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Equal Rights for All Essays

Decent Essays

Equal Rights for All

Gay marriage has always been a subject of great controversy. Andrew Sullivan addresses this issue in his persuasive essay entitled “Let Gays Marry.” Sullivan’s essay appeared in Newsweek in June of 1996. Through his problem/solution structure of this essay, Sullivan uses rhetorical appeals to try and persuade the audience to accept gay marriage as a natural part of life.

Sullivan, an editor of The New Republic, also wrote Virtually Normal: An Argument about Homosexuality (26). Andrew Sullivan, who is openly gay himself, is a devout Catholic who has spent his life researching subjects involving the gay community. His articles are simply ways for him to show his feelings to the general …show more content…

Sullivan then shows that modifying of the definition of marriage has only brought positive changes for the people of America so far (26). Changing the definition to include same-sex marriages would simply be another positive change that is necessary for the growth of our country. With each problem that is brought up, Sullivan comes up with a convincing way to resolve the issue.

Sullivan uses ethos as a strategy to appeal to his audience. Sullivan begins his essay by appealing to the audiences’ good sense by saying that everyone, including gays should have equal rights under the constitution. Sullivan states that, “[Gays and lesbians] are citizens, entitled, like everyone else, to equal protection-no special rights, but simple equality” (26). The author also appeals to the more religious members of the audience by using persuasion through ideas of high moral character. Sullivan explains that gay marriages would not interfere with the rights or beliefs of any religion (26). He makes his ideas clear that our country already has a problem with separating church and state and that gay marriage would not add to this issue of our country (26). Sullivan also states that supporting same sex marriages would promote monogamy and fidelity which our country strives to improve upon (26).

Another appeal used by Sullivan in his essay is pathos. Sullivan appeals to the emotions of the audience by showing that gays have the

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