Same-sex marriage has been a widely argued topic for many years, causing tons of controversy across the globe. The two sides pertaining to this debate are legalizing same-sex marriage, or applying a constitutional ban. The largest point of disagreement is whether or not allowing same-sex marriage promotes equality, and not allowing it promotes discrimination. As Americans, we value equality, liberty, and tolerance. Merriam-Webster defines equality as the “quality or state of having the same rights, social status, etc.” This value is one that is societal, meaning it is followed relating to society. It is seen that denying equality promotes discrimination in society, and leaves room for unconstitutional judgment. Within the duties of the United States Constitution, citizen’s rights are protected. Because equality is protected under the Constitution, it is a civil right. Same-sex marriage should be legalized in all states because equal rights should be given to all citizens, not just some.
As stated previously, equality is a social value. Social equality is a state at which all people in a given society share the same status in a certain detail. It entails equal rights, opportunities, and obligations. Although many individuals around the world support ideas that entail equality, it is highly an American value. Robert Kohls of Claremont McKenna College states, “Equality is, for Americans, one of their most cherished values… Most Americans believe that God views all humans alike without regard to intelligence, physical condition or economic status. In secular terms this belief is translated into the assertion that all people have an equal opportunity to succeed in life.” In regards to same-sex marriage, homosexual couples deserve the ...
... middle of paper ...
.../marriage>.
Messerli, Joe. "Should Same-Sex Marriages Be Legalized?" Balanced Politics. Ezoic, n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.
"Most Say Homosexuality Should Be Accepted By Society." Pew Research Center for the People and the Press RSS. Pew Research Center, 13 May 2011. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.
Olson, Theodore B., and David Boies. "The Marriage Debate: Gays Deserve Equal Rights." Wall Street Journal 2013 mar 26: A.11. 28 Oct. 2013 .
ProQuest Staff. "At Issue: Gay Liberation Movement." ProQuest LLC. 2013: n.pag. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 29 Oct 2013.
Spero, Rabbi Aryeh. "Opposition to Gay Marriage Is Not Discrimination." Human Events. Eagle Publishing, Inc., 8 June 2006. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.
"The Global Divide on Homosexuality." Pew Global Attitudes Project RSS. Pew Research Center, 4 June 2013. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.
U.S. Constitution. Amend. XIV, Sec. 1.
Roberts, Dan, and Sabrina Siddiqui. “Gay marriage declared legal across the US in historic supreme court ruling.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 26 June 2015, www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jun/26/gay-marriage-legal-supreme-court.
Zorn, Eric. "The Top Six Arguments against Gay Marriage (and Why They All Fail).” ChicagoTribune.com. Chicago Tribune, 20 May 2012. Web. 4 Mar. 2014.
Becker, Joe. "A Conservative’s Road to Same-Sex Marriage Advocacy." New York Times 18 Aug. 2009: 1-3. Print.
Nussbaum, M. (2009). A Right to Marry? Same-sex Marriage and Constitutional Law. Retrieved March 25, 2014, from Dissent Magazine website: http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/a-right-to-marry-same-sex-marriage-and-constitutional-law
...nson, B. A. (2012, July 18). Same-sex marriages (SSM), civil unions & domestic partnerships. Retrieved from http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_marr.htm
Singleton, Dave. "40 Years Later: A Look Back at the Turning Point for Gay Rights." AARP. AARP, June 2009. Web. 26 Sept. 2013.
The LGBTQIA community has faced strong opposition from groups falling outside this minority for years, primarily conservative and religious groups. This phenomenon is not particular to the United States, but spans hundreds of countries across the world. Religious leaders in varying religions not only oppose the act of marriage, but often times oppose the actual act of homosexual behavior. Often religious oppositionist will cite religious text, like the Bible as a means of opposing the LGBTQIA lifestyle. One of the most blatant oppositions to homosexual b...
Wolfson, Evan. Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality, and Gay People's Right to Marry. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004. Print.
A large majority of people in the United States will say that they are in favor of equal rights for homosexuals. They will all agree that homosexuals should have the same rights in housing, jobs, public accommodations, and should have equal access to government benefits, equal protection of the law, and other rights granted to US citizens. However, when the topic of marriage arises, all the talk of equality ceases. Over fifty percent of all people in the United States oppose homosexual marriage, despite the fact that most are otherwise supportive of homosexual rights. This means that many of the same people who are even passionately in favor of homosexual rights oppose homosexuals on this one issue. This is because there is a lot of misunderstanding about what homosexuality really is, as well as the erroneous assumption that homosexual people enjoy the same civil rights protections as everyone else. For the reasons of ending social injustice, the economic and social benefits of allowing homosexuals to marry, and the constitution, homosexual marriages should be a legalized institution.
Redlingshafer, JoEllen. "The LGBT Movement Must Look Past Gay Marriage." Policymic. Policymic, 2013. Web. 23 Sept. 2013.
"Gay Marriage Pros and Cons." Asia Pacific Econmic Blog. N.p., 26 Mar. 2014. Web. 18 May
..., Paul, Cameron, Kirk, and Practor, Kay. Effect of Homosexuality Upon Public Health and Social Order. Family Research Institute. 2014. Family Research Institute. Web. Wed. 26 Mar. 2014.
Schowengerdt, Dale M. "Defending Marriage: A Litigation Strategy to Oppose Same-Sex "Marriage"" Law Journal Library (2002). Henin Online. Web. 24 Apr. 2012.
Wolfson, Evan. (1999). Winning and Keeping the Freedom to Marry for Same-Sex Couples. Partners Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Couples. 26 paragraphs. Available: http://www.eskimo.com/~demian/wolfson1.html. [2000, May 22].
Same-sex marriage or “gay” marriage is described as a relationship between two people of the same gender. Marriage should be between two people who love each other; it should have nothing to do with gender. In most states, married couples are treated differently than a non- married couple, which goes for gay couples as well. In some states, same-sex marriage is illegal. Those who don’t support same sex marriage, whether it be because of harbored hostility or their traditional views, are more accepting of a legislative decision over a judicial decision (Dry, p. 277-278). Same sex couples should have the same rights as straight couples. “The case for same sex marriage is stronger than the case against, largely because it obtains clear benefits