Gay Marriage Should Be Legal Essay

The massive amount of people who believe and support LGBT should have the same human rights and equality say, “it's only fair they receive the same liberty to love who they love.” (Texas, Democratic Party, 1) Throughout the years, same sex marriage supporters have been increasing; “81% of adults under 30 now support marriage equality.”(Texas Democratic Party, 1). People have been making an effort to fight this case even since the beginning of the gay rights movement in the 1960s-1970s. Even before that though, homosexuals have tried to be seen equal, and of course, have an aspiration to be able to obtain the same rights as everyone else, which is to win over the Defense of Marriage Act, which was signed in 1996 by Presidential Clinton to be able to marry the person they love regardless of what their gender

On June 26, 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled that the US Constitution guarantees the right for same-sex couples to marry. Many conservative groups do NOT agree with this decision. The gay marriage debate has been simmering for as long as I can remember. The four articles I have selected give information from four different perspectives including that of liberals, conservatives, homosexuals, and orthodox Jews. With so many differing opinions, one can understand why it's been so hard for the nation to come to agree on this issue.

According to DOMA, “In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word 'marriage' means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word 'spouse' refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife” (sec 3). Until recently 2013, the US Supreme Court finally delivered the verdict that declared section 3 of the DOMA, which is the rejection of right to gay marriage is unconstitutional (Shapiro 208). In “Gay Marriage Is A Fundamental Right” by Nathan Goetting, “The right to many, and to marry the person of one's choice, is a fundamental right and a necessary aspect of human happiness. This has been an explicitly stated abiding principle since the Court used its power of judicial review to strike down as unconstitutional a legislature's definition of marriage in 1967.” Currently, 17 states in the United States have legalized the right to same sex marriage. The realization of DOMA is unconstitutional has further evidenced that gay marriage is one of the civil right that should not be taken away by the government, and it is an inevitable changes that open doors for equality and equity.

The legalization of gay marriage has been a controversial issue in many state courts since the mid 1970s. Gay marriage scares many people because it strays from the norms of heterosexual relationships. Traditional American ideals have become a part of culture and society that everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, or race, or gender, expect to have as a basic human rights. Several times in history these have been identified as inalienable rights. One of the expected rights of many American citizens is the right to choose who they love, who they marry, and how they live their day to day life. When heterosexual Americans were introduced to the idea of same sex marriage, they became afraid that it would “taint the minds of the young members of the community,” since homosexualty was and still is frowned upon in the community. Thus, the homosexual community’s opportunity to freely choose how to live their life is taken

In addition to the hostility and embarrassment that homosexuals face every day, they also encounter political and legal policies and practices that prevent them from living a normal life like heterosexual people. For example, there are laws that prevent people of the same gender to be legally married to each other such as proposition eight in California. Gay people just want the right to be able to be happy with a significant other, make a family, and show their loyalty in each other through marriage. There is no difference whether that significant other is of the same gender or opposite, at the end of the day they just want that chance of happiness just like everyone else. Unfortunately, there are laws in places that prevent that from becoming true. Not allowing homosexuals to marry can affect many people’s lives and can even be detrimental to one’s health. For example in the article “The Case of Sharon Kowalski and Karen Thompson: Ableism,

The recent legalization of gay marriage in all fifty states of the United States has sparked significant discussion and media coverage over gay rights in the US. Before its legalization in 2015, gay marriage was legal in only thirty-seven states. Over the past two decades, general attitude of US citizens toward gay marriage has significantly improved and shown a positive light towards further advancement for gay rights in the face of adversity.

The history of same-sex marriage in the United States dates back to the early 1970s, when the first lawsuits seeking legal recognition of same-sex relationships brought the question of civil marriage rights. In 1971 the case Baker v. Nelson ruled that denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples did not violate the U.S. Constitution. But as the subject of same sex marriage became increasingly prominent in the U.S., in 1993, the case Baehr v. Lewin suggested that such prohibition might be unconstitutional. The United States is the land of the free and freedom means equality, but for decades marriage was a denied right for the LGBTQ community. The nation’s “constitution contemplates that democracy is the appropriate process for change, individuals who are harmed need no wait legislative action before asserting a fundamental right” (Obergefell v. Hodges 533), therefore under the fourteenth amendment which protects fundamental liberties “states [had] to recognize same-sex marriages validly performed out of State” (Obergefell v. Hodges 533). The United States was founded on the term “men,” the men that abhors the idea of femininity.

Some people don’t feel the same as others when it comes to gay and lesbian rights, especially when it comes to marriage. This leads to many disagreements and bans on marriage for gay or lesbian couples.

The concept of marriage is in danger of being misunderstood due to same-sex couples wanting to be married and acquire the same benefits as heterosexual marriages. The fundamental purpose of marriage is uniting a man and a woman in a worthy cause to preserve human civilization. If everyone was homosexual, then how could our species be repeatedly produced? This problem could end human existence. Besides, even those who are not homosexual have restrictions on marriage so they can not assume they are being discriminated upon. Restrictions are created to keep the balance and concept of the idea from being muddled. Their sexual orientation has nothing to do with why these rules were put into place. As a result, homosexual individuals have the right to marry along with everyone else as long as the restrictions are not crossed. All rights are equal among the people even when dealing with marriage. Just because somebody has different

Additionally, children raised by same-sex couples have been shown to be just as good as with the children of opposite-sex couples in their psychological adjustment, mental abilities and social functioning. A reason why the Vermont same-sex union battle had so much nation press is because legislators were responding to a court order, while some ended up losing their jobs to same-sex unions. Religious, government, and social groups have debated this issue and it is taking a long time for it to be fixed. Same-sex marriage has some very distinct facts and values important to one's religion, morals, or even what his or her family thinks of the gay lifestyle. There are many opponents of gay people as it is, and they all have their reasons to dislike the idea of letting them get married.

Individuals are in complete control of their own happiness, except when it is forbidden by the law. Prior to June 16th, 2015, thirty-seven of the fifty states provided their citizens with the right to marry the opposite sex and thirteen states did not condone this behavior among their citizens. Having equal rights for all people in America has the potential to boost the psychological and spiritual growth of our economy through individual happiness. All people deserve the right to express themselves as individuals, even if that means that they want to be married to someone who is the same gender as them. In September of 2014, two elderly ladies, over the age of ninety, who have been in love for over seven decades, were finally legally allowed to get married. They had been together for seventy-four years while traveling the world and falling in love. Same sex marriage is harmless, and now that is it legal nationwide, people should learn to accept others despite their sexual preferences.

Marriage is assumed by United States citizens to be a basic human right. When asked, a child will usually say that yes, they do plan to one day be happily married. As we grow older, we realize that it is not that simple; that there are many stigmas placed on “nontraditional” marriages. Throughout the history of the United States, minorities have had to battle for their right to marry whomever they choose. Interfaith, interracial, and same-sex couples have discovered the hard way that the same “natural” rights are not granted to all citizens. Many of these battles have been fought and won, but the struggle of same-sex couples still continues to be a hotbed of discontent throughout the United States.

Could you imagine if you had met the ideal person you wished to share your entire life with but the law would not allow you to? That is the position that many homosexual Australians have been in since the settlement of this country. Same sex marriage is currently not allowed in Australia but I and a proven 60% of other Australians strongly believe it should be. Gay people pay taxes, serve in the military, participate in the workforce, are our neighbors, friends and family.  Logic and decency would suggest that they should have the right to marry, just as any heterosexual couple can. However, there are people who disagree with this belief, take for example the government, namely Australia’s prime minister, Julia Gillard, several religious

Lyrics form the song, "Get Up, Stand Up", by Bob Marley If you listen to the TV or radio talking heads, it would be easy to think that America is permanently in the grip of some major political issue. That there is always some great political division at stake

The possibilities of finding your soulmate is already slim, the possibilities of he/she being your marriage partner is slimmer, why make it any harder, by not letting the couple enjoy the experience of planning and getting married, just because they are of the same gender. This bibliography will have a compare and contrast between same sex marriages. As well different opinions that are found online of said subject. For example, why we should or shouldn’t have same sex marriages, compare and contrast, I as well will be supporting my opinion in the matter, those would be in a married family, community/society, the church and the state, and finally my conclusion on the matter.