3 ms·

Homosexuality is a scientific fact -- people don't choose it like they do a flavor of ice cream. In this light, how do we reconcile the position that homosexua

Homosexuality is a scientific fact -- people don't choose it like they do a flavor of ice cream. In this light, how do we reconcile the position that homosexuals should have less rights with the broadly accepted idea of basic human rights? Edit: To be clear, I'm a strong supporter of free speech -- I think it is one of our most important cultural principles. It just seems to me that the gay rights issue is very clear cut and incredibly personal. Thus, its opponents receive very strong feedback, which isn't that surprising. I do think calm discussion with hard-hitting questions is the best way to address offensive beliefs, but I also realize there isn't always time for that.

darawk 9y ago
To be clear, i'm not arguing that gays should have less rights. However, if I were to put forward such an argument, it would look like this: There are all kinds of classes of person who's rights we proscribe. Violent criminals, and those who are dangerously insane, come to mind. It's possible that some of those individuals were born that way - that they were predisposed to that behavior in a way that they cannot be 'blamed' for. Yet we feel no compunction about taking away their rights, because we feel that it's necessary to protect the safety of our civilization. So, in short, it's ok to take away a minority group's rights if the exercise of those rights is sufficiently harmful to society. Now, if you are a religious person, you may believe that Homosexuality contributes to moral decay, and the breakdown of sexual and social norms that serve to promote positive familial and social development. In light of that, you may rationally conclude that homosexuality is sufficiently harmful to society that the rights of homosexuals need to be limited. Again, I cannot stress enough that this is not what I personally believe. But IMO a person presenting their view in the way that I just did should not be censured for doing so. They should be argued with. We should attempt to convince them that our worldview is better. But they shouldn't lose their job, and they shouldn't be made afraid of expressing their view in public.

darawk 9y ago

To be clear, i'm not arguing that gays should have less rights. However, if I were to put forward such an argument, it would look like this: There are all kinds of classes of person who's rights we proscribe. Violent criminals, and those who are dangerously insane, come to mind. It's possible that some of those individuals were born that way - that they were predisposed to that behavior in a way that they cannot be 'blamed' for. Yet we feel no compunction about taking away their rights, because we feel that it's necessary to protect the safety of our civilization. So, in short, it's ok to take away a minority group's rights if the exercise of those rights is sufficiently harmful to society. Now, if you are a religious person, you may believe that Homosexuality contributes to moral decay, and the breakdown of sexual and social norms that serve to promote positive familial and social development. In light of that, you may rationally conclude that homosexuality is sufficiently harmful to society that the rights of homosexuals need to be limited. Again, I cannot stress enough that this is not what I personally believe. But IMO a person presenting their view in the way that I just did should not be censured for doing so. They should be argued with. We should attempt to convince them that our worldview is better. But they shouldn't lose their job, and they shouldn't be made afraid of expressing their view in public.