Marriage is for breeding only!

Many the same-sex marriage opponent has put up the argument that marriage is mainly for the procreation and raising of children. On July 26, 2006 the Washington State Supreme Court, in a near-sighted, cowardly ruling, stated, just this reason for why the state can limit marriage. Never mind that defense of marriage supporters like Pat Buchanan, married since 1971, has never had children. Well, a new group called the Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance is presenting an initiative I-957 which defines marriage under the narrow Washington Supreme Court's ruling. If passed it would:

• add the phrase, “who are capable of having children with one another” to the legal definition of marriage;
• require that couples married in Washington file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage automatically annulled;
• require that couples married out of state file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage classed as “unrecognized;”
• establish a process for filing proof of procreation; and
• make it a criminal act for people in an unrecognized marriage to receive marriage benefits.

So here is where the opponents of same-sex marriage can put their money where their mouth is. If marriage is all about children and only children, well there oughta be a law. Of course it means that people past child-bearing age would not be able to marry. Also, infertile couples would have to dissolve their marriage. And a couple who have lost a child would no longer be married unless they procreate again. Empty nesters, whose children are no longer dependent, would no longer need marriage right? So their marriage should be dissolved too. But, oh well. It's all about having children. Love and a desire to be linked to someone for the rest of your life are irrelevant. The Christianists should be overjoyed!

While this initiative is not serious, it does illustrate the stupidity of one of the major arguments same-sex marriage opponents throw up in every debate on this issue.