Gay Marriage
An essay I wrote 2 years ago:
'Till Laws Do Us Part
"…All men are created equal…with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" - unless you're gay. If that is the case, doctrine either does not apply, or it twists and contorts against you. As Americans, we have certain documents to protect our rights, but the same rules do not apply to the homosexual part of our community. Homosexuals are discriminated against and are denied rights that their heterosexual counterparts hold dear. Marriage is one of those rights. Banning gay marriage goes against what America claims to stand for: tolerance, equality, and freedom of religion.
There are many arguments against gay marriage, but one underlying message is homophobia. This "phobia" not only refers to a fear or dislike of gay people, but also a fear of change. According to those opposed to it, allowing same-sex marriages would be a big transition and would redefine marriage. Some argue that this change would be devastating and would hurt heterosexual marriages. Modifying the way America looks at marriage is essential; we need to be able to adjust to our changing world around us. We have made adjustments already: as late as the 1800s women were considered property, and just forty years ago interracial marriage was unlawful. If it were any other group being persecuted in this manner, we would be called racists or sexists. If we cannot adapt and become more tolerant, we are doomed to repeat our mistakes.
Another mistake that is being repeated is the idea that "separate but equal" rights are ethical and truly equal. Massachusetts is the only state that offers legal same-sex marriages. In a few states, "civil unions" are honored: Vermont, New Jersey, Connecticut, and, soon to follow, New Hampshire. In other states gay couples may be "Registered Domestic Partners." While most states ban all gay unions and partnerships completely, these substitutes for marriage are anything but equal. Each state differs in the benefits extended to these unions or partnerships. Some offer "nearly identical" benefits, while others only give hospital visitation rights or inheritance rights. Even when a state allows same-sex couples all the benefits of a heterosexual marriage, the federal government does not recognize these unions. Therefore, all federal laws do not apply to these couples, including filing joint income tax forms, social security benefits, and work permits or visas for the foreign partner of a U.S. citizen. These separate but unequal policies are a result of another policy not being followed: separation of church and state.
Most reasons voters are against gay marriage are religious. Many hold to the belief that there is something evil or immoral about homosexuality, therefore gay couples should not be allowed to marry. The idea that marriage is a "sacred institution" and homosexual marriage would violate the "sanctity of marriage" is clearly a religious argument. Our country's leaders should not attempt to establish laws based on their religious beliefs. The first amendment, protecting our freedom of religion, also grants us the freedom from religion. This amendment separates church and state so that religious freedom can ensue. The claim that marriage is a religious matter- a union between a man, a woman, and God- presses others' beliefs upon the entire country. If the government and Christian citizens were truly trying to preserve the "sanctity" of this "sacred institution," why are they not trying to abolish divorce, reality television shows to "marry a millionaire," Vegas drive-thru weddings, celebrity weddings, and non-religious ceremonies?
There are other, more trivial arguments against gay marriage. The fact that two gay people cannot procreate is one of said arguments. While this is true, there are many straight couples who cannot, or chose not to, have children. There are also other alternatives, such as adoption and artificial insemination. There are those who claim if gay marriage was legal more people would become homosexual, leading to the end of the human race. While this absurd argument hardly deserves a response, only a very small percentage of the population is gay. It is impossible to know a number for sure, but it is estimated that somewhere between 2 and 10 percent of the population is exclusively homosexual. Furthermore, though debatable, homosexuality is not something learned, it is inborn. The human population will not be dying out anytime soon. There are also arguments that homosexuality is not natural or normal. There are hundreds of animals that have been studied that show to have homosexual behavior, sometimes life-long mating. Homosexuality was also very accepted in ancient Greece; a heterosexual relationship was merely considered lust, while a love between two males was considered the only kind of intellectual love.
Many judges in different states and provinces have declared banning gay marriage unconstitutional, yet religious activists keep marriage licenses out of the hands of gay couples. America is allowing social and legal inequality; simply because of sexual orientation, a person cannot have all the same rights as everyone else. In outlawing gay marriage, we are denying homosexual couples equality and the "pursuit of Happiness" that is a part of our American values.
'Till Laws Do Us Part
"…All men are created equal…with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" - unless you're gay. If that is the case, doctrine either does not apply, or it twists and contorts against you. As Americans, we have certain documents to protect our rights, but the same rules do not apply to the homosexual part of our community. Homosexuals are discriminated against and are denied rights that their heterosexual counterparts hold dear. Marriage is one of those rights. Banning gay marriage goes against what America claims to stand for: tolerance, equality, and freedom of religion.
There are many arguments against gay marriage, but one underlying message is homophobia. This "phobia" not only refers to a fear or dislike of gay people, but also a fear of change. According to those opposed to it, allowing same-sex marriages would be a big transition and would redefine marriage. Some argue that this change would be devastating and would hurt heterosexual marriages. Modifying the way America looks at marriage is essential; we need to be able to adjust to our changing world around us. We have made adjustments already: as late as the 1800s women were considered property, and just forty years ago interracial marriage was unlawful. If it were any other group being persecuted in this manner, we would be called racists or sexists. If we cannot adapt and become more tolerant, we are doomed to repeat our mistakes.
Another mistake that is being repeated is the idea that "separate but equal" rights are ethical and truly equal. Massachusetts is the only state that offers legal same-sex marriages. In a few states, "civil unions" are honored: Vermont, New Jersey, Connecticut, and, soon to follow, New Hampshire. In other states gay couples may be "Registered Domestic Partners." While most states ban all gay unions and partnerships completely, these substitutes for marriage are anything but equal. Each state differs in the benefits extended to these unions or partnerships. Some offer "nearly identical" benefits, while others only give hospital visitation rights or inheritance rights. Even when a state allows same-sex couples all the benefits of a heterosexual marriage, the federal government does not recognize these unions. Therefore, all federal laws do not apply to these couples, including filing joint income tax forms, social security benefits, and work permits or visas for the foreign partner of a U.S. citizen. These separate but unequal policies are a result of another policy not being followed: separation of church and state.
Most reasons voters are against gay marriage are religious. Many hold to the belief that there is something evil or immoral about homosexuality, therefore gay couples should not be allowed to marry. The idea that marriage is a "sacred institution" and homosexual marriage would violate the "sanctity of marriage" is clearly a religious argument. Our country's leaders should not attempt to establish laws based on their religious beliefs. The first amendment, protecting our freedom of religion, also grants us the freedom from religion. This amendment separates church and state so that religious freedom can ensue. The claim that marriage is a religious matter- a union between a man, a woman, and God- presses others' beliefs upon the entire country. If the government and Christian citizens were truly trying to preserve the "sanctity" of this "sacred institution," why are they not trying to abolish divorce, reality television shows to "marry a millionaire," Vegas drive-thru weddings, celebrity weddings, and non-religious ceremonies?
There are other, more trivial arguments against gay marriage. The fact that two gay people cannot procreate is one of said arguments. While this is true, there are many straight couples who cannot, or chose not to, have children. There are also other alternatives, such as adoption and artificial insemination. There are those who claim if gay marriage was legal more people would become homosexual, leading to the end of the human race. While this absurd argument hardly deserves a response, only a very small percentage of the population is gay. It is impossible to know a number for sure, but it is estimated that somewhere between 2 and 10 percent of the population is exclusively homosexual. Furthermore, though debatable, homosexuality is not something learned, it is inborn. The human population will not be dying out anytime soon. There are also arguments that homosexuality is not natural or normal. There are hundreds of animals that have been studied that show to have homosexual behavior, sometimes life-long mating. Homosexuality was also very accepted in ancient Greece; a heterosexual relationship was merely considered lust, while a love between two males was considered the only kind of intellectual love.
Many judges in different states and provinces have declared banning gay marriage unconstitutional, yet religious activists keep marriage licenses out of the hands of gay couples. America is allowing social and legal inequality; simply because of sexual orientation, a person cannot have all the same rights as everyone else. In outlawing gay marriage, we are denying homosexual couples equality and the "pursuit of Happiness" that is a part of our American values.