Ethical Issues with Same-Sex Marriage

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Ethical Issues with Same-Sex Marriage Erick Velez Ethics and Social Responsibilities Michelle Gardner March, 18 2013 Ethical Issues with Same-Sex Marriage The issue of same sex marriage presents serious ethical dilemmas which can be frustrating at times, largely because the problems ethics deals with rarely lead to a result with which everyone is satisfied. Some of the primary concerns of ethics and same sex marriage include the question of morality, procreation and the law. Lately, there has been wide spread acceptance of gay marriage, but disagreement still persists. We may not solve all the ethical problems we confront, but we can make some progress by solving some of them, and making clearer what is at stake in the problems themselves. Marriage is, without dispute, one of the most significant forms of personal relationships. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines marriage first as 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 and second the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage (2012). For a long time, marriage has been a foundation of social structure in societies around the world. Through this union, individuals can publicly express their love and commitment to each other. Also, this action recognizes legitimacy as a couple, publicly recognizing society’s approbation of the personal hopes, desires and aspirations that represent loving, committed, conjugal relationships. Through marriage, individuals enhance their sense of self-worth and dignity. We ought to be fair with every member of the human family and their needs, including those with a homosexual orientation. Debates surrounding the gay marriage issue begin with strong feelings on the issue of fairness and justice, but it is
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