Views on Gay Marriage in Anna Quindlin’s Essay Evan’s Two Moms

Pathos is a rhetorical device that is meant to evoke emotion in the targeted audience. Anthony used pathos as a support system in order to make her speech effective (Phillips 251). Anthony’s speech evokes emotion in its readers not through use of emotional language, personal stories, or loaded words, but from her claim that women must not be considered citizens of the United States since they were not allowed to vote. As stated, the Constitution did not specify gender as they did race, color, or previous servitude, and yet women were denied the vote. The quote, “The only question to be settled now is: Are women persons? And I hardly believe any of our opponents will have the hardihood to say they are not.” evokes emotion in the audience because evidently women were and are persons, this was an unjust statement to claim (Anthony paragraph 5). Anthony effectively used the unjust statement as a way of attracting her audience’s attention by challenging the opposition. Anthony also used this statement as a way of showing the audience that it was unreasonable not to consider women citizens, and in turn, allow them to

In Stephanie Fairyington's essay, “The Gay Option”, the author expresses regret about the framing she used to explain her sexuality when coming out as a homosexual to her mother. She told her mother that her homosexuality was a result of biology and not choice. As a result, Fairyington's mother began to refer to her sexually as a birth defect. This in not the outcome Fairyington desired. She explains that her intent was to gain acceptance from her mother not pity. That experience lead her to conclude that the best course of action for the LGBT community should be for them to turn away from using biology to explain their sexuality but to look instead to an argument of choice. Fairyington explains that an argument of choice will force the rest

This article talks about the support of second parent adoption for gays everywhere. They support the idea that children with two capable adults no matter what gender are able and should be able to care for a child. Although they support this, the article does not show any sort of negativity toward the opposite side relating the issue. The site details the rights that the second parent should be guaranteed through an adoption. They also think that pediatricians and other professions dealing with children should get more familiar with learning about gays and the children they adopt. The authors are the Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health. The people in the committee have many different backgrounds and are advocates for children’s

Pathos originates from the Greek language, and is translated into “suffering.” This appeal is most commonly used to adhere to the senses, such as a person’s emotions, needs, and values. A good example of pathos is referring to one’s country as “motherland” in order to evoke feelings of patriotism. However, using Pathos as an appeal in an essay can either be a hit or a miss. One should only use Pathos if it strongly supports

Gender transitions, cross dressing, and homosexual marriage are all unequivocally important social movements starting to gain recognition. Although gender transitions and homosexuality, along with other various LBGQT movement have been around for a while; social acceptance and safety for these various individuals is just beginning to occur. Merritt Kopas is able to confront and tackle this in her twine game, “Conversations with My Mother” by imparting a story about a mother’s letter to her child, using pathos to persuade the reader, and using strong visuals to tie the story together.

Over the years, the issue of family values has evolved from the conservative view of distinct gender roles to the prevailing situation where men and women have equal rights. The most notable change from the traditional to the modern values of the family has been the issue of gay marriages. Whereas it was a taboo for gay couples to declare their relationship status openly in public, today the situation is different as is evident with the two texts under discussions. The story titled An American Childhood by Annie Dillard depicts gender roles in the 1950s America while the article by Andrew Sullivan titled “Why Gay Marriages are Good for Straight America” expounds on the issue of gay rights and freedom of modern day America.

Susie O’Brien’s article ‘It’s time to honour gay couples and allow them to marry’ (The Advertiser, November 20, 2010, p. 27) is an argument that surrounds the unfair inequality of gay couples and the issue of gay marriage. O’Brien uses argumentative devices such as appeals to pathos, logos, repetition, rhetorical questions, tone and considered words and concise sentences. These devices provide the audience with a clear direction that remains focused throughout the entire article.

"Homosexuality is against nature. Sexual expression is permitted only within marriage, between man and woman, male and female. Anything else is an abnormality and is against nature."- (Pope Shenouda III). Although praised in certain culture as a gift from god and “thought to have special curing powers” (The Essence of Anthropology, p.210) homosexual Americans are obligated to disrespect and held to a lower standard than their heterosexual peers. Discrimination against homosexual individuals are found in practically all settings of American culture that is Schools, military branches, the workforce and even families. The discovery and “Coming out” of a homosexual individuals within a family takes a major toile on relationships with family member that normally discourage this lifestyle. Families are forced to not only reconcile with their family members lifestyle choice but, likewise with the individuals’ partner. As seen in “Andre’s Mother” a play written by Terrence McNally, some relationships among family members are severely damaged and never reconstructed until a serious incident occurs, such as death or a major sickness. Throughout, America the idea of homosexuality goes against all cultural norms; it is often considered a disgrace to the family, work place etc. However, there are some heterosexual individuals that do accept the idea of homosexuality. One individual in particular is Terrence McNally; his play “Andre’s Mother” addresses the fear of neglect, from a mother

CONCLUSION (5) (written out): Clearly, our world is evolving around us. Everything is changing, from our work life to our personal life. I find it quite sad that some issues, such as gay adoption, still seem to be stuck in the 1950’s. The ‘perfect family’ is no longer perfect. Homosexuality is not a disease, nor is it something that someone can become simply because of their surroundings. And in the end, some homosexual couples can provide better homes than many heterosexual people can. Why put children through poor conditions, bounce them around in foster homes, or leave them with ill-suited families, simply because SOME people say it’s wrong? This isn’t only an issue of gay rights, it’s an issue of child safety. Why put them in

Meanwhile, in 2008, a Miami-Dade circuit court judge ruled that the law of not allowing gays to foster and adopt, is not in children’s best interest. The need for foster and adoptive parents is progressing and gay individuals have been called an underutilized resource who can give children the home they deserve while saving government money (DiNitto, 2011). In relevance, Whitney McCormick, a 27 year old female married to the same- gender agrees that people who are gay can give children the same needs just as much as heterosexual couples. McCormick explains, “It’s my right to have children no matter who I am with. I have the same moral values, love and respect for others and myself. I would teach my children the same.” McCormick added, “If gay

Gay parenting and marriage has become publicly accepted by some and rejected by others. Many have come to believe this topic to be immoral and impossible. Society has also realized that the average family has developed into many different forms in the last few years. Gay families have developed and are perceived today that raising kids without both a Mom and Dad, deprives the child from being introduced to both worlds. The approach to this debated topic will be to analyze and to defend the “cons” of gay parenting and marriage.

It is then claimed that non-hetero families raise children “deprived of either his natural mother or father”. They make the analogy that there are “evident difficulties faced by the many children who are orphans or are raised by a single parent, a relative, or a foster parent.” This could be considered a false analogy due to the fact that in most homosexual families there is not just one parent involved in raising the child. The writer uses these cases to conclude that “same-sex ‘marriage’ ignores a child’s best interests”,

What about the children? A question asked by a surprising few when debating over the morality of same-sex marriage. The debate typically covers equality and justice, but what we should really be talking about is the children. The legal right for a same-sex couple to have a child is something not enough people are talking about. If same sex marriage is legal and they can already have children, then why is it important to discuss? It is important to discuss this topic because people still believe today that a homosexual couple will be insufficient parents when it comes to raising a child. Is the safety of the child compromised when the parents are of the same-sex? I would argue that there is enough scientific evidence to suggest otherwise. Homosexual parenting does not hurt a child in any way, not emotionally, not mentally, and not physically. I implore you to read this with an open mind, and to take this essay seriously. For these are people’s lives and emotions we’re dealing with here.

For generations, homosexuality has been fought against and been looked at as a negative. According to certain traditions and religions, homosexuality is not a “natural” process. However, in March of 2015, “U.S. District Judge Daniel Joran issued a preliminary injunction against the ban, citing the Supreme Court’s decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide”. On June 26, 2015 gay marriage was finally legal in all fifty states. With this law’s passing, much emotional strain was taken off same-sex couples, however, they are still facing a multitude of hardships to this day. Same-sex relationships are presented with an abundance of obstacles when it comes to parenthood when contrasted to heterosexual couples. However, the hardest trial they face is before parenthood- the process of adoption and the technology that aids in procreation. Why create a space between heterosexual and homosexual couples?

By deconstructing the common comparison of same-sex marriage to interracial marriage, she intends to defend her view that interracial marriage is not a slippery slope decision that will roll down hill in an out of control manner and head for the worst like, she claims, same-sex marriage will. Opposing Barber’s views, Quindlen wrote an essay in 2008 entitled: “The Loving Decision” where she sets forth her support for same-sex marriage by constructing a comparison between interracial marriage and same-sex marriage. She uses this comparison to suggest that same-sex marriage will, too, be validated by the courts because “the world only spins forward” (258). Even though Barber and Quindlen stand on opposite sides of the debate with views clashing on fundamental concepts like the meaning of marriage, the nature of homosexuality, and the applicability of the Loving v. Virginia court case to the issue, in various areas the two authors have common ground.