Gay Marriage in American Society
“The fight for legally recognized same-sex marriage dominates the contemporary gay rights movement and has ignited national debate.” Gay marriage is a huge topic in America. Many people agree as well as disagree with the allowance of gay marriage in this country. Gay marriage offers same-sex couples stability in terms of health benefits and family structure, is a civil right that should be granted, and does not affect the current standing of the institution of marriage.
Gay marriage has been a topic many people do not like to talk about. Gay marriage has been a controversy on if it should be allowed for decades. Many people that are against it use religion to justify their opinion. Just recently in 2015, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the allowance of gay marriage with Obergefell v. Hodges case. With the Supreme Court decision, there is still a lot of controversy around gay marriage. Gay is an umbrella term used in the LGBTQ community that covers a group of sexuality labels that have something in common. The term can be used to explain someone's label or attractions that are not straight. For example, someone might be bisexual and identify as gay because they feel like that term or label fits them well or someone might not know their sexuality but they know they are not straight so they use the term gay or in some cases they use queer. Many people target gay couples or anyone in the LGBTQ community and cause very violent attacks on them. People in the LGBTQ community fight every day to get more and more equal rights as well as protections.
Same-sex couples should have access to the same benefits enjoyed by heterosexual married couples. Legal marriage has many benefits and same-sex couples are stripped of those benefits. Same-sex couples are excluded from the benefits as well as privileges of marriage married heterosexual couples are given. Not giving same-sex couples the benefits could do a lot more harm than good. Social workers as well as gay marriage protesters need to fight to gain equality for all sexualities as well as all relationships. The right to a valid marriage is not based on the ability to have children of their own more less the stability as well as the commitment to each other and the children they do have. The right to marriage has many characteristics to it and children are just one part of it. The right to marry has many benefits that come with it and same-sex couples are excluded from these benefits. Gay couples and straight couples have no difference when it comes from the point of view on marriage. They both want to marry the love of their life as well as want that union and bond to grow together. Same-sex couples are excluded from the benefits as well as liberties of the right to marry and make them feel less equal to the heterosexual couples that are allowed to get married. Either the court had to legalize gay marriage or they had to give the same benefits to same-sex couples. The rulings as well as the progression of rights to same-sex couples are giving young teens and people hope for a better as well as a more inclusive future. Same-sex couples deserve the same benefits as well as privileges that heterosexual couples get. Same-sex couples just want to experience the wonders of the institution of marriage and finally, after many years of fighting, they were granted that liberty but not without criticism. Same-sex couples now from the decision of Obergefell v. Hodges are recognized as legally married and are able to get the benefits of marriage. To sum up everything that has been stated so far, everyone should be able to be given the same and equal benefits from marriage.
Same-sex marriage is a civil right. “Anyone who wants to marry should be able to marry” says Warner. “He noted that the Supreme Court had previously described marriage as a 'fundamental right' and that it was therefore appropriate for any couple to be allowed to marry, regardless of the sex of the two parties.” Anyone should be able to marry who they want no matter what the sex is of the two people. The people fighting these cases want to be able to be allowed the same freedom to marry who they want to marry. The people fighting for the right to marry are claiming that not allowing this is violating the Fourteenth Amendment. “Like choices concerning contraception, family relationships, procreation, and childrearing, all of which are protected by the Constitution, decisions concerning marriage are among the most intimate that an individual can make'' Same-sex rights petitioners are just wanting to be equal to straight couples. “Bowers upheld state action that denied gays and lesbians a fundamental right and caused them pain and humiliation.” Bowers’s case is the reason why same-sex intimacy was so criminalizing. Many people and families want the court to rule in favor of them to help the citizens of America to have a better, safe, and legal way to become united as one family or couple. Ante says “ If I were a legislator, I would certainly consider that view as a matter of social policy. But as a judge, I find the majority’s position indefensible as a matter of constitutional law.” Based on the Fourteenth Amendment same-sex couples should not be getting discriminated against. The right to marriage is both a right issue as well as a moral issue and the decision made on the case of Obergefell v. Hodges will greatly affect future life in America. Now the states have no right to discriminate towards same-sex couples regarding the right to marriage thanks to the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling. To sum up everything that has been stated so far, same-sex marriage should be allowed.
Legalizing gay marriage will not harm the institution of marriage, and same-sex marriages may even be more stable than heterosexual marriages. Married couples have many government benefits that normally exclude same-sex couples. Marriage is something that helps society and has many health benefits that gay couples should have access to. “Their stories reveal that they seek not to denigrate marriage but rather to live their lives, or honor their spouses' memory, joined by its bond”. These new insights have strengthened, not weakened, the institution of marriage.” Marriage is important to a good as well as stable household. The children in homes with married parents allow their children to learn necessary bonds as well as a sense of security. Marriage is the best for the children in homes. Letting same-sex couples adopt has shown that their households are very supportive as well as stable for the children. The Pope even said that gay marriage is valid so that means it would not ruin the institution of marriage if the Pope endorses it. Having the right to be able to get married for same-sex couples gives more people the ability to have a loving and stable home. Gay marriage expands the percentage of people getting married and does not affect heterosexual married couples. Banning gay marriage has many negative risks to society as well as to marriage. Studies have shown that close to fifty percent of marriages end in divorce so the problem with marriage is not that same-sex couples want to get married but heterosexual couples are not wanting to stay committed to each other resulting in a divorce. Allowing same-sex couples to get married could help fix this problem or lessen the percentage of divorces. Many gay people that are religious states that gay marriage has all of the aspects of a good as well as acceptable marriage in the eyes of religion. In society’s eyes of stable families, gay marriage extends that tradition. To sum up everything that has been stated so far, gay marriage will not harm the institution of marriage as we know it.
The opposing views on the allowance as well as the legalization of gay marriage are that same-sex marriage is a sin and will harm the institution of marriage. They say that in the old testament the word homosexuality is used so in their eyes homosexuality is a sin. When in reality the word was translated from pedophilia to homosexuality. The verse said along the lines of man should not lay will boy. They took this as homosexuality, not pedophilia. They say gay marriage will ruin as well as destroy the institution of marriage and the way it is supposed to be. Gay marriage will not ruin or destroy the institution of marriage, it will expand the definition of marriage to be inclusive to everyone. Gay marriage is marriage it just includes two people of the same gender.
Gay marriage should become an accepted practice among American society as well as throughout the world. I believe that being able to get married to who you love is very important as well as should be normalized no matter who the person wants to marry. I am glad that we have the ability to marry who we want because of the 2015 decision but it still does not come easy to many within the community. With unsupportive as well as abusive parents, peers, and strangers every day can be scary as well as you have to worry about if someone will hurt you and your loved ones for being you and marrying who you want to marry. Life in America for gay couples can be very scary on the other hand amazing at the same time. We have this freedom to finally marry who we want but it does not come without criticism as well as a threat to our and our family’s safety. Gay marriage should not be a controversial topic or a taboo subject, it should be an amazing experience as well as something the majority of people should accept. Normalizing gay marriage, as well as gay couples, will do a lot of good for society. Accepting the LGBTQ community as well as our decision to marry who we want will make a very inclusive future for our kids as well as the future generations to come. After reading this please attend rallies for equal rights as well as be there for someone in your life such as a family member, friend, coworker, peer, as well as anyone that decides to tell you that they are gay or apart of the LGBTQ community.
