Debate

Same-sex marriage should not be legal -

Main points AGAINST the moot

Not legalizing same-sex marriage:

• causes damage to homosexual individuals:
  - it does not assure the respect of fundamental rights, particularly the right to equality, against discrimination
  - it does not grant homosexuals the right to happiness: they can not marry the person they love.
  - it does not respect people's freedom of choice

while same-sex marriage would benefit homesexual individuals:
- would assure stability, as well as legal and financial benefits.

• causes damage to societies:
  - it encourages discrimination, labelling homosexuals as second class citizens that does not have the same rights of the others.

while same-sex marriage would benefit societies:
- it would encourage stable relationships, that create stable societies
- it would provide the environment for families, that are the basis of societies
- it would promote happiness
- it would reduce the need for society to provide support for citizens, because partners care for each other

• is not harmful to the institution of marriage:
  - same sex marriage would strenghten this institution, making it available to a higher number of people
  - it just represents an evolution of the institution of marriage, according to the evolution of customs in societies.

These are the points I found to support our thesis.
I prepared a scheme to help me during my speach -the conclusion- including these main points. My summary of course has to be based on the debate, so I will try to add any other theme we will discuss during the debate...