What are some pros of same-sex marriage?

Answer 1

Opinions from various contributors:

1. Denying same sex couples the right to marry is a violation of civil rights because marriage is a legal civil status. It provides homosexual couples with the same legal rights as heterosexual couples.
2. It standardizes the rules of inheritance in the event that a deceased spouse does not leave a will.
3. It creates the same responsibilities to spouse and children as does heterosexual marriage.
4. Marriage benefits (such as joint ownership, medical decision-making capacity) would be available to all couples.
5. Homosexuality is an accepted lifestyle nowadays with most evidence proving biological causation.
6. Denying these marriages is a form of discrimination.
7. It commits the community which grants the marriage license to honoring that relationship.
8. It doesn't hurt society or anyone in particular.
9. The only thing that should matter in marriage is love.
10. The number of child adoptions should increase since gay couples cannot procreate (although some might see an increase in gay adoptions as an argument against same-sex marriages).
11. It encourages people to have strong family values and give up high-risk sexual lifestyles.
12. The same financial benefits that apply to opposite sex marriages would apply to same-sex marriages.
13. More children would find themselves in a family with married parents since many gay and lesbian couples have children of their own with either gay friends or through in vitro. Many children look forward to when their parents can be married.
14. Contributes to family stability.
15. Allows for assignment of distinct household roles, such as breadwinner and caretaker, if desired.
16. Reduces economic burden of income tax, inheritance tax, real estate transfer tax, etc.
17. Creates a new family, which takes precedence over both partners' prior families and thereby prevents them from remaining as "children" well into adulthood.
18. Provides security of knowing that spouses will be acknowledged and treated as one family unit in times of crisis and that their relationship will not need to be proven or explained to others.
19. It has no effect whatsoever on the institution of marriage since marriage is a civil legal institution.
20. It strengthens family values by including and welcoming same sex spouses and their children into the community. This has been indicated to lead to less bullying of homosexuals and their children.
21. There are lower STD rates among married homosexuals than among non-married or cohabiting homosexual couples.
22. Married homosexual couples on average have more children then non-married homosexual couples. If homosexuals are married, they are more likely to be raising children, thus contributing to the future.
23. As with heterosexual marriage, same-sex marriage tends to "stabilize" people. Keeping the marriage intact requires forethought, personal responsibility, personal and financial self-discipline, etc.
24. The spouse of a sick, injured or disabled person is the "first responder" and care-giver, and has the legal authority to deal with doctors, hospitals, care residences, etc. The spouse also becomes eligible for inclusion in the other spouse's medical insurance. The spouse thus provides services that might otherwise be the responsibility of the state.
25. It automatically grants a spouse the right to make medical decisions in the event that the partner cannot, which saves time and -- potentially -- a life.
26. The married couple forms an economic unit with joint responsibility for debts. This not only helps to protect the bank or business that holds the debt, it can also help the couple to exercise financial responsibility. And if one partner is not working (or is working as a homemaker and child-raiser) the other person's income can support the household.
27. In times of emotional stress, partners support and guide each other through difficult decisions. Spouses have the legal authority to assume full responsibility if their partners are disabled or otherwise incapacitated.
28. Married couples have more resources for raising children, and there is no ambiguity about parental legal authority nor question of gender based parental superiority.

They cant choose who they like, so a Good thing about homosexual marriage is that they are happy, society should be equal so there is no difference in marriage