Man I've seen this argument a lot from people who like to pretend like they're not homophobic or against gay rights. They try to make it into an issue of everyone having equal rights. Starting out with saying that without gay marriage everyone has the same rights of marrying someone of the opposite gender - but if suddenly homosexuals have the right to marry people of the same gender, this would somehow constitute special rights just for homosexuals.

Of course it's a silly claim, since you could use precisely their argument about gay marriage where it is legal: "Everyone has the right to gay marriage, straight people have the right to marry someone of the same gender just like gay people do", but they don't want to see it that way. Because then they can't argue that they're only trying to prevent some people getting more rights than others.

Which always leads into the slippery slope argument: "If we give those people special rights, then other people will want special rights too. Sure it wouldn't be the end of the world if Builder Bob over here wants to marry his buddy Garry-Larry - it's not like a homophobe or anything, I wouldn't mind that. But if gay people get a special right like that, then pedophiles will want the right to marry children, and zoophiles will want the right to marry farm animals and that's just a slippery slope we can't afford to slide down!"

And I just don't get how it can be so difficult to understand the concept of informed consent. Especially in a country like the US, where there is always so much talk about "I'm a grown person, I can make my own decisions - I don't want no nanny state deciding what's best for me. Down with big government, freedom rules supreme!" Especially with conservative politicians who like to use that language the most - they should recognize that their rhetoric doesn't mesh with their idea of being in control of who consenting adults choose to get into a marriage with.

And as long as you remember the concept of informed consent there is no slippery slope. Little kids and animals can't give informed consent to marrying you, so it really isn't an issue. You're just hiding behind that slippery slope of yours.

Sorry to rant, it's just that reading the title reminded me of too many conversations I had a few years ago and I needed to vent a little of the frustrations I felt then.