Quote Originally Posted by Seamus Fermanagh View Post
A reasonable question.

For me, it seems that most of the reasonable opposition to same-sex marriage in the USA objects for reasons that boil down to either moral traditionalism or religious convictions. It is my belief that, were it proven that being "gay" is an innate quality, that a goodly portion of the religious opposition and traditional opposition would have to re-think their whole attitude towards sexuality. Discriminating against a chosen behavior which you define as abhorent is more defensible -- in logical terms -- than is discrminating against an innate characteristic (not that humans haven't done that anyway throughout history). My hope would be that we'd address the whole issue more reasonably.

In truth, on a practical level, your implied criticism of my point is spot on. Regardless of the research, most folks would not change their viewpoint and would continue to revel in their own ill-informed opinions. So the research results would accomplish little at all and we'd still be stuck in this same dynamic.

It really boils down to the fact that many heteros have a visceral negative response to seeing same-sex behavior and want it closeted off and screened away by any means in order to further their own psychological comfort (no, they're not all closet homosexuals themselves, though a number are and are arguing against admitting such to themselves). That dynamic won't change, so neither will this debate.
While I think that youy might, theoretically, have a point - I don't think it matters theologically for most religions. The "big three" all view the world and humanity as inherrently fallen and corrupted; ergo homosexuality is just another form of corruption.

Oh, and before all you "Liberals" jump down my throat, this is not my personal opinion, but my theological opinion with regard to others' opinions, ok?