Gay Marriages in the US - Essay Example

Gay marriages Gay marriage refers to marriage involving two people belonging to the same gender identity or biological sex (Andryszewski 23). The legal acknowledgement of gay marriage is regarded as marriage equality. Eleven countries have enacted the first laws in the contemporary world recognizing gay marriage. These countries include Norway, Spain, Denmark, Netherlands, Portugal, Canada, Argentina, South Africa, Sweden, Belgium, and Iceland. There are also subs – national jurisdictions permitting same sex marriages such as the US, Mexico and Brazil (Cahn 100). Some countries such as New Zealand and Uruguay have enacted and passed laws legalizing gay marriages and which await implementation in August this year. Laws legalizing gay marriages have faced many hurdles in the passage and implementation in many countries. This is because recognition of gay marriages is a social, religious, political, human rights as well as civil issue in several countries and societies in the world (Scherer 45). Several debates continue to emerge everyday concerning legalizing gay marriages. Such marriages are performed in a religious or secular civil ceremony. Some religious faith groups permit gay marriages and these include the American Episcopalians, United Church of Africa, Quakers, Buddhism in Austria, and Conservative Jews among others (Scherer 45). According to various researches conducted in many countries, majority of people with higher levels of education support gay marriages (Chenier 19). Such support is greater among the youths than the aged. Most pollsters in western countries indicate that a majority of people continue to support gay marriages regardless of race, religions, political affiliations, ethnicities, as well as socioeconomic statuses among others. In US, residents of states such as Maryland, Maine, and Washington voted in favor of legalizing gay marriages. Nine states have recognized the need for gay marriages while other 30 have rejected such proposal (Saad 1). Before seeking reelection for a second term, US President Barrack Obama supported gay marriages stating that he had no issue with it since his daughters have friends whose parents are of gay marriages. Proponents of gay marriages cite several reasons for their position. For instance, the proponents argue that prohibiting gay marriages infringes on the right of man to socialize with any person he or she wishes and seems appropriate (Saad 1). Moreover, they claim that prohibition of gay marriages is discriminatory since it categorizes people. Consequently, banning of same sex marriages infringes on the right to equal treatment of all persons regardless of sex, gender , religion, social status, race just to mention a few. According to court papers filed by American scientific associations, mockery of gay marriages contributes to discrimination of the people involved in the practice (Larocque 23). In addition, since nobody prefers or likes to be discriminated against, banning of such marriages exposes such people to various forms of discrimination. According to scientific information, marriage enhances the well-being of parents thereby, ensuring children benefit from marriage (Larocque 23). Therefore, legalizing gay marriages will improve the well-being of the couples thus, ensuring that children reared by the couple benefit to the maximum. Moreover, scientific research argues that children reared by parents engaged in gay marriages are as healthy and fit as those raised by heterosexual parents. However, the opponents of gay marriages claim that legalizing such marriages goes against the social norms, which have been respected for long time. These people argue that gay marriages arise from couples that are heterosexism or homophobic. Since such people fear or do not like associating with the opposite sex, they get comfort and consolation from people of the same sex (Mann 156). Therefore, these people are not free with the opposite sex, thus have a problem in the society. Moreover, the opponents of same sex marriage liken the scenario to the precedent prohibitions barring interracial marriage between the whites and blacks. In addition, opponents of gay marriages believe that recognizing the practice undermines heterosexual marriages in the society. This occurs since man fears marrying a woman thereby affecting the ability to raise proper and healthy children in the society. This compromises ability to establish healthy families (Mann 165). According to them, children raised by such parents do not grow up in an upright way since they do not have a perfect model of lifestyle to lead. Most will be in a dilemma whether to follow or lead lifestyles similar to their parents or adopt an heterosexual life as per the morals and dictates of the society. Consequently, opponents of gay marriages base their case according to most religious doctrines. For instance, the major religions of the earth such as Christianly, Islam, Busdhism and Jewish prohibit same sex marriages (The Pew Forum 1). For instance, according to Christianity, God created man and woman so that they can get married and bear children. Thus, people of the same sex cannot bear children unless they apply modern technology which contradicts nature, and which goes against the biblical teachings. Moreover, opponents argue that in case God wanted gay marriages, He could have created one sex or gender on the earth unlike in the case where there is man and woman. Therefore, discrimination of people engaged in gay marriages affects them. The effects entail an increase in psychological disorders, which affects the lives and well-being of such people (Andryszewski 25). Thus, institutions practicing discrimination of gay couples should stop since it interferes with the lives of other people, thereby infringing on their rights. Since everyone has right to choice, discriminating gay marriages couple is unfair since it denies them right to lead life as per their opinions, style, or choice (Andryszewski 25). Acknowledging and respecting the choice of other people in the society is essential since it ensures existence of a peaceful, loving, appreciating, and understanding society. Consequently, since people fight for their rights to do as they like, recognizing gay marriages confirms that the society is ready to fight for the rights of other people irrespective of their population, gender, sex, race among others. Moreover, prohibiting gay marriages is detrimental to the lives of kids they take care of since it affects such parents psychologically, mentally, financially and socially thus, interfering with their well being and living standards (Scherer 51). In order to ensure proper growth and development of such kids, parents of gay marriages need recognition and appreciation as this will lead to proper and effective care for the kids. Despite criticisms from some of the faith groups on earth, leaders of such religions and faith have to understand of the existence of freedom of religion. Therefore, people differ in terms of religions. They stay in the society and each religion has its practices, beliefs, doctrines that have to be followed by people prescribed to that religion (Scherer 62). Thus, forcing people to lead a life as per one’s religious doctrines infringes on their freedom while forcing them to lead lives they either prefer or like. Since the world is full of people from diverse backgrounds and practices, recognizing the right to choice of a given people no matter their population size forms the basis for a healthy, loving, and caring society. This is because prohibiting gay marriages is interfering with the lives of other people in the society and continual denial of such rights might lead to unnecessary tension and thus, compromise peace in the society. The society has to understand that gay marriage couples are also human beings with feelings and attitudes and which have to be recognized and respected. Moreover, no one should judge the other for doing or behaving in a certain manner before listening and understanding the reasons for the choices in life. Thus, gay marriages needs recognition in every society since people are not the same in terms of choice and preferences and that judging others because of their lifestyle is inhumane and unrealistic. Works Cited Andryszewski, Tricia. Same-sex Marriage: Granting Equal Rights or Damaging the Status of Marriage?Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century Books, 2012. Print. Cahn, Naomi. "Legalizing Gay Marriage." Journal of Marriage and Family 67.5 (2005): 1348-9. Chenier, E. (2013). Gay marriage, 1970s style. The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide, 20(2), 19-21. Larocque, Sylvain. Gay Marriage: The Story of a Canadian Social Revolution. Toronto: J. Lorimer, 2006. Print. Mann, D. S. "Legalizing Gay Marriage." Choice 42.7 (2005): 1306 Moran, Mark. "Gay-Marriage Law Linked to Lower Medical Costs." Psychiatric news 47.2 (2012): 6 The Pew Forum. “Gay Marriage and Homosexuality”. Pew Forum News letter. Web, 2013. Retrieved May 10. 2013 from http://www.pewforum.org/Topics/Issues/Gay-Marriage- and-Homosexuality/ Saad, Lydia. "Americans Still Oppose Gay Marriage: But Only Half Favor A Constitutional Amendment To Bar It." Gallup Poll Briefing (2006): 1-5. Scherer, Lauri S. Gay Marriage. Detroit: Greenhaven Press/Gale Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Read More