Paper

           Homosexuality and marriage between two people of the same sex has been a debatably topic for a couple of years now.  Some people argue that same sex marriage is an abomination, morally and ethnically wrong, however who lives a “perfect” life? Currently, in the United States people are fighting for equal rights of the gay community.  Posing questions such as why shouldn’t a person be able to marry the person they love regardless of their gender, race or age? In addition, the state legislation has been involved in many public debates on what defines marriage. The issue to be determined is whether the official recognition of  “marriage” should be limited to a man and a woman or if a couple of the same sex can bear the title.  As a result every person should have the same right and be able to choose who they want to marry. Marriage is just a term but what makes a marriage is more than the components of a man and women.  

            In the United States it has been a huge debate whether to recognize same sex marriage or not. Since the 90s gays started becoming more vocal about their rights and it took much time until laws started to be changed. Slowly different states have been passing laws recognizing these unions but not all states have. As this was happening many people began to support the movement but at the same time just as many were opposed to it. This caused a fury and some people tried to do everything they could to change laws so same sex couples were not able to wed. The breakdown of the U.S states that allow same sex marriage are shown in Fig 1.1

Fig 1.1

 

The Facts:

 State law and/or constitutional provision limits marriage to relationships between a man and a woman:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

State issues marriage licenses to same-sex couples:

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and the District of Columbia

* Legislation passed in Washington and Maryland in February 2012 will allow same-sex marriages, but those laws have not yet taken effect. In California, a federal appeals court found that the state constitution's restriction on same-sex marriage was invalid, but has postponed enforcement pending appeal.

States allows civil unions, providing state-level spousal rights to same-sex couples: 

Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island (Note:  In Connecticut, Vermont and New Hampshire, same-sex marriage has replaced civil unions.)

State grants nearly all state-level spousal rights to unmarried couples (domestic partnerships):

California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington

State provides some state-level spousal rights to unmarried couples (domestic partnerships):

Hawaii, Maine, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia

The United States is not the first country to start passing laws on same sex marriages. There are at least 14 other countries that recognize same sex partnerships. Denmark has recognized “registered partnership” since 1989. While Netherlands (2001), Belgium (2003) and Canada (2005) all recognize gay marriages. All these countries have had laws past on gay marriages for a few years now, why can’t Americans pass these laws?

Same sex couples not only want to be recognized for the significance of marriage but also for the security it will give them and their significant other. Financially being able to share and benefit from the union that was made. In a marriage the partners share their life, money, property and health benefits. This is what these couple also want to be entitled too. Marriage will provide these couples with the basic rights a partnership should have. It is not just about being able to be viewed equal to the heterosexual community, but they also want the rights that any married couple has as well. That is what they are fighting for. They want a sense of security and acknowledgement to their union. They want be viewed and seen the same as heterosexual couples are in public. Regardless of all these factors, being able to marry the person you love is a RIGHT that the constitution gives to EVERY ONE! No one should be treated any different because of his or her sexual inclination. This right has been denied to these people because of closed-minded individuals who believe that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. These people often forget what a marriage entails and what makes a marriage a marriage.

People raise a myriad of questions on why it is wrong to accept the homosexual community. They question its morality and ethics. How it will affect the institution of marriage. Is the purpose of marriage about reproducing? All of these things have been questioned about legalizing gay marriages. Who are we to say what is morally or ethnically right? Everyone wants to mention verses from the bible on how being gay is a sin and an abomination. But do they mention how in the bible some of the things they do on a daily basis are also a sin? More then 3,000 years ago getting a haircut was sin, times change, as do people. If we were so closed-minded then there would be no change ever. Why do we marginalize homosexuals, when no one else is perfect? The institution of marriage has been ruined for years now. There is no such thing as a “traditional” marriage anymore. The percentage of a heterosexual marriages ending in divorce is more then 50%. Is that not ruining the “institution of marriage”? How about the high rate of infidelity that heterosexual couples experience. What is so traditional about marriage now a day? If you ask me nothing! Marriage is about reproducing, so if a person in a marriage is sterile should we not acknowledge their marriage as being valid? Reproducing is not a qualification for marriage, there are a plethora of heterosexual couples that are married and choose not to procreate. This is not part of a marriage although it is one of the reason people do marry. This can also provide a home to over 100,000 children in America that are hoping to be adopted. Legalizing gay marriage will not harm heterosexual marriages or "family values.” A study published on Apr. 13, 2009 in Social Science Quarterly found that permitting same-sex marriage or civil unions have no adverse affect on marriage.

No one should be denied the right to marry the person they love. What a person does or does not do with their life should be their business no one else. Marriage is a right every one should have regardless of who they are marrying.

            Work Citied

<Tweedie, J.. "Defining Marriage: Defense of Marriage Acts and Same-Sex Marriage Laws." National conference of state legislatures. National Conference of State Legislatures, 2012. Web. 29 Apr 2012. http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/human-services/same-sex-marriage-overview.asp&xgt;.

. "Should Gay Marriage Be Legalized?." Procon. ProCon.org, 2012. Web. 29 Apr 2012. <http://gaymarriage.procon.org/>.

"Gay Marriage Statistics." Professor. N.p., 2012. Web. 29 Apr 2012. <http://www.professorshouse.com/Relationships/Marriage-Advice/Articles/Gay-Marriages-Statistics/>.

. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr 2012. <http://blogs-images.forbes.com/deborahljacobs/files/2011/08/0801_us-map-same-sex-marriage_552x443.jpg>.

Langbein, Laura, and Mark Yost. Same-Sex Marriage and Negative Externalities n. 2009. <http://gaymarriage.procon.org/sourcefiles/laura-langbein-Same-Sex-Marriage-and-Negative-Externalities.pdf>.