In a recent email dialog, I responded to the notion that Homosexual conduct is not a relevant issue for political discussion, but a matter of personal choice in a free society. (My interlocutors statements are printed within quotes followed by my response):
"It all gets really simple when we realize that the free choices of individuals (ie, sexual orientation) that do not interfere with the natural rights of others is really no issue at all in a truly free society."
Homosexual conduct does interfere with the natural rights of others. Consider a society where homosexual conduct would become the norm. That society would be set to extinction within a generation. It is for such obvious reasons that within traditional Christian ethics (on top of the teaching of the Bible) homosexual conduct has been identified as "unnatural".
There is no right to "unnatural" conduct.
One may as well advocate a "right" to chose to engage in sex with animals, or cannibalism among consenting adults. (
Do not laugh, it has already happened)
The above example shows the danger of trying to separate ethics, religion and politics, treating each as if they could function in a vacuum independently of each other. They can't.
"Government involvement in social and culture wars is nothing short of tyranny. For example, marriage is an institution of religion, but government has claimed it and given it special dispensations… therefore, what would otherwise be comical and absurd insensitivity by homosexuals to those of faith who define marriage as between a man and a woman, gay marriage has become a “rights” issue."
Marriage, like the family, are religious institutions with serious consequences for society. A government which in its policies undermines these institutions, at the same time undermines the right to life, liberty and property of its present and future generations.
I agree that "gay" marriage has been wrongly defined as a "rights" issue. But, the main reason is not the limits of government in promoting social policy, but because in principle there is no right for individuals to engage in "unnatural" conduct.