Same Sex Marraige Should be Legal in the US

Same sex couples look at being denied the right to legally marry each other as their freedom of speech being taken away, but in actuality they are only expressing their love. Legalizing gay marriage will not damage society. If same sex marriage were legal everywhere in the United States, society will still function normally and no family values will be lost. If gay marriage is legal in seventeen, why must the other thirty three states continue to ban same sex marriage? How can we all be equal if we are being denied certain rights because of who we love?

This Amendment guarantees that equality is maintained throughout the country and that no rights can be taken away from one person or group because of race, gender, sexuality, etc. “The Fourteenth Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to marry not be restricted” (qtd. in Urdan). The Supreme court has previously ruled in Loving v Virginia that denying marriage on the basis or race is unconstitutional... ... middle of paper ... ... a nation and a people we have to “decide what’s right by what’s right not what’s written [and] evolve past our outdated norms and dispositions.” Works Cited Clinton, Hillary. "The United States Is a Leader in the Promotion of LGBT Human Rights.

“Opponents maintain that legalizing gay marriages would only strengthen the gay civil rights agenda, which is immoral and dangerous” (Lewis and Edelson 2000, 200). Furthermore, opponents of same-sex marriage state that legalizing gay marriages is an insult to the sanctity of traditional marriage. In a policy such as same-sex marriage, which is driven by salience and a lack of complexity, the public has a strong influence over governmental decisions. When the public does not support gay marriage, the politicians of those states follow suit. The impact of public support on same-sex marriage reaches the federal level as well, with the introduction of the Defense of Marriage Act, 1996.

Extending to gays and lesbians the right to marry would undermine traditional marriage, and therefore, governments have a valid reason to maintain the traditional definition of it.”(Hanna) Advocates state that it is important for a child to be raised with a mother and a father because they need both a male influence in their life and a female figure in their life. "Under an equal protection argument, traditional marriage laws reasonably promote responsible procreati... ... middle of paper ... ... Works Cited The Decision Has a Host of Implications. "Married Same-sex Couples Gain Equal Tax Benefits." CNNMoney. Cable News Network, 29 Aug. 2013.

People opposing gay marriage say, “We must protect traditional marriage and the traditional family.” Matthew McTighe of the Mainers United for Marriage debates responds by saying, “Prote... ... middle of paper ... ...g and legalizing gay marriage. By not accepting gay marriage is discriminating gay people, they should have the same rights as everyone else does. What people don’t understand is it's not a choice to be gay. You don't chose who you love, you just do. You are born gay; you can’t choose to be gay.

There are a number of false assumptions the straight community has regarding same sex marriages. Marriage is a basic human right and an individual personal choice. The government should not interfere with same-sex couples who choose to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities, and commitment of the institution of marriage. The real nature of marriage is not a relationship between a man and a woman but rather a binding commitment between two adults. Another false assumption regarding same sex marriages is that the institution of marriage is for procreation.

Even with same sex couples being more commonly accepted, there are still conservative and religious leaders that remain opposed. It is this opposition that has prevented gay marriage from becoming legal in most of the country. Gays and lesbians are Americans just like everyone else, and deserve the same rights. Discrimination to a minority is supposed to be against the law, but still somehow manages to exist for the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community. Preventing same sex couples from marrying is not only denying them their civil rights, it is also discriminating against their innocent family members.

“Ten Arguments from Social Science Against Same-Sex Marriage”. Hardwired to Connect: Witherspoon Institute, Princeton, n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2014. Vogt, Brandon.

“Gay Marriage.” ProCon.org: Gay Marriage (2014): 1. ProCon.org. Web. (27 March 2014). Yenor, Scott E. “The True Origin of Society: The Founders on the Family.” The Heritage Foundation: Gay Marriage (2013): 1.

2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. “Ten Arguments From Social Science Against Same-Sex Marriage.” Family Research Council. Family Research Council.