[Timber Loftis]

Originally posted by Melchior: Every cousin, parent, sibling, paedophile, polygamist or child disallowed marriage could cry the same discrimination argument that homosexuals are now crying.

Parent, cousin, Sibling --- consanguinity laws are based on science, which indicates retardation results. Oh, and in every state I've looked at, only 1st or 2nd cousins are prevented from marrying, some states say 2nd cousins can, some saw you must be 3rd or more removed.

Paedophile --- children can't consent

polygamist --- that's not a "couple"

child --- children can't consent

America does discriminate in an attempt to create and maintain a certain society.

But, can only discriminate based on gender where it can pass a strict scrutiny legal test. Which, everyone agrees would defeat a gay marriage prohibition.

That society believed all were created equal and given by their creator certain rights of equality, and that clearly includes the right to marry an adult, non related member of the opposite sex, not just "whom you love or want to have sex with".

As I said, all of the limitations on marriage are fine, except that of gender. The gender discrimination is illegal. Men and women can't be treated separately under the law. Cases have been struck down where men were given a lower drinking age, women were given preference in college admission, etc. etc. There's no reason to treat them different in marriage either.

That notwithstanding, gays are not prevented from engaging and maintaining loving cohabitational relationships with people they love.

And the jews can worship in church. And, in Virginia, before Loving v. VA was overturned, blacks could marry --- they just couldn't marry whites.