you *gotta* have kids

[nostatic]

http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/washington/stories/NW_020507WABinitiative957SW.546c6a4d.html

OLYMPIA, Wash. - An initiative filed by proponents of same-sex marriage would require heterosexual couples to have kids within three years or else have their marriage annulled.

Initiative 957 was filed by the Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance. That group was formed last summer after the state Supreme Court upheld Washington's ban on same-sex marriage.

Under the initiative, marriage would be limited to men and women who are able to have children. Couples would be required to prove they can have children in order to get a marriage license, and if they did not have children within three years, their marriage would be subject to annulment.

All other marriages would be defined as "unrecognized" and people in those marriages would be ineligible to receive any marriage benefits.

“For many years, social conservatives have claimed that marriage exists solely for the purpose of procreation ... The time has come for these conservatives to be dosed with their own medicine," said WA-DOMA organizer Gregory Gadow in a printed statement. “If same-sex couples should be barred from marriage because they can not have children together, it follows that all couples who cannot or will not have children together should equally be barred from marriage."

Supporters must gather more than 224,000 valid signatures by July 6 to put the initiative on the November ballot.

Opponents say the measure is another attack on traditional marriage, but supporters say the move is needed to have a discussion on the high court ruling.

[onlycafe]

i think that may be the stupidest thing i have heard of in quite a while, and i have heard a lot.

[nostatic]

almost as stupid as saying that ability to have children is the metric for allowing marriage perhaps?

[VaSteve]

I actually think it's funny in it's stupidity. Next step, the heteros will require the gays to adopt a crack baby or something within 3 years. Two can play...nobody wins. LOL

[Nathans_Dad]

Stupid publicity stunt. Next?

P.S. I'm safe...two kids and another on the way, WHEW!

[Big Ed]

Originally posted by nostatic
All other marriages would be defined as "unrecognized" and people in those marriages would be ineligible to receive any marriage benefits.

This is a serious question...what exactly are the benefits of which they speak?

Domestic partners are now recognized for health benefits and such (at least here in MA they are). Last I checked there was no taxation benefit.

So, what are the benefits in question?

[therotman]

Originally posted by VaSteve
I actually think it's funny in it's stupidity. Next step, the heteros will require the gays to adopt a crack baby or something within 3 years. Two can play...nobody wins. LOL

except the crack baby

[Scooter]

A publicity stunt for their cause....nothing more, nothing less.

[island911]

Angry gays.


Thing is, Marriage (1man/1woman) is all about encouraging a productive stable society.

[many944s]

Sounds like BS to me.....

Maybe it is time for me to start my campaign for the "Procreation License". A law that would require people to apply for a license to re-produce.

-Nick

[the]

Originally posted by nostatic
http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/washington/stories/NW_020507WABinitiative957SW.546c6a4d.html

“For many years, social conservatives have claimed that marriage exists solely for the purpose of procreation ... The time has come for these conservatives to be dosed with their own medicine," said WA-DOMA organizer Gregory Gadow in a printed statement.

I'm not a social conservative, but talk about a straw man argument.

From what I've heard over the years, social conservatives have claimed marriage is something that is between a man and a woman. But I've not heard them say marriage "exists *solely* for the purpose of procreation." According to this argument, that social conservative would have to say he/she believes an infertile person should not be allowed to be married. I'd like to see a cite to any social conservative source that makes that statement.

Just gotta be fair. This whole stunt is stupid because it's based on an entirely false premise - one that is simply made up and then attributed to the opponent. Weak.

[on2wheels52]

I still like my idea of parents posting $100,000 bond per child.
Jim

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I like that one too.

If this passes, does this mean I get to get rid of my wife without having to file for divorce, pay attorney fees and pay 1/2 of my income to her for the rest of my life? BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

J/K babe. . . I know you read this board when I'm at work.

[dd74]

Talk about an excellent way for the gay community to further alienate itself.

Yeah, I briefly heard about this iniative, but didn't really listen. I'm for them getting married legally, but IMO this is a hell of a way to lose continuing support for their issue.

[RANDY P]

Great - more petitioners on the corners of Seattle during lunch hour..

Like we didn't have enough already.

rjp

[alf]

If gay people want to get married, what harm will it do?

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally posted by alf
If gay people want to get married, what harm will it do?

+1

lets hear exactly what harm it will cause

[dd74]

Originally posted by alf
If gay people want to get married, what harm will it do?

None IMO. But when they turn around with an attempt to dictate marriage policies and having children to straight couples, that doesn't smack of a double-standard?

[dafischer]

Originally posted by on2wheels52
I still like my idea of parents posting $100,000 bond per child.
Jim

Much like my idea of parents needing a license before reproducing.

Hoever, this probably wouldn't work...just look at the results of licensing drivers.

[the]

Originally posted by alf
If gay people want to get married, what harm will it do?

I think the most commonly made argument is that it legitimizes a behavior that many feel is immoral, sinful, wrong, etc. and it is harmful for the state/society to legitimize such behavior.

And also arguments based on religious/bible-based beliefs that marriage is dictated by God to be exclusively between a man and a woman.