Men and women generally produce offspring. They are our future and they need protection until they come of age, therefore it is in societies interest to protect the relationship between their parents.
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We’re not exactly setting records though. 50% divorce rate, Fewer children, school issues, we’re near last in western democracies in education standards. While I’m somewhat neutral on the issue of gay unions, I don’t view them as a threat to my family or my marriage. We do need to encourage a family setting but not at the expense of all those who don’t fit the mold, both straight and gay. I live in a community where almost half are gay couples. I’ve lived here now 16 years and haven’t seen any couples split up yet, either gay or straight. Some of the gay couples here have been together 20 or more years.
I’ve heard about gay promiscuity but I sure don’t see it in my community. I’ve heard a lot of the negatives and I haven’t seen it here.
FWIW, I don't really care that much about gay marriage either. It won't bring about the end of the world, God's wrath or the downfall of civilization. I just think that state recognition of gay marriage is just a hare brained idea because these relationships are of no value to society at large.
It’s my understanding that the divorce rates really don’t give an accurate picture of how many divorces actually occur. I think divorce rates are based on how many divorces occur per year versus how many marriages, although I may be mistaken. In other words, if you have 8 couples who have been married for 20 years, plus one couple who divorces and another that marries, you have a 50% divorce rate.
Does anybody else know how divorce statistics are tabulated?