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Lawyers arguing on behalf of the state of Kentucky, attempting to preserve the state’s ban on same-sex marriages, have crafted a bizarre argument that focuses on the necessity of procreation for species survival. The forces of bigotry have apparently run out of compelling reasons to ban gay marriages. However, instead of admitting that they have no rational legal argument to oppose same-sex marriages, attorneys for the state of Kentucky have decided to play the human extinction card. The argument as outlined by the state of Kentucky’s legal team states that:

Encouraging, promoting, and supporting the formation of relationships that have the natural ability to procreate furthers the Commonwealth‘s basic and fundamental interest in ensuring the existence of the human race. This alone should be sufficient to satisfy any standard of review.

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Although the attorneys say that alone should be sufficient to satisfy any standard of review, they apparently have to convince themselves of that, since they further the argument by contending:

The Commonwealth, however, has an additional interest in promoting procreation supporting long-term economic stability through stable birth rates.

The state of Kentucky is arguing that gay marriage should be banned if couples are not reproducing it will lower birth rates, damage the economy, and possibly result in the end of the human race. The argument is comically absurd, and it is difficult to imagine that a serious legal team thinks it has any merit to it. In addition, one wonders why if our existence is so imperiled, why the state of Kentucky does not go a step further and require all people to get married and procreate, and why not ban marriages for elderly and infertile couples as well. If human survival is at stake, surely half-hearted measures like just banning gay marriages is not enough.

Of course, no serious thinker would argue that same-sex marriages will be detrimental to birth rates in the state of Kentucky. Nor would any serious thinker argue that Kentucky’s current birth rates must be maintained at current levels to ensure human existence. Besides, if the demographic apocalypse is going to occur, we should see warning signs in other states that allow gay marriage. Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriages in 2004, and yet Boston has not been depopulated yet by a dramatic plunge in live births brought on by gay marriages.

The state of Kentucky’s argument for banning same-sex marriages is absurd. Marriage is not designed solely for the purpose of making babies, nor does gay marriage do anything to prevent heterosexual couples or unmarried partners from procreating. The argument is indefensible and ridiculous.