“The Times They Are a-Changin”, who would have this popular folk song from the 1960’s by Bob Dylan, would still hold profound meaning in this day and age. It seems that everywhere you go or look on the television, there is a big debate between young and old on issues that are affecting their lives. And one of these big topics is same-sex marriage. When I was younger it seemed that most people seemed to agree with the opinion that couples of the same sex had no business getting married. But with most issues in my generation, such as views on interracial dating and immigration, those opinions are changing. What has prevented me from changing my opinion like everybody else on homosexuality has been due to the impediments that have been implanted in me from numerous influences. Impediments, as defined by Nosich, . These impediments have prevented me from critically thinking, or to logically think through, about this subject and fully realize the effect of same-sex marriage being legal in the LGBT community and whether or not I fully support it or am against it whole-heartedly.
Have you ...
Socrates stuns the Symposium when he tells how Diotima showed him that “Love is neither beautiful nor good,” thus contradicting the theme of all speeches before his (201E). Diotima’s logic begins by postulating that love is equivalent to desire. This statement is supported by Aristophanes’s speech in which he describes the origin of human nature.
A debate is raging in America about who people have a right to marry. In response to lesbians and gays asking for the right to marry, many legislators are writing laws to ban same-sex marriage in their respective states. Even President Bush supports a Constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage (prez.bush.marriage/). Opponents of such legislation do not want discrimination passed into law and are protesting at every opportunity. One must understand the reasons that people want to ban same-sex marriage before he or she can effectively argue about the subject. Many advocates of same-sex marriage bans say that allowing gays and lesbians to marry would degrade the institution of marriage because marriage is only supposed to exist between a man and woman. In addition, allowing same-sex marriage would cause problems for society (Issues and Controversies on File). One theory why opponents may fight against same-sex marriages is that heterosexual marriages have long reinforced traditional gender roles within marriage and that allowing same-sex marriages would cause males to lose their authority to subordinate females as heterosexual couples begin to model same-sex marriage gender equality (Calhoun 157).
When it comes to marriage and our society, most people believe it to be a part of life. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of gay marriage. Whereas some are convinced that marriage should be between a man and a woman, others
Famous children’s author Dr. Seuss once said, “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind". Gay rights, at the moment, are one of the most publicized and well known controversial subjects of this decade. The sides clearly drawn one fighting for rights as simple as being married the other stating that it defames their religion and goes against the definition of marriage, being between a man and a woman. The individuals who are fighting for their civil rights are fallowing the same path that African Americans and women have taken, but the change has started and in over 13 states gays have been given their basic rights and more state are joining in the fight both for and against the topic.
“Being gay is much more profound than simply a sexual relationship; being gay is part of that person’s core identity, and goes right to the very center of his being. It’s like being black in s society of whites, or a blonde European in a nation of black Asians” (Tamara L. Roleff). Although marriage, cohabitation and parenting styles of homosexual families pose no threats to the heterosexual society; many still believe same-sex marriage goes against its true purpose. “At the national level, American public opinion on the issue remains split (44 percent support legalizing same-sex marriage; 53 percent oppose same-sex marriage in a May 2010 Gallup Poll) even as opposition toward legalizing same-sex marriage is at its lowest point in decades (Jones, 2010)” (Amy B. Becker). Also to one’s surprise, among the vast amount of psychological disorders, homosexuality is not one. Homosexuals are just as capable of sustaining stable and successful relationships and families just as heterosexuals.
The world today is surrounded with many controversial issues. One such issue would be the topic of gay marriage. This country has grown around one major tradition, being the definition of marriage. It’s more-less looked at as a religious or legal commitment between a women and man, to express their love and compassion towards one another, being the last and final step there is to take with that significant other. Homosexual relationships are rapidly gaining acceptance in this country. However, the Defensive of Marriage Act, that former president Clinton signed in 1996, is holding many back from being able to marry what could be the significant other of their dreams. Homosexuality effects from 8% to 15% of all males, as well as females being slightly less than the male population. To put this in a more familiar context, there are as many gays and lesbians in America today as there are unemployed citizens. There are a few states which formed a type of commitment called a "civil union", which basically is marriage without using the word "marriage." Gay couples are denied significant rights when they are not allowed to marry, and these result in injustices within society. Most carry the burden of hiding their sexual identity for fear of being disrespected or mistreated by the general population who remain ignorant to the causes and circumstances of homosexuality. This puzzles many due to the excess amount of investigative work that has been done on the phenomenon, as well as puzzling the church as to who would want to look into the concept in such a sinful matter.
The United States is a country built on a number of ideals and institutions. The moral structure of many Americans today was developed by our ancestors and the founders of this nation through the institutions that were a part of their lives. Family, religion, marriage, equality, and justice are just a few examples of the important components that provide a moral basis for our country. If any of these elements were to become too mutated, the effects on society could be devastating. Right now in the United States, one of these building blocks of society is being threatened by the possibility of a negative transformation. The building block of marriage as the sacred joining of one man and one woman is under attack and is at risk of being destroyed. People in favor of gay marriage want to change marriage to the joining of two people of either sex, which goes against what the purpose of marriage has been and why it is important to society and religion. People who are in opposition to same-sex marriage are eagerly expressing their opinions with religious and cultural reasons that show how this change could impact our society forever.
The issue of gay marriage needs little introduction as it is one of the most widely contended and discussed topics in the United States of America. While the issue is relatively recent one has to question why this is even an issue to begin with. The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. Arguments come from both religious groups, as well as secular focused sources. Reasoning against gay marriage ranges from religious immorality, to the idea that giving gays the right to marry would support minoritarianism (giving minority special privileges and advantages in either a legislative or societal capacity). There are countless arguments besides those mentioned, few of which have any substantial grounds to stand on. Gay marriage causes no political or communal grief, except for those who strongly oppose it now. Even for those people gay people exist either way. Whether they are married or not will not change that and their lives will not be dramatically changed from it. Gay marriage has no valid reason to be outlawed and there are plenty of reasons to allow it.
Marriage as generally define is the union between one man and one woman. However a recent debate over same-sex marriage has stirred a nationwide debate reverberating in the halls of Congress, at the White House, in dozens of state courtrooms and legislatures, and is also becoming a speech-making topic for election campaigns at both the national and state levels. As the debate for this controversial topic rages on, the American religious community view on the topic remains deeply divided over the matter and over the morality of homosexuality in general. Granting legal marriage right to gays and lesbians would primarily alter the idea of marriage, ignore a child’s right to a mother and father, and expands government control of marriage.
Today there are killings and fights and protest about gay marriage; this is not just an older generation thing. This is the second problem which is society today. If we see a couple walking down the street holding hands, we smile and continue on. If we see a same sex couple doing the same thing, we have to do a double take and give them a dirty look. The reason we do this is because we have grown up seeing same-sex marriage wrong. We as a society are not used to seeing this, so we cast judgment because we have not opened our hearts for this change yet. People want to say it is wrong for religious reasons, or because it 's how they grew up, or because it is gross. This is not a reason to deny someone else the right to be happy. Society today is so judgmental towards homosexuals that we have stopped treating them as human. “More than sixty companies, including Apple, Nike, and Morgan Stanley, signed onto a brief submitted to the Supreme Court supporting same-sex marriage in February, according to Fortune” (Berman NP). This article shows us that some of the biggest companies in the world support gay marriage. Apple has been a proud support from the beginning with rainbow signs and posters. The rest fell in love with loving others and allowing others to be equal to each other. If you believe in love and you are in love wouldn’t you want your fellow neighbor to be able to feel that one day, no matter who it is
At long last we have covered ten of the most common arguments against LGBT rights, particularly same-sex marriage. Needless to say there are plenty of other arguments out there against the LGBT community, yet all lack logical and reasonable basis for denying us equal rights. Opposing the inevitable is a waste of precious time, money and energy. It is time those who oppose LGBT rights to start turning their focus back onto their own lives and accept the facts. Legalizing same-sex marriage is not going to force them to marry someone of the same-sex. The only think they will be “forced” to do, is to acknowledge the right of all humans to be treated equally. After all, when it comes to the States, is it not under the law, “Liberty and Justice for All” should not come with a disclaim?
Imagine yourself in a position where all the options you have are limited, just because of what you believe in. You were born into a world where the rules of society are already placed for you, and labeled you "unnatural", because you are different. Now right now it may seem like I am talking about any other country where not everyone is equal, but sadly I am speaking about my own country that I was born and raised in, the United States of America. Difference has been a constant problem since the birth of this country, from women being able to vote, to people of different color being able to wed together. Today my main focus will be about same sex marriage, who is someone to get in the way of two people who love each other unconditionally, to see be able to spend the rest of their days together, and plan for each others future. The thought of same sex marriage is something that should not be rejected, but instead embraced in order for this country to become a better place for the next generation to come.
In the United States, legalization of same-sex marriage has a long-standing history of opposition from religious circles. Some argue against the legalization of same-sex marriage based on their interpretation of the Bible’s stance against homosexuality (Dobson, O’Brien). Other opponents argue against the practice based on universal tenets of moral behavior, fundamental beliefs that are said to underpin our country’s existing laws and should not be eroded (George, Finnis, Friedman).
Some people believe that there is no such thing as “true love” they believe that love is nothing but an illusion designed by social expectations. These people believe that love ultimately turns into pain and despair. This idea in some ways is true. Love is not eternal it will come to an end one way or another, but the aspect that separates true love from illusion, is the way love ends. “True Love” is much too powerful to be destroyed by Human imperfection; it may only be destroyed by a force equal to the power of love. Diotima believed that “Love is wanting to posses the good forever” In other words love is the desire to be immortal and the only way that we are able to obtain immortality is through reproduction, and since the act of reproduction is a form of sexual love, then sexual love is in fact a vital part of “True love”. Sexual love is not eternal. This lust for pleasure will soon fade, but the part of love that is immortal, is a plutonic love. You can relate this theory to the birth of love that Diotima talks about. She says that love was born by a mortal mother and immortal father. The mother represents the sexual love, the lust for pleasure. The father represents the plutonic love that is immortal. Plutonic love is defined as a true friendship, the purest of all relationships. A true plutonic love will never die; it transcends time, space, and even death.
Same- sex marriage has done nothing but turn the human race into a joke. Reproduction is the key to maintaining a society and continuing the human race. The future of humans will be at risk if homosexuality continues to be accepted and existent. Not only would the population suffer from same-sex couples, but the children of same-sex couples would suffer. Both boys and girls need a mother and a father, and without both there will be severe consequences that the innocent children involved will have to endure. Same-sex marriage is an unnatural practice that has begun to damage society.