoctrination, propaganda, ignorance, fear, racism, hatred, and dumb white people, of which we have so many in the US.

Personally, I am a step ahead of the game here. Looking at the trends in polling, gay marriage seems like a foregone conclusion so i'm already pushing for the rights of Mormon and Muslim polygamists to marry. Soon gays will have the right to marry leaving these other poor people the remaining victims of marriage inequality. The bliss of marriage is for everyone, not a select few!

I'm also the president of the local chapter of the "How can we be more like Canada" club. I think many Americans don't realize just how backward they are. They could learn so much from their betters to the North, if only they had a bit of reeducation. I think the Occupy movement was a good start on that front, where Canada's best and brightest came down and showed us what they are all about, but for some strange reason, the movement fizzled. Perhaps it was the large bags of human feces they left all over the place, perhaps it was the large number of rapes that were happening in the encampments, perhaps it was the cries for equal outcomes rather than equal opportunities.

Whatever it is, it seems obvious Americans need to evolve a bit more if they are one day to be great like Canadians.

 

Why does everyone assume opposing gay marriage is a matter of hating gays?

Could be a sign that married straight men are showing compassion for 'em.

 

That's funny . . . I answered a poll prior to the legalization with "In favor of: Yes . . . let them in on the misery"

 

Same-sex marriage has been legal for 7 years here. Strangely enough, in those 7 years, the fabric of Spanish life does not appear to have collapsed. Who would have thought huh?

 

Same in this country, the debate over the issue is ancient history now. No one has shown up on the courthouse steps demanding to marry their farm animals (That was actually a warning from one of our resident fundamentalists).

On another note: did you get a laugh out of the first response to this thread? I sure did.

 

...any particular part or just all of it?? LOL!

 

Yah, Spain has been rocking the last 7 years /chuckle. Between Spain and Greece, you may manage to destroy the Euro.

Then we can call that mission accomplished. I thought the line, "our betters to the north" was particularly funny.

What I also find humorous is the sack on people from Canada or Spain who feel the need to inject themselves into US politics. Your criticisms of US poliitics are about as welcome as a case of chlamydia.

 

Take note folk. The above comes from someone that writes...."Between Spain and Greece, you may manage to destroy the Euro." LOL! Your criticisms of European politics are about as welcome as a case of chlamydia.

Could someone tell him that the problems facing Greece, Spain and the rest of the WORLD never mind Europe have been brought about by American financial institutions lending money to people that they knew couldn't pay it back. Thanks a lot American bankers (read wankers).

Now back to the thread which is about gay marriages not the Euro.

 

Asia has different culture. It took time to really accept them into society. It will be hard for the Muslim community to accept gays.

 

Exactly...and some here would do well to remember that.

 

That reality makes the current debate taking place in Vietnam groundbreaking.

 

Congratulation for checking all the boxes with exception of white people.

 

Nice cap up on the critique thread of American culture. FYI, you probably didn't catch it, but the comment about Spain and Greece's welfare culture at the root of your problems wasn't offered as a critique but a reminder you live in a glass house from which you throw stones. The comments about the lovely Occupy people, same story. Keep your crappy culture to yourself.

 

Could someone tell him that the problems facing Greece, Spain and the rest of the WORLD never mind Europe have been brought about by American financial institutions lending money to people that they knew couldn't pay it back. Thanks a lot American bankers (read wankers).

 

Not to mention that US culture is not cited once in this thread, other than in off topic dialog initiated by our resident heckler.

 

Well you know what he's like for seeing things that just aren't there!

I actually went to a gay wedding a few months ago. It took place in a tiny mountain village not far from here. I was amazed how accepting the villagers were considering they were mostly people over 60 years old. They came out of their houses to applaud and gave bunches of flowers to the two guys getting married and they didn't know them at all. Very touching!

 

I've not even heard of a gay marriage taking place here in this country since a few stories ran in newspapers the first week it was legal. They were mostly stories about US gay couples crossing the border to take part in symbolic ceremonies. That trend continued for awhile creating a very minor cottage industry for some of our tourist regions but since that time it has lost its uniqueness. It gets the same "no one outside of those involved cares" treatment just like traditional marriages.

 

Same here! I've known the two involved for nine years. They've been together as a devoted couple for nearly 30 years. Not many heteros can say that

 

Of course, none of Spain or Greece's problems are of their own making. The US bankers (Jews I believe) are to blame!

Blaming everyone else. Another part of your crappy culture you can feel free to keep to yourself.