[quote]dcb wrote:
I was going to outline some other groups of people that we could start denying the right to marriage; drug and alcohol abusers, people genetically predisposed to certain diseases…etc. But in deference to you and your request, I’ll not do that. Happy?[/quote]
Your “there are other dangerous groups out there” argument has no merit whatsoever. As there is a fatal flaw in your thinking.
Currently we are trying to PREVENT obestity. drug abuse and alcoholism not promote them by government acceptance.
SEE THE DIFFERENCE?
[quote]It turns out that lesbians do not have a significantly higher rate of disease than the population in general. At least in regard to STD’s. So we can’t deny them the right to marriage based on the detrimental effects of such relationships on the overall health of society. So lesbian marriage should be allowed.
[/quote]
Sorry, but it turns out that you are very, very wrong:
"Studies have found that smoking rates are higher among gay and lesbian adolescents compared to the general population. Smoking as a teen increases the risk of becoming an adult smoker. We know that about 90 percent of adult smokers started smoking as teens.
Depression and Anxiety. Many factors cause depression and anxiety among all women. Studies show that lesbian and bisexual women report higher rates of depression and anxiety than heterosexual women do.
Lesbian women may be at a higher risk for uterine, breast, cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers because of the health profiles listed above. However, more research is needed. In addition, these reasons may contribute to this risk:
Lesbians have traditionally been less likely to bear children. Hormones released during pregnancy and breastfeeding are believed to protect women against breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers.
Lesbians have higher rates of alcohol use, poor nutrition, and obesity.
These factors may increase the risk of breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers, and other cancers.
Lesbians are less likely to visit a doctor or nurse for routine screenings, such as a Pap, which can prevent or detect cervical cancer. The viruses that cause most cervical cancer can be sexually transmitted between women.
For reasons that are unclear, BV (Bacterial vaginosis) is more common in lesbian and bisexual women than heterosexual women, and frequently occurs in both members of lesbian couples. BV happens when the normal bacteria in the vagina get out of balance. Over half of affected women have a vaginal discharge with a fishy odor or vaginal itching. If left untreated, BV can increase a woman?s chances of getting other STDs such as HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Genital herpes and the human papillomavirus (HPV) are more likely to be transmitted between women than HIV is because they can be transmitted by skin-to-skin, genital-to-genital, or mouth-to-genital contact.
In addition, because these viruses are not curable and stay in the body, a woman could acquire herpes or HPV from a male partner and later pass it on to a female partner. Case studies and recent research support this possibility. As HPV can lead to cervical cancer, lesbians and bisexual women need Pap tests on a regular basis, just as heterosexual women do.
HEY LOTHARIO DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS BEAUTIFUL?
"Our research group at the University of Washington is studying a common cause of vaginitis: bacterial vaginosis (also called “BV”). Lesbian and bisexual women may be more likely to have BV than straight women. BV is an infection of the vagina that can cause abnormal discharge, odor, and itching. However, BV often exists without causing any of these things, and women may not know they have it. BV can be treated with antibiotics but often comes back.
Violence in Lesbian and Homosexual Relationships.
A study in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence examined conflict and violence in lesbian relationships. The researchers found that 90 percent of the lesbians surveyed had been recipients of one or more acts of verbal aggression from their intimate partners during the year prior to this study, with 31 percent reporting one or more incidents of physical abuse.[69]
In a survey of 1,099 lesbians, the Journal of Social Service Research found that “slightly more than half of the [lesbians] reported that they had been abused by a female lover/partner. The most frequently indicated forms of abuse were verbal/emotional/psychological abuse and combined physical-psychological abuse.”[70]
"Bradford, J. (2002, July 10). Lesbian and bisexual health: an overview for healthcare providers. Journal Watch Women?s Health [On-line], Available: womens-health.jwatch.org.
Lesbian and bisexual women have higher reported rates of risk for cancer and cardiovascular disease as well as obesity and High rates of human papilloma virus infection."
And this:
Cochran, S.D. et al. (2001 April). Cancer-related risk indicators and preventive screening behaviors among lesbians and bisexual women. American Journal of Public Health. 91 (4); 178-81.
Increased prevalence rates were found in lesbian/bisexual women for obesity, alcohol use, and tobacco use."
And this:
"Fethers, K. et al. (2000, July). Sexually Transmitted Infections and Risk Behaviors in Women Who Have Sex with Women. Sexually Transmitted Infections. p. 345.
Women who have sexual relations with women are at significantly higher risk for certain sexually transmitted diseases: BV (bacterial vaginosis), hepatitis C, and HIV risk behaviors in WSW as compared with controls."
And this:
Frieberg, P. (2001, January 12). Study: Alcohol Use More Prevalent for Lesbians. The Washington Blade. p. 21.
Lesbian women consume alcohol more frequently, and in larger amounts, than heterosexual women.
Lesbians were at significantly greater risk than heterosexual women for both binge drinking (19.4 percent compared to 11.7 percent), and for heavy drinking (7 percent compared to 2.7 percent)."
THIS IS GETTING TIRESOME
And this:
"Aaron, D.J., Markovic, N., Danielson, M.E., et al. (2001). Behavioral risk factors for disease and preventive health practices among lesbians. American Journal of Public Health. 91 (6): 972-975.
Lesbians were more likely to report cigarette use, alcohol use, and heavy alcohol use."
And this:
Bradford, J. et al. (1994). National Lesbian Health Care Survey: Implications for Mental Health Care. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 62: 239, cited in Health Implications Associated with Homosexuality, p. 81.
More than half of lesbians had felt too nervous to accomplish ordinary activities at some time during the past year and over one-third had been depressed."
And this:
"Diamant, A.L., Wold, C., Sritzer, K., Gelberg, L. (2000, November-December). Health Behaviors, Health Status, and Access to and Use of Health Care. Archives of Family Medicine. 9: 1043-1051.
Lesbians and bisexual women were more likely than heterosexual women to use tobacco products and to report any alcohol consumption, but only lesbians were significantly more likely than heterosexual women to drink heavily."
I have many more statistics but I think my point is well made. While lesbians may have a more normal HIV risk (similar to the hetersexual population) they have many more risks both physically, socially and emotionally!
Did you ever think we might just be better off using our bodies for what God (or nature for you God haters or ahteists) had intened it for?
dcb,
I am personally happy to see you join this debate. You and I did this several months ago in another similar thread. I think you are a very good person who is well intended and I enjoyed our discourse. 