Same-sex marriage is not ‘genderless’

Some marriage supporters refer to same-sex marriage as “genderless.” 

For example, in his defense of marriage, Communications Director of Preserve Marriage Washington, Chip White, wrote to the New York Times:

"If marriage is redefined to be a genderless institution, children are the ones who would suffer. Such a paradigm shift says to children that mothers and fathers don’t matter (especially fathers) – any two “parents” will do. It proclaims the false notion that men and women are exactly the same in rearing children. And it undermines the marriage culture by making marriage a meaningless political gesture, rather than a child-affirming social contract. We urge voters to reject redefining marriage."

White raised several valid points.  But let’s explore the gender issue further.  Is same-sex marriage actually “genderless”? 

People don’t abdicate their genders when they commit to a same-sex union.  Ellen and Portia don’t suddenly become “genderless” when they commit to each other.  Two women remain two women. 

Marriage advocates such as PMW are correct in pinpointing gender as a crucial issue.  But the problem with same-sex marriage is not that it is genderless.  The monumental problem with same-sex marriage is that it is downright anti-gender.

Using the euphemism “marriage equality,” activists such as the Human Rights Campaign seek to change a naturally gender-integrated institution—marriage—into a distorted gender-segregated union.   No matter what it is called, two men who “marry” automatically discriminate against women, femininity, and motherhood in the family unit.  Any children these guys adopt will be purposely deprived of a mother.  This is anti-female.

The same goes for the opposite couple.  By excluding men, masculinity, and fatherhood, two married women discriminate against men.  This is anti-male.

Because it promotes this anti-female and anti-male mentality, same-sex marriage is anti-gender.  Same-sex marriage marks the insidious denigration of gender in our families and culture. 

No doubt most Americans who support marriage equality have good intentions and do it out of concern for their family and friends who are dealing with same-sex attraction.  But do they realize that by endorsing gender segregation in marriage, they promote an anti-gender culture?

Only 1.4% of us have same-sex attraction.  But every single one of us has a gender, including the 1.4%.

Defend pro-gender marriage, because biology matters to every family.