Ryan T. Anderson of the conservative
Heritage Foundation claims gay marriage bans “take nothing away
from anyone.”
During an interview with LDS
Church-owned KSL TV in Salt Lake City, Anderson incorrectly argued
that marriage bans do not prohibit churches from marrying gay
couples.
“As you lay out your arguments, many
people may be unmoved because it seems like you aren't giving
homosexuals the opportunity for true fulfillment, that society is
justifying sacrificing some people's fulfillment at the sake of
others. What is your response to that?” Anderson was asked.
“Marriage laws take nothing away from
anyone,” replied
Anderson, the author of What is Marriage? Man and Woman: A
Defense. “In all 50 states, two people of the same sex can
live with each other and love each other. If their house of worship
recognizes same-sex marriage, they can have a wedding there. If
their business wants to give them marriage benefits, the business
can. That’s very much a live and let live society. What’s at
stake with the redefinition of marriage is: will the law redefine
what marriage is and then force every community, every religious
community, except for the four walls of a church, every business
community, into treating the same-sex relationship as if it’s a
marriage, even when it violates their beliefs about marriage? But
defining marriage as between a man and a woman so that as many
children as possible have a mother and a father in no way infringes
upon the liberty of any American to live and to love how they choose
to.”
(Related: Ryan
Anderson claims his gay friends oppose marriage equality.)