Should Same Sex Marriage Affect Traditional Family Values?

I strongly agree with the legalization of the gay marriages in many of the societies even though it is a subject that elicits mixed reactions and opposition from some quarters. The utilitarianism approach that seeks to establish whether the end justifies the means can be applied whereby the benefits of such legalization and the disadvantages are compared. When gay marriages are legalized, the beneficiaries will include the gays, adopted children and the society as a whole. Opponents such include religion, which argues that marriage is a sacred institution to be shared between a man and woman and that marriage, should serve a higher purpose of reproduction. However, the opponents would not suffer in effect since they only claim

According to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting system, in 2011 there were 104, 236 children waiting to be adopted in the United States (p. 4). Adoption is the legal process an individual or family goes through to gain legal custody of a child in foster care. This child’s parents have lost custody of their child because they have been deemed unfit to raise the child, either because of neglect or abuse. After the child is removed from the horrible situation, he or she is taken by child services and placed in a foster home or with a family member. This system is in place to protect children from further abuse, neglect and trauma. Today, children in foster care are in the system for a very short period of time; there is a

The fate of where a child is placed is put in the hands of state social workers and judges. The guidelines for who can be a foster or adoptive parent can often become blurred when dealing with opinionated social workers that validate ability to be a parent with their own beliefs. Homosexual foster parents are often denied the right to adopt a child based on their sexuality. According to a survey done in 1999-2000 only 60% of adoption agencies would accept same sex couples applications (Paul). In 2007,

Many potential adopted parents have experienced heartbreak, anguish and other problems that can be associated with adoption. There is an imbalance in the Nations foster care system and the system needs to be strengthening and the quality of services improved.

When it comes to the issue of gay marriage, Americans have many different views. Research shows that the majority of Americans oppose gay marriage, but when it comes to deciding who should make the laws, Americans are split in half (Bayles 6). 48% of Americans said that the

“ In 2015, over 670,000 children spent time in U.S. foster care. On average, children remain in state care for nearly two years and six percent of children in foster care have languished there for five or more years” (Children’s Rights). There are simply not enough people looking to adopt or to foster individually. Many kids, especially teens, are immediately placed in group homes. These homes do not provide the same stability and support that a foster (or adoptive) family might. Group homes are actually 7 to 10 times more expensive per child than placement with a family. Not only do many children spend years waiting to be adopted, in many cases after a certain age children will be subjected to “aging out of the system.” While there are different laws in each state, for the most part this means that after a certain cut off the state no longer actively looks for adoptive families and instead waits for the child to turn 18 and therefore, become legally independent. According to TheForgottenInitiative.org, more than 30% of homeless people in the US were previously in Foster Care. An estimated more than 40% of youth who age out of the foster system won’t complete high school. Very few teens are emotionally ready to be completely independent at 17 or 18, regardless of family support. The foster system is simply not designed to fully take care of children, and it certainly

Gay marriage has been an issue for a very long time and since some states are legalizing it, many worry that it would soon be added as an amendment. The topic of gay marriage brings up religious, legal, and many other issues. In "What's wrong with Gay Marriage?" by Katha Pollitt, the author supports gay marriage and wants it legalized. She states that there is no problem with gay marriage and it's all a matter of separating the church and state. But in “Gay ‘Marriage’: Societal Suicide,” by Charles Colson, the author opposes the idea of gay marriage and states that it will destroy society. Marriage is intended to unite a man and a woman together to bring children into the world, but due to the same-sex marriage,

After attending a talk from Dr.Hynes about being a foster parent today i began to realize i tend to reside with the children in foster care. Dr.Hynes did mention the cost of maintaining the concept of foster being similar to fostering however is a complete different definition to each other. I began to realize that now i have two options instead of going through a painful period of delivering my own child. Adoption is “retaining a certificate to claim the license or right to officially claim the child as his/her own.” While Dr.Hynes defines fostering as similar to adoption however it is more of a “babysitting technique” and place a deeper meaning and effect on the children. I like the concept of both options however I agree with Dr.Hynes that

Those that are oppose same sex marriage focus their reasoning on religious beliefs. Same sex couples do not want to be treated as second class citizens, they do not focus on what religion states; they just want to be treated as equal as heterosexuals when it comes to their right. Same sex couples believe if one is to bar any class of people from marrying whomever they choose, it then deprives them of their social institution; that many feel defines the most meaningful part of life, to marry someone one loves. Same sex couples believe that their relationships are no different than that of a heterosexual marriage. Same sex couples can have maintain a home together, provide an environment that children can thrive in and care for each other the same as heterosexual married couples do (Goldberg-Hiller, 2002).

Gay parents are facing discrimination because of their sexual orientation. Twenty-two states currently allow single gays to adopt and 21 states currently allow gay and lesbian couples to adopt in the U.S. (Mallon, 2007, p. 6). The ability of gay couples to rear a child should not be denied only because they are gay. Homosexuals may be looked down upon by society, but they still are humans and have morals. These morals they possess, may influence a child more than those morals taught to a child with heterosexual parents. All over the world, children suffer in families consisting of alcoholics, drug abusers, and sexual abusers (Powell, 2007, p.1). It is not possible that these environments are safer than what would be provided by homosexual

Opposition to gay marriage has increased since the summer and a narrow majority of Americans also oppose allowing gays and lesbians to enter legal agreements that fall short of marriage. Moreover, despite the overall rise in tolerance toward gays since the 1980s, many Americans remain highly critical of homosexuals ­ and religious belief is a major factor in these attitudes.

Since 1776, the United States of America has had a growing problem with orphans and childhood adoption. Orphanages become overpopulated while foster homes shelter up to 3 children on average. The foster care system has been viewed as positive reinforcement for American homes; yet the point of fostering children is consistently overlooked. Adoption is necessary for orphans, foster children, or children in abusive homes. The act of adopting a child comes with positive benefits and fiscal responsibility, such as government assistance and wiser spending. Children obtain a healthy childhood with a familiar sense of belonging. The drawback of this is the long governmental process of petitioning for adoption. Seeking the birthparents, if they are alive, retrieving consent, being fiscally responsible, and having a safe environment for the child to grow up in are all responsibilities to look forward to when adopting a child. The adoption rate in the United States of America needs to increase dramatically, as there are social benefits, mental health improvements, and economical advantages for families who adopt.

Although, we are slowly moving in the right direction… we are nowhere near seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Opponents of same-sex marriage in the United States ground their arguments on parenting concerns, religious concerns, and concerns about a "slippery slope" leading toward other changes to the definition of marriage. In my personal opinion, how can they foresee just what the legalization of gay marriage will do? When slavery was abolished, I’m sure a lot of the country had concerns of slave rebellions on their white owners but no one knew for sure just how the world would function with the equality of white and black. Here we are facing the same situation just different aspect. Equality for homosexuals is something that needs to happen. We are all equal, all human, we all bleed, all hurt, all feel, and all love so why should certain groups

For years and years, homosexuals have fought for the right to marry their loved one. It has been looked down upon, called immoral, sinful, and deeds of the devil, but that is not the way it is seen by those who support or engage in it. Supporters view marriage as the union of two individuals who love each other. They no longer see it as the concept of "traditional marriage". They believe traditional marriage has changed over time, and that the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman is historically inaccurate (should

Sam Schulman’s “The Worst Thing About Gay Marriage” presents an interesting argument against gay marriage that hinges upon maintaining a traditional form of marriage. He actually claims that gay marriage is “unnecessary”(381). According to Schulman, there are 4 primary effects of marriage within his definition he calls the kinship system. First, marriage protects and controls a woman’s sexuality. Second, the possible pairings are limited by the kinship system to avoid incest or other taboos. Third, marriage creates a situation where licit sex can occur. Fourth, it places a clear divide between childhood innocence and adult, married, life. All of which is in addition to maintaining a standard family hierarchy, in which a marriage almost