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Arguments for gay marriage essay
Arguments for gay marriage essay
Essay on same sex marriage arguments
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Marriage is the religious and legal commitment between two people, as well as the ultimate expression of love. However, marriages between same sex couples are not recognized by the federal government due to the Defense of Marriage Act. In essence, their civil right to be married is withheld from them. The Christian majority's influence in federal policy and lawmaking is one of the foremost reason why same-sex marriage has continually failed to gain long term acceptance in the United States.
Same-sex unions have come to the forefront of American politics in the last couple of decades, but history has shown that it is a longstanding issue. The first historical mention of same-sex marriages occurred during the early Roman Empire. Emperors Nero and Elagabalus both married male slaves and historians are much agreed that same-sex marriages were common. However as Christianity, then a new religion, gained momentum, it's sanctions against homosexuality eventually ensured that same-sex marriages lost favor. In fact, as new Emperors themselves were now Christians, a new law in the Theodosian Code was issued, prohibiting same-sex marriage and making the offense punishible by execution. Thus began a long history of Christian persecution of homosexuals.
Today, the most common objection to same sex marriage again seems to arise from religious doctrine. Opponents argue that same sex marriage not only infringes on religious freedom and that such unions are in contradiction to the biblical purpose of marriage, but will also have the effect of normalizing and encouraging homosexual behavior. However, many Christian leaders have spoken out in support of same sex marriage, going so far as to state that it would only strengthen marriage as an institution. Christian supporters also note that in widely respected works of biblical records the term "homosexual" is never used, affirming the claims that the term is actually a mistranslation from the original text of the bible. They further attest that since the original authors of the bible never use the term homosexual, the bible cannot therefore forbid homosexuality and by extention, same-sex marriage. Furthermore, The Church of Canada, many Quaker organization, The Church of Christ, The Metropolitan Community Church and some Catholic theologians have openly supported and approved same-sex marriages.
The legal issues surrounding same-sex marriage in the United States are complicated by the nation's federal government system of government.
Same sex marriage may seem, to some, a crazy idea as marriage in this country is built on the foundation of a man and a woman marrying, but Sullivan points out that until recent centuries marriage was a contract into which a woman entered so that she would be controlled by her husba...
The American debate on homosexuality reveals an unquestionable, though awfully uninvited, fusion between religion and politics, revealing a dangerous lack of separation between the church and state. The concern is not about the presence of spirituality in American politics, but the implications institutionalized religion has on the lives and rights of human beings. Nothing hinders the political and social progress of lesbian women and gay men quite like the complexities of religion. Dating back to the beginning of literature itself, homosexuality is far from modern. Nonetheless, homosexuality is currently the most divisive and fiercely debated topic in recent religious discourse. While most Christians maintain allegiance in labeling same-sex relationships as morally wrong, the church is dramatically divided on the proper place for gays and lesbians in American society and of course, American politics.
The legislatures of states are deeply involved in the public debate on how to define marriage, and argue whether marriage’s legal definition should be extended to same-gender couples. Currently, seventeen states and the District of Columbia have laws allowing same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage is prohibited in thirty-three states, and twenty-nine states outlaw same-gender unions in their state constitutions. The effects of special interest group lobbying for and against same-sex marriage legalization impact local and state governments, as well as states’ constitutions.
.... However that all changed when Christianity became the empires official religion, so in accordance with Theodosian code gay marriages in the empire were outlawed and anyone in a pre-existing gay union were to be killed. During the Ming dynasty in China males would bind themselves to other males through complex ceremonies, females would do the same. There is an old Chinese story from the early Zhou dynasty titled, “Pan Zhang & Wang Zhongxian” were two men fall in love and get married, and there union is widely accepted by their community. Many other western cultures, other than the romans, had little problem with gays. The Greeks had many people who would practice same-sex love, thought they were commonly considered temporary. In more recent years, late 1800’s-early 1900’s, is when homosexuals started coming out of the woodwork again and making themselves known.
Religion has been a big issue with judging homosexual. Some Christians believe that the Bible speaks with one clear voice in condemning homosexuality. In many Anti-gay Christians groups see homosexuality as sinful. Using the Bible to justify their hate against anything they do not understand.
The traditional argument against same-sex marriage states that marriage is defined as the emotional and spiritual union of a man and a woman. According to that definition, a pair of men or women cannot marry. Opponents of same-sex marriage bans, however, argue that marriage is a basic personal and social right and a social contract that is devoid of gender consideration. Cheshire Calhoun states, "the dominant goal of marriage is and should be unitive, the spiritual and personal union of the committed couple" (151). The sexual orientation or gender of the partners does not lessen the importance placed upon entering such a union and need not be used to restrict who can enter into such a union.
In fact most of the time it’s the anti-supporters bugging the LGBTQ community. The LGBTQ community just wants equal rights for all types of people, whether it’s in marriage or adoption. The anti-supporters often use the bible to state that LGBTQ rights should not happen. They use passages such as Leviticus 18:22 which states, “ 'You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.” These rules have changed over time and Leviticus rules according to Galatians 3:10 are cursed laws. Then according to Galatians 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us.” This basically states that Jesus rescued us from the cursed laws by dying on the cross. Galatians 5:1 explains that “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” All this is saying that you shouldn’t follow the rules of Leviticus because Jesus sacrificed himself to get rid of the curse. So in turn, it’s okay for men to sleep with other men, the bible is not a decent justification for not having LGBTQ
The word marriage means many things to many different people. To some people marriage is a religious ceremony, and should remain a religious union, without any interaction by the government. For others marriage is a legal contract, which should benefit both parties involved in the marriage. According Wikipedia.com, most people define marriage as “(1) the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as a husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2) the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of the traditional relationship.” Not only has the type of contract marriage is become so controversial, but also the idea of who exactly is allowed to be married is an unresolved issue. Due to so many conflicting views on marriage, some people have wanted the government to define the word marriage, while others feel that it is not in the government’s job description to do so. As a result the Federal government did decide to define it with the proposition of the marriage amendment. What the marriage amendment states is that “Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and woman. Neither constitution or the constitution of any state, nor state or federal law, shall be construed to require that marital status or the logical incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.” However despite efforts by the government to solve matters/issues of marriage, more problems in fact come out of this. The marriage amendment should not be in motion because it goes against the very idea of federalism, takes away civil rights, and also takes power away from the courts also.
Sixty years from now, the American people will look back on the 21st century and be appalled at how the people from today allowed their government to make it illegal for certain couples to get married, just as the people of today are disgusted with the ban on marriage between interracial couples before 1967. Being so advanced technologically, it is surprising how America is still so behind on the issue of same-sex marriage. The United States should push aside the religious argument in this debate, and truly separate its church and state as it claims to do so. From its slow beginning to the rapid increase of support in the 70’s, homosexual marriage has been a controversial debate that hopefully will end in the near future.
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is a controversial law in the past as it is now in the present. I chose to write about this law because the concept of gay marriage is being liberally accepted today compared to its heavy intolerance in the past. Today, countless couples are trying to marry yet must face obstacles such as DOMA that hinders their freedom to marry. I, myself, is an advocate for same-sex marriage and learning more about DOMA lets me see what these same-sex couples go through. In this paper, I will discuss the origins of the DOMA, what it encompasses, what the effects are today and in the future, how DOMA affects me, and how DOMA affects Guam.
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 LGBTQIA community has faced strong opposition from groups falling outside this minority for years, primarily conservative and religious groups. This phenomenon is not particular to the United States, but spans hundreds of countries across the world. Religious leaders in varying religions not only oppose the act of marriage, but often times oppose the actual act of homosexual behavior. Often religious oppositionist will cite religious text, like the Bible as a means of opposing the LGBTQIA lifestyle. One of the most blatant oppositions to homosexual b...
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 is a “socially recognized and approved union between individuals, who commit to one another with the expectations of a stable and lasting intimate relationship. It begins with a ceremony known as a wedding which formally unites marriage partners. A marital relationship usually involves some kind of contract, either written or specified by tradition, which defines the partners’ rights and obligations to each other, to any children they may have, and to their relatives. In most contemporary industrialized societies, marriage is certified by the government,” (Skolnick, 2005). Marriage is also an important institution because of the impact it has on society. Marriage is the main way that reproduction of human life occurs. In some societies it is tradition for family heirlooms or things of value be passed on through marriage. Marriage also serves as a healthy way to have intimate relationships with an individual. In most places a marriage exists between two people of the opposite sex. However, the legal definition of marriage is currently being challenged by many. According to Skolnick’s article a marriage can be defined by responsibilities that a couple would share, some examples are: living together, having sexual relations, sharing money and financial responsibilities, and having a child together. The issue is that homosexual couples can do these things like heterosexual couples.
Same-sex marriage has been a religious hot potato for years. In case of the United State, same-sex marriage is legally recognized in some jurisdictions within the United States and by the federal government. As of January 2014, seventeen states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington), as well as the District of Columbia, have legalized same-sex marriage, although the Illinois law will not become effective until June 1, 14 (Reference: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage).