Same sex marriage - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages... It was in 1970 that the first homosexual couple applied for a marriage license and was denied to marry. Since then, the LGBT community members’ struggle has begun. These days, there are seventeen countries in the world, mostly in Europe and South America, that give the right to marry and found a family for gay couples. In the United States, same-sex couples have a right to marry in thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia; in seven states, it is banned, and the issue is under court review in six states (CNN Library).
The first argument for legalization of same-sex marriage is that marriage is an internationally recognized right. More specifically, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality, or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family” (The United Nations). It is not stated whether the couple should consist of a man and a women only, and the article on the right to marriage highlights people’s equality and is based on the idea of non-discrimination. The second argument for same-sex marriage legalization is that discrimination against members of the LGBT community in this sphere leads to discrimination against them in other spheres of life. Due to the fact that marriage is a very important social and legal institution, same-sex marriage ban instigates further prejudices, unequal treatment, and discrimination against LGBT individuals. These days, gay people are still experiencing discrimination in the workplace, in their families, at educational establishments; they even become victims of hate crimes. The third argument for same-sex marriage legalization is that it will bring a range of benefits, which gay people are deprived of today. Among such benefits are health benefits as many of gay people suffer from physical and psychological disorders caused by pressure and discrimination. A 2010 research published in American Journal of ...Download file to see next pagesRead More