An Analysis Of David Masci's An Argument Against Same Sex Marriage

In “An Argument against Same-Sex Marriage: An Interview with Rick Santorum” the interviewer, David Masci, presents a transcript of an interview with Rick Santorum, ex-senator and devout Christian, in which Santorum presents his stance against same-sex marriage. The interviewer begins by introducing the argument gay rights activists make for same-sex marriage that they want get married for the same reasons a heterosexual couple does (Santorum). Masci uses their argument to question Santorum on why he believes they should not be able to marry. Santorum responds that the reason is due to the effects it would have on society and children. His references to society and children continue and become repeating themes in his answers.

He pushes his belief that legalizing same-sex marriage will negatively affect children. He states that the best thing for a child, is to have a mother and a father, who are a married and able to raise them in a stable family (Santorum). He states that “mothers and fathers bring something unique.”(Santorum). Santorum is certain of this because two females would not be able to give his children the things a mother and

He speaks of “moral ecology” and reveals his discontent with same-sex marriage when he compares it to “people [building] the equivalent of a strip mall.”(Santorum). Santorum is then asked about a “go-slow” approach but he disapproves of such a thing due to it just being “there to make [the people] feel better” but isn’t a probable approach (Santorum). His conclusion is that if same-sex marriage is legalized, marriage will become meaningless, the number of marriages would decline and the rate of divorce would increase (Santorum). He uses the Netherlands as an example as he states that after they legalized same-sex marriage, the number of marriages decreased