Burden:

To proove that the state hasnt the duty nor the legitimacy to tax exempt religious institutions
that do not accept gay marriage, as the state should not support any institution that is
homophobic.
SQ, definitions:
As of now, in countries where there are tax exemptions, tax exemptions are used as a blanket
rule, as in everybody gets one, except for extraordinary cases (namely hate groups).
Although statistics vary, it is safe to assume that the budgetary hole that tax exemptions
creates is significant.
We would also extent this extraordinary case to institutions that do not accept marriage
equality and we would consequentially lift their tax exempt status.


Before going into any actual argumentantion, we need to proove that not accepting gay
marriage is, in most cases, inherently homophobic and not just related to religious dogma, but
has a social reasoning behind it.
We see how there are a plaethora of churches from any major religion that have accepted
marriage equality. This goes to show that:
a. Religions are capable of change
and
b. Most religions are capable of accepting gay marriage
If these 2 premises are true, this goes to show that most religious institutions have a social
motivation behind not accepting marriage equality which can either be:
a. Being homophobic in itself
b. Being populist in the way in which they are aware of the homophobia of a lot of
believers and so they would like to essentially bandwagon in order to win more
believers.
In either case, its safe to call these religions homophobic.
I. The effects of homophobic institutions
Thesis: Given the fact that these religious institutions have an active role in proliferating
homophobia in society, this policy will at least cripple these spreading capacities
For most people, religion is something extremely important. Why? Because its one of the
most intimate and fundametal belief of one. It is the fundamental philosophy of all living
things. It is the word of God.
Secondarly, in most religions, clerics are seen as being under divine influence and/or
possesion and are, therefore, speaking the word of God directly.
Therefore, religion has a huge potential of influencing ones beliefs.
How does the non-acceptance of gay marriage influence homophobia?
Even if the rhetoric in itself is not anti-gay in general, not accepting gay marriage still has
a impact on believers.
How?
By underlining the diffrenece beetween them and us. The simple fact that they have a
diffrent institution and/or do no not have acces to the institutions that I do shows believers
that they are not one of us. Mix that up with the argument of them not being the ones that
are normal and that homophobia appears.
Secondarly, for the people for which religion is more important, not accepting marriage
equality is even more important because they take it personal. Not accepting marriage
equality is the statement that the state makes by saying that they do not endorce noe
legitimize that respective relationship as it is not in accordance with the word of god. For
a lot of people, being gay is direct opposition to the word of god.

This goes to show us that these religions are a motor for spreading homophobia in society.
Now obviously, our policy is not going to eradicate homophobia in society, but we still
believe that it is important to implement. Why?
I. The message- the state has to actively take measures to show the people that they
oppose such a mentality and that they do not endorce it (something something
impact)
II. To limit their possibility of spreading- we concede that the odds of changing the
opinion of person that is already homophobic and part of that religion are rather
slim, but the ones that we need to tackle are the future generations. By this policy,
we are limiting there capital and therefore limit there possibility of advertising and
spreading their message and getting new believers.
III. To help legitimize legitimate religions- it is a common critic for when we are
talking about tax exemptions in general that the state is supporting to many
religions intitutitions that are homophobic. This leads to a wave of anti-theism or
anti-tax exemptions. We thing this policy does a lot to show that look, there are
legitimate relgions thate should be supported for their contribution in society