Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage

The history of homosexual people in the United States began in the early 1900s when the concept of Boston marriages became common. These

Though same-sex relationships have been a prominent aspect of many cultures almost since the beginning of time, there has historically been a significant taboo surrounding the phenomenon in the Western world. "From the Fourteenth Century on, Western Europe was gripped by a rabid and obsessive negative preoccupation with homosexuality as the most horrible of sins" (Boswell 262). The majority of people did not understand or accept the idea, and consequentially did not have an appropriate way of talking about it. Over the years, as various cultures identified and even implemented practices currently associated with homosexuality, there arose a need for common terminology. Until the eighteenth century, it was referred to through the practices

Throughout history homosexuality had been seen as a sin and a punishable action. In the bible, in

It was not until the twelfth century that homosexuality started to be condemned. This condemnation proved to live through then until now. Due to the fact that America incorporated these early views into its early laws, even the most bland of today's sex acts were seen as unlawful (“Homosexuality and Mental Health”). Since then, these laws have changed, however, there is still a primarily negative connotation on homosexuals when coming from a church or legal standpoint concerning the masses of America.

Homosexuality has had a long battle through America, the thought of homosexuality was a mental disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-II Code 302 Sexual Deviation Sub-Section 302.0 Homosexuality. It stays “this category is for individuals whose sexual interests are directed primarily toward objects other than people

Homosexuality was never favored upon and still isn’t to this day. Discrimination against homosexuality started a long time ago. It was pronounced illegal in many cultures and religions. Many homosexuals would face the death penalty for breaking the laws and many were blamed for natural disasters such as earthquakes, because homosexuality was not favored. It is said that in ancient Greek culture that the physical attraction was considered

Views on homosexuality were based on Christianity, which views homosexuality as unnatural, a violation of natural law, immoral, and condemnable. When we use the word “natural”, we have to deal with how ambiguous it is. In nature, it can either mean one of

Overtime, sexual orientation has been viewed differently across different cultures. Your sexual preferences should matter or define who you are as an individuals. When you think of sexual orientation in a Christian household, you visualize a male and a female together. For some reason same sex relationships are frowned upon. Some get disowned by their families or even get left on the streets to survive alone. It is sickening and disgusting towards how people who are gay get treated by these people of the “Bible”. I’m not too into religion because it’s a very difficult thing to understand and master. People shouldn’t be criticized on viewed differently due to sexual orientation.

Culturally, this type of behavior had no definite wrong or abnormal connotation strapped to it. As Neil Miller describes, "In the 1870s, a concept of homosexual identity--or of gay and lesbian community--was barely articulated" (Miller xvii). In America, the idea of homosexual love was beyond societal understanding. Prior to the introduction of homosexuality people were free to care about each other on levels without the constraints of any insecurity base on a the possibility of getting a label.

A major reason for the fear and objection towards homosexuality is organized religion. Whether we notice it or not, we as humans follow many everyday concepts from the Bible. Examples would be, to not steal, murder, or commit adultery in marriage. The Bible also states that homosexuality is unethical and should be avoided as other sins. These are all great to follow, if you conform to the rules of the Bible. Religious back up should not be used in order to deem something wrong or unethical. It is essential to understand, to deem homosexuality ethical or not, rational decision-making must occur. One must analyze the pros and cons; if the pros outweigh the cons, homosexuality is ethical, and visa versa. One who explicitly follows an organized religion must follow the rules of a higher power (God). Getting rid of this obstacle will leave room for autonomous decisions on homosexuality, and eventually its place in good ethics.

There are several religions which condemns the notion of homosexuality. Growing up in a Christian household I was taught that being homosexual is a sin in the sight of God. For example, in Jamaica my family practiced Pentecostal religion where they are very passionate about their traditions. There were unspoken beliefs that homosexuals were to be punished for their sexual practices. This belief followed me to the United States. Even though we went to a Baptist Church, the teachings were the same. I held on to this religious belief for many years and lived my life in a way that was conducive to my religion.

Homosexuality is not a 20th century situation but has been in history from the age of ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt, and even China. The attitude toward homosexuality always has been a variable, depending on the social, cultural and morality, or even the political development (Barnecka et al., 2005). Back in Greek history the concept of relations between two men was seen as the highest form of love, whereas the Judaic view always was against and frowned upon these relations considering it immoral and illegal. However, when the Roman rule was destroyed and the Christians took over Europe, homosexuality was seen as perverse (Woodward, 1997).

While many people oppose same-sex marriage, there are really no valid reasons against it. If your daughter told you she wanted to marry another woman because she loved her and it would make her completely happy, would you oppose it? If you really think it through, you might find it's not as easy to answer the question as you thought. First let's look at some of the common reasons against same-sex marriage.

The Judicial branch told the states that it is unconstitutional to not allow same sex couples to marry or have a marriage license. The Fourteenth Amendment talks about the right for Due Process. The Fourteenth Amendment protects privacy rights. Obergefell vs Hodges talks about same sex marriage. Some states did not want to give marriage licenses to the same sex and that was part of the issue in Obergefell versus Hodges. In the 1980s, it was hard to be gay or lesbian. It was considered criminal in some states.

Is the definition of marriage being threatened in the United States? President Bill Clinton signed the federal Defense of Marriage Act into law on September 21, 1996. This Act defined marriage at the federal level as between a man and a woman. The federal DOMA statute ensured that no state would be forced to recognize gay marriages performed in other states and prevented same-sex couples from receiving federal protections and benefits given to married heterosexual couples. On February 23, 2011 President Obama instructed the Justice Department to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act saying that is violates the Fifth Amendment.