A logical fallacy is a mistake made in reasoning. They are common in most of our conversations. The ability to identify fallacy is an important skill. It helps one to protect his or her dignity. Gay marriage is one of the topics that utilize logical fallacy. Some of the fallacies are discussed below.
The legalization of same-sex marriage comes in the form of a slippery slope fallacy (Ferrer). If gay marriage is made official, then other groups may want favors for them to be legalized such group is polyandry. According to this fallacy, the fact that same marriage is legalized, doesn’t guarantee that other groups seeking to legalize of polygamy will take place (“Same-Sex Marriage”). Legalizing homosexual marriage is part of the rights set up by the constitution to each and every citizen of the US. Polygamy is people who already enjoy the right to be married but want more people included in that marriage, so this separates them from homosexuals. Mankind is made up of both heterosexuals and homosexuals. Allowing same-sex marriage will not destroy humanity in them (“Same-Sex Marriage”). The change of the traditions of a country doesn’t necessarily mean that we would have lost the morality of our country. Each challenge should be handled separately.
False analogy fallacy, it is presented in the situation whereby people in marriage should be able to get children (Ferrer). So gay marriage should not be legalized because same-sex people cannot get children. We have people who get married when they are past the childbearing age. If the government allows them to get married, then same-sex marriage should also be allowed. False analogy fallacy also comes in when people in a same-sex marriage have a negative impact on society (“Same-Sex Marriage”). Yet the truth is people in this kind of marriage do not change from the normal human beings that they are, despite their sexual orientation. Such treatment will make those who do not have an issue with same-sex marriage to start developing negativity with that kind of marriage.
The main purpose of getting married is to bear children. Red herring fallacy comes in a situation where homosexuals are denied to get married because they are of the same sex (Ferrer). Marriage should only be for people of the opposite sex. It also serves as the main way to sanction and solemnize the union between people of the opposite sex (“Same-Sex Marriage”). Marriage is basically built on the sexuality of ladies and their ability to reproduce. People in marriage should be able to complement each other in whatever they do. In same-sex marriage, there is no difference between the two. Both of them have a similar physical orientation.
Gay marriage denies the individual to fully enjoy what is entailed in a normal marriage. People in same-sex marriage do not use contraceptives in the course of their marriage that is part of a normal marriage (“Same-Sex Marriage”). Strawman fallacy comes in here (Ferrer). People no longer have the belief that full sexual relationship would begin in marriage. Gay marriage denies people in marriage the ability to enjoy being a mother or a father. Most people regard child upbringing is the best part of any marriage and family set up. The picture in figure 1 below shows a homosexual couple that has just wedded.
Finally, the fallacies above discuss how gay marriage has impacted the normal society. Constitutions and rules governing states and governments have advocated equal rights for every citizen of each state. The logical fallacies discussed do not give enough justification on why same-sex marriage should not be legalized or should be legalized.
Works Cited
Ferrer, David “15 Logical Fallacies You Should Know Before Getting Into a Debate.” 01 August 2019, https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/01/the-logical-fallacy-gay-marriage-opponents-depend-upon/251486/. Accessed on 16 May 2020
“Same-Sex Marriage: Breeding Ground for Logical Fallacies.” 2020
http://www2.gvsu.edu/miller90/ANALYSIS.pdf. Accessed on 16 May 2020
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