Lesbian and Gay Couples Should be Allowed to Marry

1869 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Discrimination against gays

"The freedom to marry is a basic human right that belongs to each individual--not the state. The government should not be in the position of arranging our marriages,"(Matt Coles).

Gay marriages are presently illegal in the United States. This prohibition is a blatant form of discrimination, carried forth through our legal system. No government should be able to prohibit anyone from legally declaring his or her love. Discrimination against a particular group of people because of race, color or religion is prohibited by our nation's constitution. However, homosexuals are denied basic human rights, not because of race, religion, or color, but because of sexual orientation. Our nation declares "equality, liberty, and justice for all," while prohibiting civil liberties to this specific group of people. Gay Americans are even denied the right to legally declare love, through civil marriage. Because of this prohibition, gays are not only denied their civil rights, but are denied many economic and legal benefits that married couples receive. Matt Coles, director of the American Civil Liberties Union Lesbian and Gay Rights Project, elaborates,

"Since we insist that couples marry to protect their most important relationship--or risk losing their homes, inheritances, even contact with their partners during medical emergencies--it is simply wrong to deny lesbians and gay couples the basic right to marry."

Civil marriage is the right, in our society, to legally recognize the most intimate, committed relationships. It is also the institution our society uses to establish ranges of rights and responsibilities for life partners (American Civil Liberties Union Answers, June 1998). The government must realize that ...

... middle of paper ...

...bian Magazine. Online. Netscape. 19 Jan. 2014. http://www.advocate.com

"Gay Marriage: Should Lesbian and Gay Couples Be Allowed to Marry?" American Civil Liberties Union. Online. June 2014. http://www.aclu.org/library/aagaymarriage.html

"Hawaii Sends Constitutional Amendment to Voters To Ban Lesbian and Gay Marriages." American Civil Liberties Union. Online. 29 Apr. 2014.

http://www.aclu.org/issues/gay/gaymar.html

Henslin, James M. Sociology, A Down To Earth Approach. Needleham Heights, MA: Viacom. 2007.

The Bride Wore Pink: Legal Recognition of Our Relationships. Gay Lesbian Rights Lobby. Online. Feb. 2014.

http://www.rainbow.net.au/~glrl/discussion_papers/pnkbride.html

"President's Statement on DOMA." Carnegie Mellon University Home Page. Online. 20 Sept. 2014.

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/user/scotts/ftp/wpaf2mc/clinton.html

Show More
Related

  • Amadeus Review

    345 Words  | 1 Pages

    Many scholars have protested playwright Peter Shaffer's version of the relationship between Salieri and Mozart (played by Rick Bronson). They say that Shaffer's play distorts the customs of the era by unfairly comparing them with today's, overblows the rivalry and does a disservice to Salieri.

    Read More

  • Howard Moody Sacred Rite Or Civil Right Summary

    686 Words  | 2 Pages

    In his article “Sacred Rite or Civil Right?” Howard Moody tackles the controversial issue of the definition of marriage and inclusion of same-sex marriage into that definition. The real issue that takes center stage is the not so clear separation between the church and the state. Moody, an ordained Baptist minister, shares his belief that it’s only a matter of time that civil law is once again redefined and homosexual marriage is recognized just as much as heterosexual marriage. The gay marriage debate he suggests isn’t focused on the relationship between such couples and is more about how to define such unions as a “marriage”. (353)

    Read More

  • Amadeus

    2369 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...n do now is to die. And so he does. Although Mozart does suffer loss, the loss of his life and career, and is somewhat responsible for his downfall, he does not evoke sympathy or recognition. However, it is Salieri who contains all four elements of a tragic hero. Salieri loses practically everything he has faith in before Mozart appears. He suffers from the loss of dignity, esteem, and honor. Salieri also recognizes something he has never felt before, that is the “pain as I had never know it,'; (1,5), the pain from the beauty and delight of Mozart’s music. Thus, recognizing the limitations of his own talent, the mediocrity of his talent compared to the genius works of Mozart. He grows an awareness of disharmony in the universe that he has never encountered. Salieri clearly is culpable of his own tragedy. He is the Court Composer, his works are respected throughout Europe, and because he is not stupid, he does not say he is the better composer. Instead, he is the minority who actually appreciates Mozart’s music. There is definitely sympathy for Salieri, in that all human beings can work as hard as they want to at something and can still fail miserably.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Social Work

    1193 Words  | 3 Pages

    While the gay rights movement has been around for some time, the things that they fight for is forever changing. Currently it is fighting for the right to marry, and receive all the rights straight people get when they marry. Married privilege is like white privilege; married people have more rights then non-married people, no matter what sex a person is married to. These benefits include insurance coverage’s under a spouse policy, social security benefit inheritance, receiving pension and personal assets without taxation, visitation rights at the hospital without question and making health care decisions (LaSala, 2007). In addition to all that, there is a social benefit to being married; it represents a healthy, developed and normal relationship (LaSala, 2007). Before reading this article, I never thought about why married people are given all of these rights. I never thought about where they came from, who made them up, or why they were even made. Why are we fighting for legalizing same-sex marriage a...

    Read More

  • The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)

    895 Words  | 2 Pages

    The ruling of Baehr vs. Lewin was a victory for gay rights activists, hope for other states searching for the same freedom, and disappointment for opponents of same-sex marriage. Yet this victory was short lived (until complete legalization in November 13, 2013) since the state appealed the lower court’s decis...

    Read More

  • Sexual Revolution

    1099 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... if? The legal consequences of marriage and the legal needs of lesbian and gay male couples. Michigan Law review. Nov.1996. Pg. 447-491. http://www.jstor.org.remote.baruch.cuny.edu/stable/1290119?seq=1&uid=3739664&uid=2134&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21103079482127

    Read More

  • Thoughts on Same-sex Marriages

    829 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ray, Michael. "Don't Compare Civil Rights to Gay Rights." Sun Sentinel. 10 Dec. 2010. Web.

    Read More

  • Real Marriage

    1165 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rauch, Jonathan. "The Government Should Sanction Gay Marriage, Not Domestic Partnerships." Homosexuality. Ed. Paul Connors. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Current Controversies. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 16 Apr. 2011.

    Read More

  • Scupin And Decorse: The Family Of Orientation

    1420 Words  | 3 Pages

    The second view is the “conjugal view”. According to the conjugal view, marriage is the union of two people (whether of the opposite sex or of opposite sex) who commit to romantically loving and caring of domestic life. It is essentially a unison of hearts and minds, enhanced by whatever forms of sexual intimacy both partners find agreeable. The state should recognize and regulate marriage because it has an interest in stable romantic partnerships and in concrete needs of spouses and any children they may choose to raise (Girgis, George and Anderson,

    Read More

  • Oppressors Essay

    776 Words  | 2 Pages

    However that is only really put that to test when others state that gays and lesbians cannot get married because of who they are or who they choose to be. Love is a strong feeling and to know who others want to spend the rest of their life with due to the emotions that they share and the spouse share are just not possible. Though people may believe that everyone gets the chance to have a happy marriage that is not true to everybody in the world. The gays and lesbians have to follow the law that is set. Though many states have vetoed this law and allowed gay marriages there are still more than 25% of the states who have yet to consider if the law be vetoed or if they just not even recognize it.

    Read More

  • Civil Marriage And Civil Unions

    693 Words  | 2 Pages

    Civil unions is a structure of relationship acknowledgment that gives same-sex couples admittance to the state-level privileges and tasks of marriage. Presently, New Jersey, Illinois and Rhode Island allow same-sex couples to go through into civil unions. Delaware and Hawaii initiated civil unions on January 1, 2012. Brook Sadler adopts a libertarian approach to the question of civil marriage. She altercate that the routine performance of civil marriage ought to be substituted by civil unions. Civil unions have numerous profits of civil marriage but they do not specify that personal and sexual understandings must be a component of the affiliation. The state’s significance in sexual and personal connections in marriage need have no place in civil unions. Contractual preparations in civil unions have officially authorized equivalence in custody, domestic corporations, and health-care surrogates. Religious marriages may maintain, but civil marriages ought to be substituted by civil unions for both heterosexual and homosexual couples. An adult individual could enter into a civil union with one or more individuals one’s lover, parent, or friend.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Blake's Songs Of Innocence And Experience By William Blake

    734 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1789, English poet William Blake first produced his famous poetry collection Songs of Innocence which “combines two distinct yet intimately related sequences of poems” (“Author’s Work” 1222). Throughout the years, Blake added more poems to his prominent Songs of Innocence until 1794, when he renamed it Songs of Innocence and Experience. The additional poems, called Songs of Experience, often have a direct counterpart in Blake’s original Songs of Innocence, producing pairs such as “The Lamb” and “The Tyger.” In Songs of Innocence and Experience, Blake uses musical devices, structure, and symbolism to develop the theme that experience brings both an awareness of potential evil and a tendency that allows it to become dominant over childhood

    Read More

  • Same Sex Rights Essay

    1265 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...g of same-sex marriage is a violation to the human right of marriage and family is definitely a major concern in the United States of America. The movement towards homosexual rights has received huge advancements in today’s modern, liberalized society, including the banning of discrimination against gays in numerous states. Homosexuals are now able to take part in federal, state, and local government positions, serve in the military, and are not allowed to be discriminated against in any way; hopefully one day in the near future overturning the laws against same-sex marriage in over 30 states. The human right of marriage and family is obviously inappropriately being violated through the issue of same-sex relationships in the United States, but slowly cultivating with a nationwide attempt with increasing support and determination towards freedom and equality for all.

    Read More

  • The Lamb By William Blake Analysis

    1079 Words  | 3 Pages

    In William Blake 's Songs of Innocence and Experience, the fierce tiger and the gentle lamb define childhood by setting a contrast between the two very different states of the human soul. “The Lamb” is written in a way that would be suitable for a very young audience. “The Lamb” is one of the simplest poems that William Blake wrote. The symbolic meaning of innocence can easily be found throughout the poem.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Same Sex Marriage

    884 Words  | 2 Pages

    In conclusion I argue that banning same-sex marriage is discriminatory. It is discriminatory because it denies homosexuals the many benefits received by heterosexual couples. The right to marriage in the United States has little to do with the religious and spiritual meaning of marriage. It has a lot to do with social justice, extending a civil right to a minority group. This is why I argue for same-sex marriage. The freedom to marry regardless of gender preference should be allowed.

    Read More

More about Lesbian and Gay Couples Should be Allowed to Marry

Open Document