The Debate Over Gay Rights Movement Essays

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

This act was passed to define and protect the institution of marriage which is supposed to be “between a man and a woman”. As a tactic, the state of Vermont promoted same sex marriages by labeling them as “civil unions” (Schowengerdt, 2002). The state of Vermont felt civil unions would provide gays and lesbians with the same financial benefits as heterosexual couples (Stewart, 2004). In 1998, Hawaii’s stated legislation implemented the DOMA amendment that altered the state’s constitution and rejected same sex marriages (Schowengerdt, 2002). Between 1995 and 2000, 28 states passed laws preventing the recognition of same sex marriages (Schowengert, 2002). The purpose of the DOMA was to prevent gays and lesbians from “exporting same sex marriages to other states” (Finnis, 1997). A Florida Federal Judge denied two women recognition of their marriage which took place in Massachusetts. As a result of this denial, attemtps were made to force other states and the federal government to recognize same sex marriages in states where it is legal (Stewart, 2003).

All families face challenges in their everyday life. For some, the challenges are easier to handle while for others, surmounting those challenges can be more difficult. Over the years, the LGBT community in the US has faced many hurdles. Whether it’s the legalization of same-sex marriage to adoption rights to alimony, child support and child custody in case of divorce, legislation specific to gay and lesbian couples still has a long way to go.

Like African-Americans, rights for homosexuals, transgender, and others has greatly been debated on since the establishment of religion. People who aren’t straight have been looked down on and scorned by society because of its refusal to accept anything different. The gay stigma in society was so great at one point that many closeted individuals would have sex with a partner of the opposite gender and start a family instead of accepting that they weren't straight. Because of the large number of suicide and murders among the LGBT+, the gay rights movement began in the late ’90s. This movement evolving now into the present has been heavily supported by the Democratic party which has helped to establish same-sex marriage and transgender rights for LGBT+ people (“Democrats”). The Democratic party has become an important ally to them and “continues to push for same-sex equality and fair treatment to stop the discrimination against them” (“Democrats”). However, the LGBT+ community still faces scrutiny because of Republicans and religious leaders who don’t agree with gay rights or same-sex marriage seeing it as going against their beliefs; this makes it essential to keep bringing attention to this issue and establishing laws to protect the LGBT+

The global divide of same-sex marriage remains a controversial and convoluted topic across North America. The civil rights of human beings were put into question against the underlying discriminatory issue of homosexuality within the state in the New York Washington post article, “As Rulings Are Announced, Cheers and Tears Among Waiting Crowd”. Wednesday June 26th, 2013 at 10:00am marked the official ruling that the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage as a union between man and woman, was unconstitutional. History was made as gay spouses were given the legal right to social security benefits such as, shared health cares plans without tax penalties and gay foreigners married to Americans were given access to

The question often arises “Why do gay couples want to get married? Aren’t there other forms of union the state offers?” There are other alternatives to marriage that give gay couples the same tax benefits as other couples but, marriage allows for some benefits under taxes, medicare, and medical decisions that other types of union won’t allow.

Imagine being told, by law, you couldn’t have a family of your own because of lifestyle choices. There are 251,695 same-sex married couples in the United States, as of 2013, that had to deal with difficulties while building their family that would never be faced by a hetrosexual couple. Stereotypes and false research have hindered same-sex couples all over the United States by putting doubt into the minds of many powerful politicians who create laws on what a family should be. The false fear that our future children will end up “lesser” than the high standards we already hold them to, causes people to create laws that will theoretically protect children. The lack of their research and insensitivity has created this war between same-sex families

Marriage is a huge milestone for millions of Americans. It is considered one of the most powerful declarations of love and dedication to be legally recognized as a couple. But what if they could not do so? Unfortunately, for hundreds of thousands of gay citizens, this nightmare is a reality. Marriage is not only about love, it also offers many benefits (around 1,200!), of which only about 350 are offered to same-sex couples in civil unions. It is also dehumanizing, as it is a clear violation of the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection to all citizens. If, under the current interpretation of the amendment, gay people are not considered “citizens,” what does that make them? The inferiority of civil unions as opposed to marriages also

The American government is robbing gay individuals of many of the benefits that straight people get. First by not legalizing gay marriage this could include the lack of social security benefits that have been delivered to straight individuals who have a both male and female.

The United States is currently embroiled in a battle over issues regarding civil rights of its citizens and what rights are constituted by that term. In the past, civil rights issues have been fought over women's rights and those of African Americans among others all in the name of seeking equality. Perhaps the most vocal group discussing civil rights in the United States at present are gay marriage activists who are fighting for same-sex couples to be able to marry. These individuals feel that marriage is a civil right and that there is no legal reason why people of the same gender cannot be legally married in the United States, a perspective which is shared by many people who are themselves not homosexual. Homosexuality and what rights should be afforded to same-sex couples have been in the forefront of politics for the last few years and rightly so. Before this period, gay people had to fight to get recognized and for their relationships to even be legal. For most of American history, homosexuals have had to hide their sexual orientation or fear ostracism and marginalization by the moral and social majority. This oppression is still seen in the legislation of the United States. Those who do not agree almost always use their religious beliefs as a reason for denying homosexuals this right despite the fact that the United States Constitution bans legislation being based upon religious perspectives. There simply is no reasonable argument against same-sex

Marriage provides both physical and psychological health benefits and banning gay marriage increases rates of psychological disorders. The American Journal of Public Health found that after their states had banned gay marriage they had a 37% increase in mood disorders, a 42% increase in alcohol- use disorders, and a 48% increase in generalized anxiety disorders. Banning gay marriage is against the constitution. It’s protected by Constitutions commitments to liberty and equality. The US supreme court ruled in 1974s Cleveland Board of

To resume, the ban on gay marriage deprives citizens of their individual rights. The ban on gay marriage violates the fourteenth amendment, which states all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Every citizen has the right to the pursuit of happiness and the ban on gay marriage is taking away the right of pursuit of happiness from the homosexuals.

Same sex marriage has been widely looked down upon for ages. People say, “It’s not the traditional constitutional marriage”, or “Children need a mother and a father”. It honestly doesn’t matter. If two people love each other, they should be allowed to marry. It’s just as simple as that. What other reason do you need? If two complete strangers of the same sex want to be together for the rest of their lives, we should let them.First, denying some people to marry is discriminatory. Judge Sarah Zabel of Miami-Dade Circuit Court ruled the gay marriage ban of Florida unconstitutional. She stated that it, “serves only to hurt, to discriminate, to deprive same-sex couples and their families of equal dignity, to label and treat them as 2nd class citizens, and to deem them unworthy of participation in one of the fundamental institutions of our society.” In other words, you’re looking down upon same sex couples that want to get married as if they’re lower than you; that they don’t deserve the same rights as us. Same sex couples would be able to enjoy the same benefits as heterosexual couples if they were able to be married.Furthermore, the General Accounting Office made an assessment in 2004 about the benefits that heterosexual married couples have that same sex couples could not. Some of these benefits include hospital visitation during an illness and the option of filing a joint tax return to reduce a tax burden. Imagine not being able to see your significant other in the hospital

Homosexuals want to have the same rights as heterosexuals in dealing with marriage, legal rights, and the acceptance of society (Wedgewood 63). It is a known fact that insurance rates are lowered for married couples. This is something that homosexuals want to have just as well as heterosexuals. Homosexuals want to get married so that they can commit to their partner. “Rights such as the right to spousal support and (in the event of divorce or separation) to alimony and an equitable division of property reinforce the generally shared expectation that marriage involves a serious mutual commitment to long term economic and domestic partnership” (Wedgewood 63). Same sex marriage would not keep anyone from getting married normally; neither would it change what the definition of marriage is either. The argument over gay marriage is not some small subject. “either we win—or we lose the central meaning of marriage” (Gallagher 69).

Gay marriages can also provide financial profit to state and local governments. The revenue collected from gay marriages comes from none other than marriage licenses, higher income taxes (the "marriage penalty"), and decreases in costs for state benefit programs. Just as heterosexual couples, married gays also are subject to these federal excises. Consequently, they also receive the same benefits. The Comptroller for New York City found that over a period of three years, legalizing gay marriage would bring a total of $142 million to the City’s economy and $210 million to the State’s economy. Treating same-sex couples as families under law benefits taxpayers by saving them money. The reason being that marriage would require them to assume legal responsibility for their joint living expenses and reduce their dependence on public assistance programs such as Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, and food stamps. Inevitably there are those who feel uncomfortable to have their tax money used to support something they do not personally believe in or find appropriate, but the bottom line is how the money will be used to help support the nation.