I've always assumed that Gary Bauer was hiding something. Turns out it's a mysterious "Oxford study" he's been using to suggest homosexuality is more dangerous than smoking. Bauer, president of the right-wing religious group ironically named "American Values," is fanatically in favor of a constitutional amendment forbidding same-sex marriages. While Bauer has a history of making homophobic statements, this time he's gotten in bed with Darwin. His preposterous statement (pasted below) surely stands on its own as a work of idiocy that he describes as a "documented medical fact." Trouble is nobody except Bauer seems to know from where this "fact" comes:
"While marriage law has traditionally been a state issue, the definition of marriage has never been an issue ... More importantly, however, the government has an obligation to promote public policy that is best for the general welfare and to discriminate against behaviors that adversely impact society and public health. Tobacco use is heavily regulated by the state and smoking is strongly discouraged. A major study conducted by Oxford University demonstrated that homosexual conduct is three times more deadly than smoking. Homosexual behavior is fraught with adverse health affects. Again, this is not opinion, but documented medical fact. Public policy must not be ignorant of medical facts associated with this lifestyle and from a public policy perspective, the behavior should not be encouraged by affording it the status of marriage."
He never does cite what "major study" was conducted by Oxford University. And isn't it odd how enthusiastic the right has suddenly become about protecting people, but not state's rights?
Otherwise, if allowing same-sex marriages is an endorsement of bad heath, then I wonder what Bauer thinks about abusive heterosexual spousal relationships that seem to exist quite freely (a person convicted of abuse is still free to marry), quickie marriages in Vegas (Britney did it!) and marriages between smokers, none of which prevent the union, healthy or not.
If that doesn't convince you, ask yourself if you really want your government to tell you to eat your vegetables?
11:12:47 AM 
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