An Analysis Of Andrew Sullivan's For Gay Marriage

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In “For Gay Marriage” by Andrew Sullivan, a former editor of the New Republic Magazine and author of the book Virtually Normal: An Argument about Homosexuality, he expressed his thoughts on the legalization of same-sex marriage. Within this article, Sullivan shared his ideas and beliefs for gay marriage as to why such couples should share the same right to be married as heterosexual couples. Sullivan believed marriage is not simply a private, written commitment; it is a social and political recognition of two individuals’ commitment to one another. He stated that marriage, being a public institution, should be allowed for any two citizens. Sullivan gave his idea on the meaning of marriage beyond its definition of being between one man and one woman. He explained the bond of two individuals to be centered at emotions, finances, and psychological relations.
He supported this by stating the fact that some heterosexual marriages cannot or do not bear children, but it does not make it less legal to be married. Although, this may be true, he did not take into consideration that bearing children is not within the definition of marriage. Sullivan simply meant if marriage licenses were given on the condition of bearing children. Therefore, his argument is invalid when it comes to the definition of marriage dating back centuries ago. Another reason Sullivan believed that same-sex marriage should be accepted and legal, is due to the reason that the contract should only be given to people that can honestly fulfill it. Given that marriage is withheld from minors and close family relatives, he did not see where gay marriage stood within the reasoning. Sullivan did not realize that same-sex marriages are similar to being unfulfilled by at least one party because one can easily make the mistake with the opposite sex to bear a child, only causing more issues to the homosexual married

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