...In the United States, there is a lot of controversy over the issue of gay marriage. There are constant discrepancies between adamant believers in gay marriage and the political leaders of our country. The government’s refusal of the right of the marriage of homosexuals should not be tolerated. A large portion of people in America at the moment are utterly and completely against gay marriage, however there are also those who possess a more liberal view on the situation and feel differently towards the subject of equal treatment for all people. Religious beliefs often play a substantial role in the decision making process in many ways. For instance, Christian politicians are using their religious beliefs to impose their views and ideas upon people of their denomination. Christians believe that gay marriage shouldn’t be allowed because of the Bible entries that suggest that God made man and women for each other and that any other variation of this couple is a sin. Some feel that this country was founded on the beliefs of Christianity and therefore we should respect those ideals of our forefathers but this can no longer be the case. Our society has grown throughout the years and people have become more and more accepting of change. Every person has their own religious freedom to worship which ever God they see fitting and to believe in any cause they choose. There has been separation from church and state for many years...
Words: 1205 - Pages: 5
...Running Head: GAY MARRIAGE 1 Gay Marriage: Good or Bad? Terry Richmond SOC 120 Robert Gala Oct. 1, 2012 GAY MARRIAGE 2 Gay Marriage: Good or Bad? Some organizations will lead you to believe that if same-sex couples are allowed to marry it will further weaken the institution of marriage. However, two people of the same sex should be allowed to marry because it would give them basic rights such as hospital visitation, taxation, and access to family health coverage. Same-sex marriages could bring a huge financial gain to local and state governments in the form of marriage license fees, higher income taxes, and a decrease in state benefit program costs. If we continue to deny marriage to same-sex couples it will send the message that it is ok to discriminate against them. As some well-known anti-gay groups such as Focus on the Family diminish their stance on gay marriage, a core of smaller groups that are mostly religious motivated continue to demonize homosexuals...
Words: 2597 - Pages: 11
...Gay Marriage Gay marriage has become a big topic for the last twenty years. When it comes to gay marriage, I am not with or against, but more neutral about it. I come from a catholic family and I’ve attend church most of my life. As long as people are happy, then it shouldn’t matter how they want to live their lives. Gay marriage has been accepted in some countries and others are fallowing. There is absolutely no part of history which determines whether gay marriage should be allowed or not. There is totally no official, rational, or principal reason that gay couples cannot marry and it's very undemocratic in all ways to tell. Gay marriage should be authorized for a some reasons, a few being, it does not make any difference if two men or two women want to get married, not allowing them to wed makes them feel inferior and also violates human rights. No one likes feeling low-grade, or like they a less standards, by making gay marriage prohibited you make couples who are involved with the same sex feel lesser to others. Homosexuality is not a cognizant choice; it's something in- born. Just as you did not choose who you love, neither did they. So it is unfair to make gay marriage seem awkward when it is no dissimilar. Human rights are an issue people have tried hard to uphold over the years, banning slave trade and enforcing women rights. Homosexual groups are not supposed to be different. They need to have their human rights respected, just like women are allowed...
Words: 951 - Pages: 4
...granted by the government. An upstanding citizen who pays their taxes, serves their community and abides by the law should be afforded the rights of an American. However, not all citizens are afforded equal rights. Gay and lesbians are consistently denied rights that are typically taken for granted by the average American. Specifically, gay and lesbian couples are denied the right to marry even if they are upstanding citizens and are held at an unfair disadvantage solely because of their sexual orientation. This discrimination must stop because gay and lesbian couples are law-abiding citizens as well, who should be afforded the same rights as heterosexual couples. If same-sex couples are paying taxes to build roads and help public schools like the heterosexual couples, they should be afforded the same rights. One common problem that plagues gay and lesbian couples that are denied the right to marry is their inability to claim their partner’s social security after he or she has died. Currently, there are no programs that give homosexuals survivor benefits like the ones that are provided for heterosexuals who are married or divorced. Gay and lesbian partners are not able to claim benefits of their deceased, regardless of the fact that all working citizens, heterosexual or homosexual, pay into the Social Security system for survivor benefits. Sadly, this leaves many gay and lesbian couples with an unstable retirement. The most disturbing fact is that homosexuals cannot claim survivor...
Words: 1726 - Pages: 7
...numerous opinions and standing views on gay marriage. The argument regarding gay marriage should be legalized or not is extremely controversial. According to an article from the Human Rights Campaign, there is nothing wrong with allowing homosexuals to have the same rights as those who are heterosexual. Every individual person should be granted equal rights, regardless of sexuality. Gay marriage should be legalized in all states and countries, it has been held off for too long. Moreover, there are several reasons why homosexuals feel strongly about wanting to be legally married. One reason that is most commonly heard is, they want to legally show their love for each other by having a marriage license. Homosexuals want the right to marry like anybody else, and for the same reasons too. They are in love and want to spend their lives with this person. Even though it is possible to do this without being married; “they want to honor their relationship in the greatest way our society has to offer” (90). There be no reason two people cannot marry despite their sexuality. If a man and woman get to marry because they love each other, what is the difference between a man and a man or a woman and a woman wanting to marry because, they love each other? Also, another cause why homosexuals want the right to marry their spouse is because they are being cheated of rights. Although, two people love each other, if they cannot marry they are losing rights. Marriage gives both spouses benefits, “same-sex...
Words: 1710 - Pages: 7
...Gay Marriage Should gay marriages be legal? Clearly we as a nation are undecided on this issue. 36 states have passed legislation banning gay marriages, yet the state of Vermont recently passed a law that allows homosexual couples the right to participate in civil unions. Some other states are also debating whether or not to allow these couples to marry. Unfortunately, the dispute has left the United States homosexual community in an awkward position. There are some people who think that gay people have no rights and should never be allowed to marry. Other people believe that gay people are just like anyone else and should enjoy the same rights and privileges as heterosexuals do. I think that the United States should allow these couples to marry just like any other couple. There are many opponents of gay people as it is, and they all have their reasons to dislike the idea of letting them get married. One of the main reasons is that the primary purpose of marriage is procreation. Because gay couples are unable to have children, they should not be allowed to marry (Schiffen 495). Another main argument is that the word marriage means the union of one man and one woman. This is a long-standing theme of most major Western religions. Under a proposed bill known as the Defense of Marriage act, marriage is defined as “a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.” Furthermore, it defines a spouse as “ a person of the opposite sex...
Words: 2010 - Pages: 9
...Should Homosexuals be allowed to Marry? Kelsey Laird PHI 103: Informal Logic Prof. Gloria Zungia y Postigo July 16, 2013 Marriages are said to be a legally recognized relationship, established by civil or religious ceremonies, between two people who vow to love one another till death do them part. Usually, marriages take place between a man and a woman, in love. However, the world is changing and more people are coming out to be homosexuals, who cannot make this legal vow to love their partner till death do them part. The United States is called the land of the free for many reasons, but if it is supposed to be free then it should be free for everyone, not just selected people. This argumentative paper will discuss both sides of homosexual marriage and reasons on why it should be legal and why it should not be legal. Every person born in the United States is born with civil rights which may include: race, religion, and sex. Having the option to marry the person you love is a right given to you at birth. Homosexuals, however, are being discriminated against due to their relationships with people of the same sex. Ferguson (2007) quotes “So, one common argument for gay marriage is that government denial of the legal right to gay marriage deprives gays and lesbians of access to the social sanction and status that marriage confers, and hence to full adulthood, rights to familial or joint property and inheritance rights, and full citizenship” (p. 40). To summarize...
Words: 2105 - Pages: 9
...GAY MARRIAGE 1 Gay Marriage In The United States By: Michael White SOC. 120 PJ Rosch April 2, 2012 GAY MARRIAGE 2 America is a place where a person man or woman can be whoever they want to be. America is the only place in the world where freedom reigns everywhere in the country. But, Why is it that two men or women who love each other can not get married?. Here and now people in LGBT community are fighting for equality. They want the same right as people who are considered to be regular americans to get married. Opposing forces such as certain religous groups, and several other organizations are fighting to stop this from happening. There is an easy solution to the problem why not let people be. If America is truly a land of freedom and expression then why is same sex marriage is prohibited. HISTORY Gay Marriage is something that has been going on for centuries all around the world. Same sex marriage existed in places such as China dated as far back as the Ming Dynasty. The relationships consisted of men and women mostly women who entered into contracts with younger men and women in a fancy ceremony. These ceremonies are similar to the modern day wedding between a male and female. The first recorded gay marriage occured during the Roman Empire. This marriage was between an Emperor by the name of Elagabus and slave named Hierocles. This marriage still was not fair because in the eyes of the Roman Law, the slave Hierocles was noted as a female. Various Cultures...
Words: 2119 - Pages: 9
...Gay Marriage: What’s the Problem??? “Homosexuality is not normal and should not be established as an acceptable ‘alternative’ lifestyle,’” Blount wrote. “A day is fast approaching when North Carolina will have to deal with the issue of same sex marriage.” This phrase is written across dozens of newspapers, journals, and websites. All you have to do is simply go to yahoo, type in gay marriage in North Carolina and thousands of results come up. Now you may think at first that most of these websites or links may just be talking about the approaching topic, but you would be baffled by what you actually do find. In my case the first time I searched the topic of gay marriage in this state, I was at a loss for words when the first 500 results were all against gay marriage. Such titles as “support traditional marriage” and “nogaymarriage.com” where some of the first I saw. You would have to rummage around through thousands of results before finding one moderate website that could actually tell you what was going on without putting in their own input. Gay marriage, in my opinion should be allowed. There is no strong reason for why homosexuals cannot be married. People should drop all of the political jargon and realize how they would feel if someone told them they could not marry the person they loved just because they were heterosexual. It’s easier to understand once the shoe is one the other foot. One argument heard is that same sex marriages will take away from the founding...
Words: 1963 - Pages: 8
...same-sex marriage will destroy or diminish the righteousness of marriage between a man and a woman. It is my true belief that same-sex marriage will have negative effects only on people who are extremely religious, or extremely afraid. Many religious sects have been ferociously fighting against the legalization of same-sex marriage. In every article, column, and essay that I have read there has yet to be one single individual, or group of people that are entirely against the legalization of same-sex marriage unless they are tied to a church. It is unfair and unconstitutional that same-sex couples that have been together for many years, lives together and may even have children are not allowed the same benefits of an opposite-sex marriage. Church and state are supposedly separate, until God fearing representatives of the U.S. decide that they are against an issue they may not like, or agree with and then, and only then, it is "ok" to instill the morals of the church into the state. The issue aforementioned has been strongly debated not only in individual states, but by the country as a whole. Most states (38 states total) have adopted laws and policies that allow the union of same sex couples and in a few instances even grant them marriage licenses, although they are not recognized by a single federal agency unless that license was granted in Massachusetts. In May of 2004, Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same sex marriage. In all states the marriage is nil...
Words: 2214 - Pages: 9
...Same Sex Marriage Kendra Brooks EN101 English Composition I Grantham University February 14, 2014 Should gay marriage me legalized? This has become a very trending topic in today’s society. I think the better question the people should ask is, why gay marriage shouldn’t be legalized? Homosexuals are human beings that deserve to get the same respect and have the same rights as others. There are some states that allow same sex marriages, but there are a lot of states that have placed a ban on same sex marriage. Why do same sex couples want to marry? Does allowing homosexual couples the right to wed change the traditional definitions of marriage? Does same sex marriage harm the government? Is it unconstitutional to deny homosexuals the rights to marry? Should the fact that homosexuality is a sin deny homosexuals the right to wed? There are many pros and cons to allowing same sex marriage. Why do same sex couples want to marry? Marriage means as much to homosexual couples as it does to heterosexual couples. The same as heterosexual couples, homosexual couples want to get married to share a lifetime commitment with the person they love dearly. Does allowing homosexual couples the right to wed change the traditional definitions of marriage? A marriage is defined by two peoples love and commitment. Regardless of the sex, if two people are committed and are deeply in love they should be allowed to wed. Does same sex marriage harm the government? No same sex marriage does not...
Words: 924 - Pages: 4
...Gay Marriage Introduction Gay or homosexuality is considered to be romantic or sexual attraction among behaviors among male. Gay refers to an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affection, or romantic attractions primarily to" people of the same sex; ". They do not have such kind of feelings for females. In normal marriage two people one male and one female start their lives together but in gay marriage males of same sex start living together. All over the world, homosexuals exists whether openly or hidden. In America, almost 10 percent of the population is gay. In many parts of the world such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran, India etc it is considered to be wrong and it is not considered good there but no one can help the feelings of any person. Whether same sex marriage should be legalized or not is more of a religious debate then a political one. Marriage is considered to be a sacred union between man and woman but in America, everyone has the right to pursuit happiness and everyone has the free will. It can have a positive and negative effect on the society depending on the type of society on which people are living in. Reduction in Marriage Benefits For many years now, same sex marriage has been the top of leading religious and secular controversies in America. It is a complex and strange topic. People have both opposing and favorable view points for gay marriages. One of the many reasons why states provides many benefits to people who get marry...
Words: 1918 - Pages: 8
...Coretta Holley February 11, 2011 ENG-106 English Composition II 31-January-2011 (O101) Casey Kadavy Same Sex Marriages During the course of this essay, we will explore and discover both sides of the controversial issue on should gay couples be allowed to marry. The topic of homosexual marriage is an ongoing issue today and this has been a battle in progress for years, over gay marriages and should they be legalized. There are many people in society feel that same sex marriages are morally and ethically wrong, and other that feel they are acceptable and not wrong. In writing on this topic I had strong feelings toward the issue of same sex marriages. My view point on the issue of same sex marriage is wrong and I strongly agree that gay couples should not be allowed to marry. The reason I am opposed on this issue is because it goes against God will and purpose of marriage. In other words God created Eve because he knew that it was not good for man {Adam} to be alone. The way God uniquely created Eve from one of Adam’s rib describes God’s design for marriage, that the husband and wife become one. Therefore how can two men or two women of the same sex become one as God intended in marriage. Marriage is a union between one man and one woman. God intended marriage for procreation, which means a start of a family, so how can two of the same sex produce a child and start a family. Homosexuality is a sin and it goes against God laws. The word of God say, do...
Words: 1066 - Pages: 5
...controversial issues are discussed such as abortion, prostitution, and homosexuality. Same sex marriage has been debated in various countries for many years. This issue brings wide concern to moral and human rights. In earlier times, same-sex marriages were evidential tolerated in parts of Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt as shown in artifacts found. The Western world was known for being very accepting of same-sex relationships and unions, which is revealed in Greek paintings. People who are against gay marriage primarily focus on the moral aspect of gay marriage. Supporters of gay marriage think about same-sex couples and the positive effects it can have on them and our society. Gay marriage should be legalized in all states because it is their civil right, it increases family value which leads to an increasing rate in adoption, and same sex marriages stimulate the economy through financial increase. People who are non-supporters of gay marriage believe it goes against the moral and definition of marriage. In Market Watch magazine (2008), many people believe that gay marriages destroy the value of family and tradition. Furthermore, same sex marriage completely goes against major religions such as Catholicism and Islam. However, people do not realize that civil and religious marriages are distinct and separated. Joe Solmoneses, the president of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, states that marriage is not only an important religious meaning but it is also a legal contract. This may...
Words: 1232 - Pages: 5
...Summary of “For Gay Marriage” In his essay “For Gay Marriage,” Andrew Sullivan argues that marriage isn’t and has never been, in his view just a “private contract” between two people, and that now marriage is seen as a social and public recognition of such a commitment (404). Sullivan argues that to refuse homosexuals the right to marry is a public offense to their rights and equality as citizens. Sullivan makes the case in his essay that homosexual couples deserve the same rights, the right to marry, because they are just as capable of fulfilling the requirements of marriage as heterosexuals. Throughout his essay Sullivan argues that marriage should be allowed between any two people. He explains that marriage can no longer just be defined in the narrow sense as between a man and a woman, rather it has to be viewed in a broader perspective as it is an “emotional, financial, and psychological bond between two people”, who are consenting adults who are not closely related to one another (404). Sullivan makes the argument that marriage should not be denied to same sex couples because marriage is no longer viewed in our society as being for the sole function of procreation. It no longer matters if a couple has children or not, so why should whether or not a couple can have children be a stipulation that keeps the right to marry from homosexual couples. Sullivan finally asserts that marriage is an emotional commitment by two people for life, and that it requires sacrifice, commitment...
Words: 1103 - Pages: 5
