same sex marriage position paper

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Lauren Davis 12-15-14 K. Jennings Position Paper: Same Sex Marriage The Big Issue: The right to Marry Studies show that approximately about 10% of the world’s population considers themselves as “gay” or “lesbian.” Unfortunately it seems that Americans that do consider themselves as homosexual are fighting for their rights to be equal to others that are heterosexual. The word “homosexual” is just a sophisticated name for someone that is infatuated with their own gender. The big issue about homosexuality is giving people the right to be open with their relationships, by legalizing gay or same sex marriage. The topic of legalizing same sex marriage is one of the broadest topics and has the most controversy. Being that all people are entitled to their own opinions and beliefs, the controversy has sky rocketed. All individuals around the world have their own personal views on gay marriage that may be supportive or just degrading to the gay community. There are numerous amounts of activists and protesters in the world trying to persuade others to support the gay community. Individuals of the gay community feel as if they are just as equal to those who are not homosexual. Being gay or lesbian is of ones’ personal preference. It also seems as if the gay community is becoming larger and stronger and more people are even supporting the right of gay couples. A gay couple that chooses to be open has not always had the opportunity to be open about their ongoing relationship. Gay couples have been judged and brutally disrespected all because of a decision that they made that makes them

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happy. Individuals should be able to love whomever they want without getting ridiculed about their decision. However, religious views point out that marriage should be between women and men. As the bible says marriage is traditional and intimate and should not be of the same sex but of the opposite sex. Not all religious people go exactly by the bible. “Some religious associations refuse to employ or even offer services to same sex couples. Christian groups who argue for same- sex marriage tend to believe that lesbian and gay peoples were created as such by God and should have the same rights as others” (“History and Debate”). Some individuals with religious views feel that same sex relationships are immoral and against Gods’ will and will destroy the goal of human sexuality, which is to reproduce children (“History and debate”). Religious groups all over the world are different. In some states that have already legalized same- sex marriage have ministers that will still refuse to marry a gay couple due to their own personal beliefs. Religious groups also believe that AIDS is a punishment from God above for disobeying his word. People who are religious also believe that a child should grow up with a father and a mother and not two parents of the same sex. There are studies found that when a child that is raised by two homosexual people often have homosexual families of their own but are capable of having a heterosexual family as well (“History and Debate”). It is questioned that when young girls were told that their attractions to boys at a young age was wrong, and vice versa could have a big impact on the rise of homosexuality (Baird 129). Unfortunately the society has definitely painted a picture for those to be biased against gay marriage rights without completely understanding why having their rights is so important. People have agreed that same sex marriage rights go hand in hand with civil rights. Both sets of people fighting for what they want and most importantly, what they believe in. People also argue

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that as long as there is love in the relationship, that’s all that should matter when it comes to marriage. Social views also engage on whether the couples get married, and will they get the same benefits as heterosexual couples (Hall 172). Individuals feel that same sex marriage should not only be legalized in 35 states but it should be legalized in America period. Studies show that couples that marry in one state but want to move to another state fear that their benefits and rights will not be protected and or permitted in the state that they move to. Society shows that the individuals that are denied to marry are also denied the protection and rights given to heterosexual couples. People seem to not take this so well, being that it is unfair to deny families that have homosexual parents the opportunity to have and enjoy the same benefits as heterosexual families. It is unexplainable as to why gay couples that have committed to one another for a long period of time not yet married have to pay higher taxes as well (Hall 172). There are many pros and cons to legalizing same sex marriage. People think that when homosexual couples marry, they will weaken the tradition of marriage but if same sex marriage is legalized it could decrease divorce rates in America as well (“Gay Marriage Procon.org”). To conclude, bashing someone for doing something that they believe in is not going to change how an individual feels about their decision to be homosexual. More supportive citizens of the United States could possibly make legalizing same sex marriage easier. Individuals that seem to open up and not stay completely biased, start supporting the gay community as well. Many people think that they were born gay and nothing is wrong with them being interested in their same sex. People that are disrespected by others because of their sexuality feel as if they are being discriminated against. Being denied to marry and health care, insurance benefits, estate taxes, home protection etc. because of a persons’ sexuality is also discrimination as well (Hall 172-173). Children that have been sexually abused by the opposite sex may find themselves

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being homosexual in their future as adults. Also, people that have been in abusive relationships or just been completely betrayed by their previous significant other, may venture out and find interest in the same sex. As one nation America should stand together and support one another. America should not be divided by sexuality or even race. People feel that marriage is a privilege not a right, but it is someone’s right to marry whomever they chose to marry. Having the right to marry should not be up to anyone to dictate or have an opinion on.

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Works cited page Baird, Robert M., and Stuart E. Rosenbaum. “Same Sex Marriage.” The Moral and Legal Debate Amherst, NY: Prometheus, 1997 print. “Gay Marriage Procon.org” Procon.org Headlines. N.P. n.d. web 05, Dec. 2014 Hall, David M. “Taking Sides” Clashing views in Family and Personal Relationships. Eighth Edition. New York, NY McGraw Hill, 2010 print. “History and Debate” Gay Marriage Debate. N.P. n.d, web. 07, Dec2014

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