Premium Essay

Why Should Same-Sex Marriage Be Legalize?

In:

Submitted By cthornton78
Words 904
Pages 4
Chanel Thortnon
Eng 310 Fall 2009
Mrs. Rangel
12/3/2009

I feel same sex marriages should be legalized because they want the same rights as heterosexual couples. I feel they should be able to have the same rights.
Same sex couples should be allowed to marry in the United States. First of all, while it is a relatively new practice that same-sex couples are being granted the same form of legal marital recognition as commonly used by same-sexed couples, recent publicity and debate over the past decade gives an impression that civil marriage for lesbian and gay couples is novel and untested. Some cities have passed laws providing for same sex couples and heterosexual couples, who are living together without being married. To become domestic partners, the partners must register their relationship at a government office and declare that they are in a "committed" relationship. Domestic partnerships provide some but not all of the legal benefits of marriage. Some of the common benefits are the right to coverage on a family health insurance policy, the right to family leave to take care of a sick partner , bereavement leave, visiting rights to hospitals and jails, and rent control benefits (to the same extent a spouse would retain reduced rent if his or her partner died.) I don’t see no harm in a same sex marriage because they are the same person that they have always been the only difference is that they are in a same sex relationship. One of my best friends is in a same sex relationship and she is still the same person she has always been. She’s a good mother to her kids and also to my kids because she is their god mother.

I support Proposition 8 and Mayor Gavin Newsome of San Francisco, CA which allowed same sex marriages in 2008. The passing of Proposition 8 in California not only caused a stir of political debate, but it also created a whirlwind of confusion

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Same Sex Marriage

...Same Sex Marriage QUESTIONS : 1. What is Same Sex Marriage ? 2. Where did Same Sex Marriage originate? 3. Do you think our country should legalize same sex marriage? 4. Do you think all country should also legalize same sex marriage? 5. Do you think same sex couples should get the same rights as opposite sex couples? 6. Why do religious people oppose LGBT especially same sex marriage ? 7. Why there are LGBT ? is that a choice ? 8. Can same sex couple raise a child ? 9. Do you support same sex marriage? 10. What are your views about same sex marriage? ANSWERS : 1. Same-sex marriage (also known as gay marriage) is marriage between two people of the same biological sex and/or gender identity. 2. A same-sex union was known in Ancient Greece and Rome, ancient Mesopotamia,in some regions of China, such as Fujian province, and at certain times in ancient European history.These same-sex unions continued until Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. A law in the Theodosian Code was issued in 342 AD by the Christian emperors Constantius II and Constans, which prohibited same-sex marriage in ancient Rome and ordered that those who were so married were to be executed. Same-sex marital practices and rituals were more recognized in Mesopotamia than in ancient Egypt.In the ancient Assyrian society, there was nothing amiss with homosexual love between men. Some ancient religious Assyrian texts contain prayers for divine blessings on homosexual...

Words: 673 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Legres

...States Supreme Court decided that the denial of same sex marriage violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution. In their ruling, the Supreme Court held that “The Fourteenth Amendment requires a State to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-State.” (Obergefell et al. v. Hodges, Director, Ohio Department Of Health, et al., 576 U.S. __ No. 14-556 (2015) making same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states, giving them as Justice Anthony Kennedy said “equal dignity in the eyes of the law”. Though most are happy with the decision, there are some who are not glad with it. In his dissent Chief Justice John Roberts believes that it is not the Supreme Court’s duty to decide whether a law should be passed or not. “Judges have power to say what the law is, not what it should be” he adds “the Constitution authorized courts to exercise neither force nor will but merely judgment.” And because of the decision that the court made, people who are against same sex marriage will be forced to accept it. Many conservatives are disappointed with the decision; some of them are moving to make a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage. In an interview, Republican Presidential Candidate and Florida Governor Jeb Bush said that "In a country as diverse as ours, good people who have opposing views should be able to live side by side. It is now crucial...

Words: 1461 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Gay Marriage

...the most intimate and highest form of love, which is éros, it is a love that is experienced between two people sexually. This type of love is displayed during a couple’s marriage. This love is the love that majorities of couples in America are allowed to express towards each other publically. The expression of marriage is portrayed through American couples, as men and women. Why do only a man and a woman define a marriage? If we all experience this love then why does it matter whom it is shown to? If someone of the same sex happens to love another person of the same sex whom can justify if these basic rights are unlawful? If we want to legalize same-sex marriage we need to see all the positives and understand why being homosexuality shouldn’t be a form of prejudice. What makes a person love somebody of the same sex? Some people believe that those few individuals that have love for the same sex do it by choice. If a person happens to be homosexual, why would he or she not change his or her sexual orientation to fit the norm of today and get married easily and legally? The answer is simple: people are born into homosexuality not chosen. According to A Linkage between DNA Markers on the X Chromosome and Male Sexual Orientation, “The linkage to markers on Xq28, the subtelomeric region of the long arm of the sex chromosome, had a multipoint lod...

Words: 1035 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Marriage for All

...Marriage For All Rebecca Hillman PHI 103 Instructor Anaya 12/9/2013 While religious people feel that it is a great sin, Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgender (LGBT) marriages can be politically beneficial to politicians and lawmakers because if same-sex marriages were legalized the discrimination against homosexuals would be reduced. The over 400,000 foster children in the United States would have a better chance for a happy home, and same-sex marriages would help with the economic issues America faces. First, LGBT marriages can be politically beneficial to politicians and lawmakers because if same-sex marriages were legalized the discrimination against homosexuals would be reduced. An article on HuffingtonPost.com, by Jillian Berman (2013), states “Considering about half of Americans say they are in support of same-sex marriages.” Gallup's May 2-7 poll suggests Americans' support for gay marriage is solidifying above the majority level. Recently, Rhode Island and Delaware legalized same-sex marriage, and Minnesota is likely to follow suit. That would bring the total number of states legally recognizing same-sex marriage to 12 (Gallup Politics, May 13, 2013). Another huffintonpost.com article, by Murray Lipp, claims that “by making same-sex marriages legal, would affirm the inherent worthiness of LGBT people as valued American Citizens deserving of equal rights under the law.” Since about half of Americans support same-sex marriages, politicians would benefit...

Words: 985 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Same Sex Marriage

...Jessica C. Cruz PHI2604 Professor Anthony Kreider Gay Marriage “To Love and Be Loved” “Marriage should be a choice between a spouse and a spouse, not a gender and a gender.” (Hendrick Hertzberg) This quote cannot be expressed any better. It is not about gay marriage being legalized only in certain states, but rather being legalized, period! It is unethical allowing some people to marry, while others are being denied. The veil of ignorance is set upon many people when it comes to the decision of the legalization of gay marriage. Why should it matter if the couple is heterosexual or homosexual when it comes to making decisions for their other partner? Unmarried partners are denied the rights in making decisions with their partner, as well as being in a situation that only family can be in a certain place. Little by little insurance companies and many others are beginning to allow the partners of homosexual couples be put onto the other partners insurance, giving them the opportunity of help, as an illusion of marriage, although it is not legal to actually be married. What is marriage? One can look up the definition, but what marriage really is, is not what a dictionary shows. The meaning of marriage should be more obvious than what it is brought out to be. The true meaning of marriage consists of sexual intimacy (which both heterosexual and homosexual couples can achieve); the couple’s mutual effort in dealing with economic and domestic necessities of life, and it is most importantly...

Words: 1035 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Human Rights

...Gay Marriage Research Paper Did you know that only 17 states in the United States have officially legalized gay marriage? Some of these states include: California Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. Maryland became the first state to pass a statute banning marriage between same-sex couples on January 1st, 1973. Then, President Bill Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) into law on September 21st, 1996. The DOMA mandates unequal treatment of legally married same-sex couples. 3 years later, California becomes the first state to create a domestic partnership statute, on September 22, 1999 allowing same-sex couples to receive some, but not all, of the protections afforded by marriage. (History and Timeline of the Freedom to Marry in the United States). Gay marriage should be legalized in all states because it will boost the economy, it will provide health benefits for the couples , more children will get adopted, and because it can allow same-sex couples to visit their spouse in case they are at the hospital. Making gay marriage legal will boost the economy for sure. Why you ask? It is because the more marriages there are, the more money the state earns. Same-sex couples spend at an average of $9,039 on their weddings, while 31% spent $10,000 dollars or more. New York statistics show that after the first year of legalizing gay marriage, they gained $259 million dollars. (CNNMoney) . Also, according to a 2005 Stanford study cited by the Fiscal Times...

Words: 1538 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Same Sex Marriage

...to legalize the same-sex marriage here in the Philippines?” “Marriage is about LOVE, not GENDER”, this is what the gays and lesbians wanted to say. Nowadays, this issue, the same-sex marriage is viral in the whole world. But, what is same-sex marriage? It is defined as a union between two people who are of the same gender or biological sex. Since 2001, ten nations and other jurisdictions have made this type of union legal. Whether or not to recognize such marriages remains a source of debate as far as civil rights, political and social issues go. Introduction of same-sex marriage laws has varied by jurisdiction, being variously accomplished through legislative change to marriage laws, a court ruling based on constitutional guarantees of equality, or by direct popular vote (via ballot initiative or referendum). The recognition of same-sex marriage is a political and social issue, and also a religious issue in many countries and debates continue to arise over whether people in same-sex relationships should be allowed marriage or some similar status (a civil union). Same-sex marriage can provide those in same-sex relationships who pay their taxes with government services and make financial demands on them comparable to those afforded to and required of those in opposite-sex marriages. Same-sex marriage also gives them legal protections such as inheritance and hospital visitation rights.  Various faith communities around the world support allowing those of the same sex to...

Words: 2254 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Ethics

...Do you think same-sex marriage should be legal? Some cons of gay marriage is that it will legalize other marriages. Like, fathers and daughters, people and animals and group marriages. Also, it will raise taxes and people should not have to pay for things they do not believe in. Gay couples cannot have children. They would have to adopt or find a surrogate mother. Children need both a mother and father. A father and mother both play very different roles in a childs life. With same-sex couples it might confuse the child and they might not get the same relaptionship a hetrosexual couple might give their child. A child might be confused if they have two moms or two dads. They might end up gay because they are being persuaded by their parents. Allowing gay marriage could change the intuition of marriage. People in further generations might be confused and persuade other people it’s okay for this to happen. Homosexuality is unnatural, it’s not how humans have been in past generations. Also, it’s not what’s in the bible. It’s not what God intended for people to be. God said it’s a sin and unnatural. Everyone has a right to their opinion and it should be up to the person what they want to believe in or not. Would you want to be denied your right to be married? Denying a person a right to marry is unethical. Marriage is a right to all human beings and should be allowed everywhere and to anyone. There are thirty seven states where same-sex marriage is legal. Gay marriages can bring financial...

Words: 673 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Should Homosexual Marriages Be Legalized?

...homosexual? What is homosexual marriage? Homosexual is defined as same-sex; meaning ‘sexually attracted only to people of the same-sex as oneself’ (Oxford Dictionary, 2000, p. 883). Homosexual marriage is between two same-sex partners’ also known as same-sex marriage. Homosexual marriage is illegal in some countries and states on a decade of a century ago. The government and the society’s point of view towards the marriage institution should only consist of a man and a woman. The trend of homosexual couples are increasingly gaining approved in other countries but they are still not been allowed to marry. However, in 2004, Massachusetts which is a part of the America is the first state that was allowed same-sex couples to marry (Vestal, 2009). Same-sex marriage was gradually permitted in some countries. According to the Confessore and Barbaro (2011), New York has the highest rate where gay and lesbian couples get married. Due to this, it is obvious that homosexual couples wish that their relationship can be accepted by the society. Nowadays, majority of the people have no problem towards the issue of homosexuality. According to a questionnaire result that was stated in the Beijing News, 100 percent out of 83 percent of the respondents born in 1980 years to 1990 years did not disagree of homosexuality (The Star, 2012, p. 39). The purpose of this paper is to point out that homosexual couples have their rights to marry as legalizing homosexual marriage can also bring a multitude advantages...

Words: 3702 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

Legal Marriage

...Legalize Same-Sex Marriage in United States Marriage, according to the Webster dictionary, is the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law. The Webster dictionary also defines same sex marriage in the same way. However, there are people do not agree and state that homosexual marriage should not be recognized by law. In Lisa Schiffren's essay, "Gay Marriage, an Oxymoron," she states that gay marriage presents a lot of problems to the society and that the ultimate purpose of marriage is to create and nurture offspring (554). However, Thomas Stoddard holds different opinions about this issue. In his essay, "Gay Marriages: Make Them Legal", he argues that marriage does not only have a symbolic meaning, but also physical purposes such as sharing spouse's estate, tax advantages and insurance benefit (551). All of these rights and privileges cannot be obtained if the marriage is not recognized by law. Unlike what Schiffren suggests, in Stoddard's definition, marriage only involves two people in love. They are not getting married because they want to have children. It is the couple's decision whether or not to get married and the government is preventing them to do so. Homosexual marriage should be legalized in United States because marriage is a decision between two people, religion should not be a factor in the decision of marriage, and there should not be any discrimination...

Words: 728 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Same Sex Marriage

...Same Sex Marriage: Why is it Still Illegal in Some States? The right wing conservatives think it's a decision And you can be cured with some treatment and religion A world so hateful some would rather die than be who they are And a certificate on paper isn't gonna solve it all But it's a damn good place to start Whatever God you believe in We come from the same one Strip away the fear Underneath it's all the same love The words above are song lyrics excerpted from Macklemore and Mary Lambert’s song Same Love. Today, this song is considered the theme song of the American gay liberation front. In its early weeks, however, it received wild criticism. Apparently, people did not expect this to come from Macklemore. Mary Lambert is openly gay, so people did not have problems with her speaking out for the LGBT community. Macklemore, on the other hand, was straight. As a consequence, people raised their eyebrows in disapproval. To many listeners, Macklemore is in no way qualified to represent the LGBT community as he is not one of them. This incident is particularly telling of just how far America is from real gay liberation. At present, only 16 of 50 states legalize same sex marriage. California, Connecticut, Iowa and Massachusetts legalized same sex marriage by court decision. On the other hand, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont all gained equal marriage rights by state legislature. Meanwhile, Maine, Maryland, and...

Words: 829 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Gay Marriage

...Sample Final Exam Essay: Legalize Gay Marriage English—Mr. Fichter (This sample essay is based upon a student-written essay from last year. The student author is anonymous.) Homosexuality is everywhere. You can see it in books, on television, in the media; it is rapidly becoming a social norm. Given this trend of greater acceptance of gay marriage, the issue of whether to legalize same-sex marriage naturally arises. Massachusetts has led the way by legalizing gay marriage. Responding to this example, some states have taken steps towards accepting gay marriage while others are considering laws and constitutional amendments banning gay marriage within state borders. President George Bush has recently proposed a ban on gay marriage in the U.S. Constitution (Hulse). If Americans carefully examine the situation, however, they should all be able to understand the importance of making same-sex marriage legal in the United States. Those opposing same-sex marriage claim that by allowing this act, marriages everywhere will lose their honor and validity (Kurtz). Marriages between a man and a woman would lose their special importance, these opponents argue, if the definition of marriage is expanded to include same-sex couples as well. The test of time has proven this fear pointless. For several years, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands have allowed gay marriage without any signs of damage to heterosexual couples. Social life in these countries continues unchanged, and...

Words: 1626 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Legalizing Gay Marriage

...thirty-five-hundred years ago” (Haggerty & Lewis). Same sex marriage has been a hot topic in the United States for a very long time. This issue is highly important because marriage is a human right and it a basic moral that all should know. Many people are against gay marriage because according to many right wing conservatives being gay is a choice and that it is against what we learn from the bible. Same sex marriage should be legalized in every state in the United States because it is a basic human right, it shows family values and anti- discrimination, will increase children adoption rates and same sex marriage will also bring financial benefits. Gay marriage should be legal in the United States because it is a basic human right. Although conservatives will continue to debate the issues of gay rights and same sex marriages for years to come, there has been many improvements. Many individuals that oppose gay marriage will “come to understand the fundamental injustice of subjecting gay and lesbian Americans to their own form of Jim Crow rather than sharing in equal rights for all” (Lampo). There is no different from what this nation did to African Americans during the Civil rights movement, to what we are doing to same-sex couples today, not allowing them to get marries. Recognized federal civil rights law in the United States is grounded in the U.S. Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court. By this standard, marriage has long been established as a civil right. The operative...

Words: 2291 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Homosexual Marriages Should Have the Same Rights as Heterosexual

...Table of Contents · Introduction · Homosexual Marriages Should Have the Same Rights as Heterosexual Marriages. · Comparisons to Other Countries · Europe · Africa · Background · First Argument with Gay Marriage · Changes in the Ability to Get Married · Hate Crimes · Identification of Policy Alternatives · Legalizing Gay Marriage Amongst All States · Legalizing Gay Marriage Amongst All States, but Naming it “Civil Unions” · Legalizing Gay Marriage/Civil Unions Against Some States, Recognizing it in All · Recommendation · References INTRODUCTION: Same Sex Marriages Having Same Rights as Heterosexual Marriages Gay marriage has been an active debate amongst politicians, religious figures, and the public. The debate has spanned over a decade with little change for either side. The issue of gay marriage is not just about the name of what the union is called, but the right to be able to legally join as homosexual couples with the same rights as heterosexual couples. Reasons for someone to be in favor of this topic are that there should be a separation of religion and politics, it deprives homosexuals of their natural rights, and this issue has escalated to violent hate crimes towards homosexuals. As it stands, currently 9 million adults are homosexuals, representing 4 percent of the 18 and over population in the United States with no signs of diminishing. Public administrators have done little...

Words: 4035 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

Informative Lgbtqia

...Lauren Weiss Litton English 4 cp Gay marriage(LGBTQIA) The constitution guarantees that we have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, when people say that same sex couples can not be together, or get married, it is discrimination and they are being deprived of their constitutional rights. Just because someone is gay, transgender, gender non conformant, more than one gender, or not sexually attracted to anyone, also known as LGBTQIA, does not make them any less of a human then everyone else on this planet. A “traditional marriage” used to be between a man and a woman, however as times have changed it is a looser term, which should now include same sex marriage. Marriage is a bond between two people who love each other, if those two people just so happen to be of the same sex why should we punish them by not allowing them to marry. As of right now many same sex couples are getting civil unions, or domestic partnerships, in order to recive recognition of their marriage gay marriage would have to be legalized. Partnerships are union’s marriages are recognized by the state, therefore all same sex couples would not receive any of the privileges of married couples. If gay marriage is legalized then all same sex couples receive protection, federal and or state acknowledgement, they have a right to their partner’s insurance as well as hospital visitations. However they are not able to file for joint tax returns nor are they eligible for the tax breaks...

Words: 1063 - Pages: 5