Same sex marriage is a highly controversial topic that has been lingering in America for some time now. The American society prides itself in the provision of equal rights and opportunities to all, yet, homosexuals continue to be discriminated against and denied their rights to marriage. It is often believe that “marriage is a commitment between two people that love each other and want to share the rest of their life side by side. It is not measured by whether it is a man and a woman, or a couple of the same sex. It is measured by how much a couple loves each other and cares for each other.”(Cheney, 2009) Looking at that definition of marriage, there should never be any reason to deny two people that love each other the right to legally …show more content…
However, as today’s society starts being more accepting to homosexuality, people will be more welcoming to homosexuality and then their communities will be less discriminatory and the argument of deteriorating the marriage institution will be meaningless.
. “The problem with gay marriage, some opponents say, is that it will harm the society. This is a legitimate concern, and one that needs to be addressed. Marriage has played a very important role in society and it is a valuable institution. So in what way will gay marriage destroy heterosexual marriage or prevent it from continuing to function? Will it destroy the institution of marriage itself? Aside from the fact that whether or not a homosexual couple gets married has no impact whatsoever on any actual heterosexual marriage, there conceivably might be some negative repercussions. Opponents argue that gay marriage will devalue marriage itself. Aside from the questionable, and obviously homophobic, implication, it will undermine marriage because gays will make a mockery of it, supposedly because they are gay, this is implausible. It has been argued that gays want marriage rights because they value the institution and want in on it. Andrew Sullivan is clear on this point whenever he raises the issue. Any devaluation would stem from bigotry on the part of heterosexuals, that is, their unduly judging gay marriages
“The freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights
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,
Homosexual marriage is one of the old but controversial issues around the world. Compared to the past, it seems to become a more open debate among people. At the same time, people seem to be more swayable than before, but towards the gay marriage, different voices have still been hovering in the air. Gay people and their supporters have been striving for their rights to get married legally, while others who against gay marriage have never stopped deterring it.
In the article “For Gay Marriage” Andrew Sullivan claims that withholding marriage from homosexuals is perhaps the most social attack concerning their social likeness. Sullivan reasons that regardless of one’s sexual preference, one has the entitlement to marry a significant other. Likewise, Sullivan reinforces the idea of marriage by claiming that a contract such as marriage is, “...an emotional, financial, and psychological bond between two people; in this respect heterosexuals and homosexuals are identical” (30). In addition to discussing the definition of marriage in our society today, Sullivan enlightens the conservative idea that domestic partnerships diminish the idea of marriage (31). If a person
In “A Gay Man’s Case Against Gay Marriage” by Michael Bronski – a gay rights activist and professor of gay and lesbian studies at Dartmouth - Bronski argues that homosexuals are too focused on the legalization of gay marriage. He begins this article with his involvement and knowledge of gay rights and history. Then, he discusses the fact that marriage itself is problematic regardless of sexual orientation and that the gay community has developed healthier relationships without the need for marriage. Although, he is in complete support of the gay community to get this right and get the benefits that come along with it; He disagrees that it’s a necessity and the biggest problem facing lesbians and gays. In this article Bronski does fail to mention the 50% of marriages that prosper, abuse and adultery that occurs outside of marriage. He also doesn’t mention how the civil benefits affect marriages negatively or positively. Ensuring tax breaks, loans and inheritance arrangements for unwedded people can be very problematic. Although, he makes valid point on how the civil benefits should be available to all. He doesn’t go into depth about how problematic this could be. Bronski doesn’t go into how the same things can happen outside of marriage.
His argument is also trying to make you question what will happen if we do allow homosexual marriages. Will we then have to allow fathers to marry their daughters? Will we be going to the weddings of two sisters before we know it? Bennett believes that altering the conventional definition of marriage would change many things. According to Bennett, it would wipe away all the rules that dictate how we act. It would also send mixed signals about sexuality to people, especially to young children.
Opponents of legalizing gay marriage claim homosexuality is against natural order and view marriage as a sacred pact between a man and a woman. In their eyes, it will ruin the traditional institution of marriage. In 1971, the Supreme Court decided that “the institution of marriage as a union [was] of man and woman” in the Baker v. Nelson case (“Gay” 2). The United States government has defined marriage as such. Allowing homosexuals to marry will redefine the very foundation that Americans thrive on. And whose to say it will end with gays being allowed to wed? The entire process will lead down a slippery slope of allowing polygamous, incestuous, bestial, and other nontraditional relationships being able to marry (“Gay” 2). In addition, marriage is for the sake of procreation and children are negatively affected in a queer environment. The statistics speak for themselves. Children raised by gay couples constantly lack either a father or a mother figure and are thus 12% more likely to engage in homosexuality and promiscuity (Roleff 87). Kids can never identify with their own gender or have an opposite gender role model in a homosexual atmosphere. We need the future generation to grow up in the
Of the many societal customs engrained in humanity, marriage may be one of the most prevalent. For most of history, man and woman have displayed their capacity for affection through this formality; and, for most of history, marriage has been limited to only man and woman. Like marriage, however, homosexuality too has existed for thousands of years. One could even argue that it is simply a part of human nature. Nonetheless, those who identify as anything but heterosexual have been persecuted for hundreds of years. In the United States of America, gay marriage has been legal since 2015 -- and although legal, the opposition persists to this day through politicians and religious groups. For example, while the Constitution of the United States
When speaking on same-sex marriage, a major point is always how this will affect the institution of marriage. Santorum argues that if same-sex marriage is legalized, marriage as a whole will become meaningless and it will decrease while divorce rates increase (Santorum). I disagree with every point of this argument. A couple’s marriage should not be based on another couple’s marriage. If a person truly wants to marry someone, they will do it regardless of who else does it. I agree with Rauch because same-sex marriage will not negatively affect marriage. However, I do not agree that legalizing same-sex marriage will be positive either (Rauch). Rauch argues that legalizing it will make the institution of marriage even better because there will
In other words, one of the most important factors of a long-lasting marriage is how a couple is looked upon by the society around them. According to Wedgewood, “the society as a whole has certain generally shared expectations about the kind of relationship that married couples typically have” (Wedgewood). He implies that once a couple is married, the society will come to expect that their relationship includes shared finances and housing, certain legal rights and obligations and long term commitments. Some might argue against the legalization of gay marriage by stressing on the definition of the marriage which has traditionally been defined as between a man and a woman. However, I would like to respond by saying that marriage is being redefined as society's attitudes evolve, and the majority of Americans now support gay marriage. Marriage is also a secular institution which should not be limited by religious objections to gay marriage. As Quindlen, the author of “Public and Private; Evan’s Two Moms.”, herself states, “Only 25 years ago and it was a crime for a black woman to marry a white man. Perhaps 25 years from now we will find it just as incredible that two people of the same sex were not entitled to legally commit themselves to one another” (Quindlen). She is corroborating that the definition of marriage is continually evolving and will change soon to accommodate gay
Marriage is the union of two people as partners in a personal relationship with love and happiness, which is the right that everyone should have. Compared to any other institution, marriage provides guidance that helps people live their lives. Nowadays, the implication of same-sex marriage which is fairly debatable has now gained further attention. Furthermore, more and more countries have legalized gay couples marriage such as Netherlands and Canada. Also a lot of same-gender people in many countries claim that they should have the right to get married as same as everyone. However, there is a body of opinion that homosexual marriage might destroy the purpose or institution of marriage and cause some problems, such as the roles of same-gender parents. Although some people oppose same-sex marriage , there is some evidence that same-sex marriage cannot ruin the society.
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
To begin, many fear that the legalization of same sex marriage may harm family values, traditional marriages, or other heterosexual marriages, but it actually has been proven to promote family stability. In fact, a 2009 study published in the Social Science Quarterly stated how laws permitting same-sex marriage or civil unions have no adverse effect on marriage, divorce, and abortion rates, or the percent of children born out of wedlock. Legalizing same sex marriages will
Over the past couple of years, one major argument that people talk about constantly is legalizing same sex marriage. Since same sex marriage has become a popular topic that everyone has to deal with, it has provoked many problems around the world. People have different aspects stating that gay marriage has pros and cons. Fortunately, even though everyone constantly can not stop talking about gay marriage, it keeps spreading throughout the world and causes more problems day after day. In an article titled Supreme Court rules in Favor of Same-Sex Marriage Nationwide, it talks about how great of an idea it is to legalize same sex marriage while listing specific details proving why people should agree with allowing this to become a topic that is okay. This disagreement has caused debates throughout the world.The whole idea of same sex marriage and gays is not okay because of the privileges it takes away from the society and world.
In this way, this influence can lure the next generation due to the wrong idea of same-sex marriages and relationships and turn their views to the opposite stance. The thought of same-sex marriage poses an idea that some think is right and acceptable. Now, with our new generation sprouting, this can really show them what kind of marriage is right and what kind of marriage is wrong. With the big influence this subject can