Talking Points
Terminology
Choose your words carefully!
“Anti-Gay Industry”
“Marriage Equality” instead of “Gay Marriage” or “Same-Sex Marriage”
Talking Points
How to respond to anti-marriage equality rhetoric.
| Anti-Marriage Equality Position: | Pro-Marriage Equality Response: |
| We already have equal rights. | We do not have an equal right to marry the partner of our choice. |
| Negative reactions to Prop 8 donations are intolerant and bigoted | We have to be clear what we’re talking about. Boycotts are cool, intimidation is not. |
| Homosexuality is unnatural. | Homosexuality is well-documented in nature. |
| Gay rights are not civil rights. | Though the movements are different, there are enough points of intersection to justify calling gay rights civil rights. |
| Gay marriage is a symptom or cause of moral decay in our society. | Marriage equality is a solution to moral decline. |
| Traditional marriage has existed for 5,000 years. | The seven kinds of marriage in the Bible alone. |
| Gay people are bad for kids. | Check out that plank in your own eye first. Research links poor health of LGB youth to family rejection. |
| The Bible says it’s wrong. | Response forthcoming. |
| Calling me bigoted is bigoted. | Response forthcoming. |
| More to come. | Responses forthcoming. |
For a humorous piece that addresses multiple anti-gay positions, read The 12 Reasons Same-Sex Marriage Will Ruin Society.
Conversations
Words to consider
- Leave civil unions to the government and marriage to the churches: two points of view.
- It takes more than rallies, and it’s about more than just marriage equality.
- Why do we boycott businesses when the business itself didn’t contribute to anti-gay causes, but the leadership did?
- The Gay Presidents?
- Thinking through our actions – Not every call to action is worth it.
- Watch that rhetoric – the anti-gay industry compares the GLBT community to McCarthy and Al-Quaeda.
Fun & Cool Stuff
Video: “Love Is Love” short film. Presents a world in which homosexuality is the norm.
Video: What’s Morally Wrong With Homosexuality? Philosopher John Corvino makes a humorous and comprehensive response to the claim that homosexuality is immoral (www.gaymoralist.com).
