The topic of same-sex marriage, or gay marriage, is extremely divisive in today's society. Many in favor of same-sex marriage suggest that gay couples should have the same marital benefits as heterosexual couples, which is simply a civil rights issue. The issue of same-sex marriage is an argument that all of us have heard, and most of us have strong opinions on. I know very few people that don’t have a preference of legalization or not. Personally, I believe that homosexuals should be granted the same rights as heterosexual couples.
Marriage solely being between a man and a women is something we have had for centuries, however, due to divorces and newer ways to have a family, our prestigious and “honorable estate” (Bennett 34) of marriage is weakened. By lumping gay marriage with traditional marriage, Bennett believes that the definition of marriage would be further weakened. If we legally allow this union to be a part of marriage, then how could we stop a less legitimate union, like incest or bigamy? Excluding marriage between a man and a woman is not discriminatory towards homosexuals, but it is protective towards our institution of
To the contrary, the amendment imposes a special disability on those persons alone. Homosexuals are forbidden the safeguards that others enjoy or may seek without constraint" (J.A Kennedy,2009) The truth is, I think it is sick that here in the United States, gay marriage is not a federally protected right. This is bigotry, pure and simple, and it needs to stop. Denying two women or two men the right to marry is as cruel and absurd as it was to deny two straight people of different races the right to marry. Maybe I'm missing something, but doesn't the Constitution of the United States guarantee everyone the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
Homosexual Marriage: Boies versus Stanton The fight for civil rights in the United States has gone through different phases, the most current of which is the dispute over whether or not homosexuals should be allowed to marry. The various states of the union have treated this issue in different ways: some have passed laws that allow gays and lesbians to wed; however, most have held on to the idea that marriage should be reserved for heterosexual couples. By and large, the nation is divided over this matter. David Boies and Glenn T. Stanton discuss the basic arguments behind this controversy. Boies supports gay marriage; Stanton rejects it.
Prop 8 Jennifer Raback Morse argues that “gay rights activists misunderstand the motives of proposition 8 supporters: The proposition is not an expression of hatred toward gays, but a way of restraining an overzealous state Supreme Court which had attempted to redefine marriage.” She views marriage as a “gender-based institution that attaches mothers and fathers to each other and to their children.” (pg. 83) I agree with Morse. She has a good point that the proposition is not an expression of hatred toward gays, but an attempt to redefine marriage, and children should have at least the chance to have a relationship with a mom and dad. I agree with Morse because the proposition was never to show hatred towards homosexuals, but it was to protect marriage. Personally I have gone through arguments with many people about the proposition and what I stood for as a person.
SHOULD HOMOSEXUALS BE ABLE TO MARRY? PHI103 01/16/2012 The simplest answer to the same-sex marriage issue is to determine the true meaning of the term "marriage" and what degree has it promoted and upheld a stable society based on the formation of moral ideologies and the control of the law. Which I have determined should not be made legal based on this premise. Religion is one of the main reasons some people do not like the idea of homosexuals having the right to marry. One of the most used arguments about the issue is that God says that same-sex interactions (marriage, sex, lesbian, homosexual acts) are abominations.
Therefore, between two male homosexuals, there can be a father and a mother. Bennett, fails to conviceus as to why we should not allow same sex marriages, because he does not state facts but only his own views. Furthermore, marriage is a bond between two people who love and cherish each other. Not only a man and a woman have the ablility to do that, but alsosame sex unions have the ability to accomplish the standards of a successful marriage. Both man and woman have equal rights and the rights of the other party cannot be limited because it defies the “traditional” meaning of marriage.
Compare/Contrast Critique on “For Gay Marriage” by Andrew Sullivan and “Against Gay Marriage” by William J. Bennett Since the fall of aristocracy, human beings have accomplished great things in an attempt to promote a more egalitarian society. Problems of race, sex, and culture, although still in existence, have been dwindling, especially in progressive nations such as Canada. Recently, a movement for the legalization of same-sex marriage has been a controversial topic across borders, inducing people to align with a particular side of the argument. With the passing of the Civil Marriage Act in 2005, Canada’s leaders made it official: homosexuals and lesbians could become life partners through marriage. However, the debate still rages throughout the world on the legitimacy of gay marriage, particularly in the United States of America where there is a large conservative and religiously fundamental community.
However it is the foundation of debates regarding the moral status of a large number of sexual acts – the latent stigma still attached to homosexuality is a prime example of the influence of the theological standpoint on sexual desires. Despite retaining some influence on the way we think about certain sexual practices the traditional theist conception of sexual desires is often widely ignored in modern times. A primary objection to the viewpoint is that it is an almost empirically observable fact that sexual desires do not necessarily aim at procreation. The massive use of contraceptives throughout the modern world is evidence
Opponents of homosexual marriage feel that by allowing gay and lesbians the right to marriage undermines the traditional definition of marriage. However, as society changes and the demands of the American citizens change, there needs to be changes that comply with not only the traditional society but also with modern needs of the United States people. Not only are homosexual couples being denied marriage rights but also adoption rights in several states. There would be no harm to society by allowing homosexuals the right to marriage or to legally adopt; the positive impacts it would have on society are far greater then the negative effects. Homosexuals should get the same rights as any other United States citizen.