Once upon a time, two people crossed paths. They locked eyes and it felt like time had stopped for the two. Sparks flew and they knew they were perfect for eachother. They started seeing each other more and more often. The two beings had found one of the greatest powers in each other... love. Their love was so strong that they decided to engage in the greatest bond their government had to offer-- matrimony. However, they were turned away because their marriage was deemed wrong and unlawful. They were kept from a right that so many other couples receive. They felt discriminated against. All for one reason, their names were Peter and Blake, and they were gay. Whether you are gay or not, put yourself in their situation. How would you feel if you were denied the right to marry the person you loved? The country has definitely changed views in the past couple years when it comes to the topic of homosexuality. According to data from the American Community Survey collected by the federal government, there are about 584,000 same-sex couple households in America. (Lofquist) With information from NORC.org, it is stated that same-sex marriage approval went from 11 percent in 1988 to 46 …show more content…
It is here that the question "Is a ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional" begins to be looked at more seriously and states start to react by either placing heavier restrictions on same-sex couples or by creating a "civil union" status in hopes that it will be enough to satisfy the LGBT community. Connecticut put a "civil union" status into effect but in 2008 they legalized same-sex marriage, followed by Iowa in early 2009 and Vermont in late 2009 after the state legislature votes to dismiss a veto from their governor. At this point in time there are now 3 states where same-sex marriage is legal but same-sex marriages were still discriminated against
Throughout the recent history of America, gay marriage has always been an issue. With the different views and morals everyone has on the subject, it makes it hard for individual states to determine what side they should be on. In 1983 a Harvard Law School student, Evan Wolfson, wrote a thesis stating the rule of marriage equality. Justices concluded that gay couples were entitled to the legal benefits of civil marriage; and most crucially in the Supreme Judicial Court in Massachusetts, whose favorable ruling, in a suit by lawyer Mary Bonauto and the Boston-based Gay and Lesbian Advocated and Defenders, led to the nation’s first bona fide same-sex marriages…” (“Gay Marriage turns 10 and Credit Should Be Spread around- The Boston Globe). On May 17, 2004 Massachusetts became the first state to legalize gay marriages. In June of 2013, California legalized gay marriages, which helped their large LGBT (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered) community. (“History and Timeline of the Freedom…”). When this finally happened, it was seen as a great achievement by Karmala Harris, a California Attorney. “This is a profound day in our country, and its just the right thing: ‘Justice is finally being served’” (“Court Gives OK for California Gay Marriages”).
Legalizing gay marriage has been a controversial topic in the past few years. In my opinion, gay people should be allowed to get married because it is a civil right. It shouldn 't matter what gender they prefer because they 're still regular people. Making gay marriage illegal, is the same as taking away someone 's freedom and civil rights. That is unethical and completely awful. There 's no harm being done by letting two people who are in love with each other get married. However, many religious fundamentalists are against this and believe gay marriage is wrong and needs to be stopped. Homosexual couples should have the right to get married because it 's a civil right and their sexual preference doesn 't make them any less human.
The two texts examined within, present the opposing extremes of views regarding gay and lesbian marriage. The first text entitled Let Gays Marry by Andrew Sullivan examines the intricacies of same sex relationships and why homosexual couples should be allowed to publicly show affection for one another. The second text that will be examined is titled Leave Marriage Alone written by William Bennett. Bennett gives his views on why couples of same sex nature should not be allowed to engage in marital relations. These two authors, although very different, each has a view of the ideals of marriage, and how it should be presented to the public.
Homosexuality is not a new trend, sexual orientation, or identity, in fact homosexuality is believed to date back over 5,000 years ago (Adams, 2011). Same sex couples have existed for thousands of years and research will show how the social and political stigmas that are known today, have stemmed from religious point of views and political opinions.
There was a polling done in 2001 and American opposed same-sex marriage by 57% to 35%. Overtime same-sex message has become more accepted. Since then there has been a poll of 57% support same-sex marriage, compared with the 35% who oppose it. It has been above 50% consistently since then. Now more people support than oppose same-sex marriage and the reason on June 2015, same sex marriage has become legal. It was said that age has been and will continue to be a defining line on the issue of Attitude on same sex marriages based on gender. Younger generations express higher levels of support toward same marriage, usually including 40 years of age and under. Also, women are more likely to support than men.
James Howe in his book Addie On the Inside said “Another Thing I 'm Sick of Hearing: If I started that gay rights group, I must be gay. So if i start an animal rights group, what does that make me? A giraffe?” The non-supporters of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual and Queer) community often think that if you support LGBTQ rights you’re gay yourself. This is wrong, LGBTQ rights can be supported by anyone, and their rights are an acute issue in society. There are thousands of LGBTQ couples who still cannot get married in certain states. There are many LGBTQ couples that would like to adopt children and enjoy their lives, but instead they’re being shunned for being who they are. So with this I think that LGBTQ couples should
Imagine a government that denies 1,138 rights and benefits to a certain group of people who have not broken any laws. Would you support this government? In the United States, same-sex couples face exactly this kind of discrimination. Since the 1920’s the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans) community has been fighting for equality, starting with the Society of Human Rights in Chicago, the earliest known gay rights organization (“American” 1). The movement transformed completely from a couple of activists to a widespread protest in the 1969 Stonewall Riots. A gay bar in New York, called the Stonewall Inn, experienced a late night police raid for supposed bootlegging of alcohol. However, after the officers began frisking lesbians and assaulting gay men, the crowd rebelled and refused to be arrested or subdued. Three days of rioting occurred throughout New York streets with cries of “Gay Power!” and “We Shall Overcome!” This powerful uprising sparked the gay liberation movement and pride in sexual orientation (“American” 1). Recently, a spotlight has been thrown on gay marriage, or as Liz Feldman puts it, “marriage. You know, because I had lunch this afternoon, not ‘gay lunch’. I parked my car; I didn't ‘gay park’ it.” Advocates of same-sex marriage emphasize the disparity between the religious aspect of marriage and the civil portion that establishes economic and legal ties. The church can set their own standards in their private domain; however, the government represents a diverse population and should remain unprejudiced in administering its civil policies (Roleff 68). Government action is exactly what the LGBT community needs in order to attain their goal of equality. A boost in civil unions and same-sex marriage legalization is sweepi...
Originally colonizing for religious reasons in the 17th century, the United States of America has evolved since then into a nation that separates government and personal beliefs. Although the U.S claims that their church and state is separated, the issue of gay marriage is still a relevant issue today. Thoughts on same-sex marriage are primarily based off of religious beliefs, yet the U.S. government still believes it should control whether gays should be married or not. The U.S. should make gay marriage legal, because it is unconstitutional not to do so.
As an American citizen, a person should be entitled to marry whoever they choose, regardless of gender or sexual preference. Gay marriage is something that some people consider to be taboo while other people are very supportive of it; I am one of the latter. The ability to marry someone is a basic human right and it should not be taken away from someone because they love a person of the same gender. One of the main reasons that gay marriage is illegal in the United States is because of what the Bible says about it, regardless of the fact that the first Amendment of the US Constitution says that there is to be a separation between church and state. Approximately three point eight percent of the United States population is made up of people
Imagine you have just found the person of your dreams, your soulmate, the one you're meant to be with, but you can't marry them.
President George Bush strongly opposed gay marriage along with most of America 's past and present legislators and politicians. For instance, Minnesota state senator Paul Koering openly came out the closet and admitted being gay when in the past he had voted against the attempted marriage amendments for gays to be legal to unify. Today, more than 35 states have legalized gay marriage. Homosexuals are adopting children because they cannot have one. They take children who were once starving and living in the streets, or abandoned, and take good care of them. I 'd rather see a child with a loving gay couple than to see it sleeping in the street with nowhere to go. Government officials in both state and national offices oppose these laws because if they allow same-sex marriage to occur, they will lose large amounts of votes and supporters will be appalled. The future looks grim for gay marriage with the conservative republicans holding office. Furthermore, legalizing same sex marriage can cause a chain reaction of hostility and violence. Many anti-gay organizations, some resembling the infamous Ku Klux Klan of the 1920’s, will form and be on the doorstep of same-sex couples. This may also perhaps create an international clash and cause other countries to view America more immoral than we already appear which makes gay marriage legalization even more difficult to
“Self pity becomes your oxygen. But you learned to breathe it without a gasp. So, nobody even notices you're hurting.” Every person who identifies as any of LGBTQPIA, (or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans*, Queer, Questioning, Pansexual, Intersex, and Asexual) can connect directly to this quote by Paul Monette, who wrote it specifically for this group of people. Thousands of people daily are shamed for being a part of it. They are taught to despise themselves for who they are. “Gay Pride” is a common LGBT phrase for a reason: to teach people who are a part of the LGBTQPIA community that they don’t have to be ashamed of themselves. LGBT rights need a lot of work, but before we can make the commitment to do so, we need to make these groups accepted in all of America, not in only a few rare “safe places.”
“It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married” (Procon.org), said Barack Obama the 44th and current president of the United States. The gay right movement started in 1969, riots, struggles, and problems followed after. In today’s society, it has been showed that people are opening up to gay rights. There has been effort in protecting the gays and discrimination against gays is now considered a hate crime and is illegal. However, gay rights still to this day struggle with state and federal legal circumstances. Same- sex marriage needs to be legal, couples who choose to be of the same-sex should be allowed to celebrate their commitment with each other the way heterosexual couples get to, both publicly and society acceptable.
In recent years, same-sex marriage has become a more controversial topic on whether it’s right or wrong. People should not feel coerced to agree with something they believe is wrong; clearly, same-sex marriage is immoral and unnatural. Many complications come with same-sex marriages including financial pressures, social pressures, moral pressures, and health risks.
The recognition of same-sex marriage is a political, social, and religious issue. Because of this same-sex marriage is a very controversial topic. Legal acknowledgement of same sex marriage is commonly referred to as marriage equality. Many advocates of marriage equality argue that laws restricting marriage to only heterosexuals discriminate against homosexuals. On the other hand advocates against same-sex marriage argue that it would undo long-standing traditions and change the meaning of marriage in a damaging manor. In this essay I will be arguing for same-sex marriage. The arguments mentioned as well as others will be discusses throughout this paper.