Legalizing Same-sex Marriage in America - Essay Example

?First Teacher’s 22 April The Rightful Legalization of Homosexual Marriage In today’s society, homosexuality and marriage is a controversial subject; and, everyone has and is entitled to his/her opinion concerning the topic. The religious of society believe that homosexuality is caused by evil spirits and that marriage should only be ordained between a man and woman. Many psychologists believe that homosexuality can be caused by child molestation. Some therapists feel that homosexuality can be an attention-seeking behavioral disease while others believe that it is genetically inclined. Scientific research to date proves that homosexuality is genetically inclined, and those who are indeed homosexual, have a genetic predisposition of sorts to their sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is not a “sexual preference”; it’s not something that one can change, therefore, those with homosexual orientation should be granted each and every single American right that heterosexuals have, including marriage, parenting, etc., otherwise America, who takes pride in being a nation of equality, is making their claim on fraudulent terms. While proving that sexual orientation is not a choice and that homosexuality is indeed the genetic makeup of an individual, it should be recognized by the U.S. government that homosexuality is a “normal” orientation just like heterosexuality is, and those of a homosexual orientation should be granted the same equal rights as heterosexuals, Whites, Africans, Hispanics, and everyone else who call this great nation their “home”. Genetically speaking, it has been discovered that antibodies in the womb can attack the Y chromosome in an unborn male, causing him to be gay. This normally happens when a woman already has several, several, meaning two or three, “straight” male sons; her body just builds up an antibody to carrying males, and these antibodies attack the Y chromosome in the unborn male, making him homosexual (Independent). For every prior male brother who is “straight”, the chances of the next male becoming gay later in life, increases by one third (Independent). This study, conducted by Canadian scientists in 2006, proves that homosexuality in men is of a biological nature and nothing else. Gay men are “created” (Independent) meaning; they are born with a genetic predisposition to homosexuality. Thus proving that homosexuality is not a choice, but completely biological, even before birth (Independent). Also, it is common that most homosexual males have reported the same feelings concerning their identities and such during childhood. Many say that they “felt different” at an early age and often had to defend their masculinity (Handbook). They also reported that from a very, very young age, they did not take interest in the same games, toys, clothing, etc. as other “straight” males their age, and also felt an overwhelming attraction to the same sex, even from as early as 2 to 5 years old (Handbook). These young males reported that they often enjoyed playing with toys made for the opposite sex and also enjoyed wearing clothes of the opposite gender as well. The males said they did not take much of an interest in masculine games, such as sports and “boy” toys. “My cousin, who is now an openly gay, nineteen year old male, always collected Barbie dolls,” says Bessie Cherry, an award-winning journalist from Tennessee. “It was always a question ‘if’ my cousin was going to be gay or not. He loved to play with toys of the opposite sex, often carried a purse, and wore girls’ jeans and shoes. He was always very interested in things that boys his age were not, like collecting antique dishes and such. He never wanted to play football, like the rest of his male cousins his age. He never wanted to play with ‘boy’ toys, such as trucks and cars; it was always Barbie dolls and ‘girly’ things that he chose to play with instead. When my cousin became a teenager, he was so handsome that so many of the girls his age wanted to date him; but, he wasn’t interested in ‘girls’. He tried to commit suicide, then came out of the closet and finally told the family he was gay at age fourteen (Cherry).” Suicide contemplation and attempts are very common among young gay adolescent males (Handbook) because they struggle with their sexual identities and feelings thereof, associated with the gay male complex and inferiority they feel for being gay in a society where it’s not always accepted. With this being said, it is outrageous to believe that sexual orientation is a preference. One can’t help if he/she is gay just like one can’t help which gender or race he/she is born. To discriminate against homosexuals because of their orientation is the same principle as discriminating against someone because of their gender or the color of their skin. “My cousin said that the last thing he ever wanted was to be ‘gay’ (Cherry). He said it was so hard for him to tell his family that he was gay that he would rather be dead. My aunt said that she believes that homosexuality is also genetically inclined because she knows that her son would never choose to be gay, and that he would give anything not to have to endure the struggles and discriminations of being gay. My aunt once said, ‘That’s how I know my son was born gay, because no one would choose to live the life that he lives, with people making fun of him all the time because he is in a relationship with someone of the same sex. There has to be a biological factor’, she said, ‘My son and his significant other have always said that they would like to be married and maybe even adopt a child so that they could be listed on each other’s insurance policies and such; however, because they are indeed gay, it doesn’t look like they will have the same rights, at least any time soon, as those who are not gay. I have other family members whose children love being around my gay son and his significant other; he is like a father figure to them. I think my son would be a great father, but as it stands today, America makes it impossible for him to have the right to father a child. This is wrong,” she said (Cherry). She also said that her homosexual son is her third born male, fitting the “criteria” for his odds of becoming homosexual due to a maternal antibody built up from preceding “male” pregnancies, which sometimes attack the brains of usually the third or fourth male born to an individual mother. “Although I know it’s ridiculous, I sometimes blame myself for my son being gay, even though I had absolutely no control what was going on with my body when I was carrying him during my pregnancy. Still, it’s hurtful to me to think that a biological factor has caused him to be gay. He has to suffer because of genetics and biology. This, in itself, is not fair to him.” Further proving that homosexuals have no control over their sexual orientation, homosexual males also go through puberty earlier than heterosexual males (Crooks); homosexual males often begin puberty around the age of eleven. They are usually much taller than heterosexual males of the same age, have moderate to severe acne, their voices deepen, etc. These young men normally demonstrate “straight” characteristics, even though they secretly lust after others of the same gender. Young homosexual males may hide their sexual preference for as long as possible, due to having feelings of guilt associated with being gay. They may fear what their family and friends will think if they know the truth about their sexual orientation. Many homosexual males report that it is very frustrating and terrifying to tell others the truth about their orientation; this is why they prefer, more often than not, to keep quiet about their sexuality for as long as they possibly can. Going to this extreme to hide their orientation, homosexuals without a doubt are born gay. It’s about time the United States of America recognizes this and allots the same right to gays as they do to everyone else in this country! On yet another scientific note, one of the first scientific genetic studies of homosexual men was conducted by Dean Hamer in 1993 at the National Cancer Institute in Washington, D.C. (Serendip). Thirty-two pairs of brothers were “tested” and twenty-two of the thirty-two were found to have the same genetic makeup, thus concluding that it is highly possible that homosexuality in males could most certainly be genetic. Further conducted, the study concluded that although a specific “gay” gene could not be isolated, it was still “discovered that homosexual brothers have a much higher likelihood of inheriting the same genetic sequence on the region of the X chromosome identified by Xq28, than heterosexual brothers of the same gay men.” (Serendip). In yet another study, conducted by inserting a “gay” gene into male fruit flies, concluded that the males with the new DNA turned away from female fruit flies and chose to rub genitals with other male fruit flies instead (Thompson/Bethesda) thus further “proving” that homosexuality is more than likely genetic. Scientists in this particular study said that fruit flies are the “sexiest” of creatures, and that before the “gay” gene was inserted into the males, that the males “wouldn’t waste any time getting down to business with the female fruit flies” (Thompson/Bethesda). However, with the gene transplant, they turned away from the females and chose to have an “orgy among themselves” [male fruit flies] (Thompson/Bethesda). So if a fruit fly’s sexual orientation can be altered via a scientific, genetic laboratory, then it most certainly proves that gay people, who have not had the opportunity to be “studied” in such a manner, could most certainly be genetically inclined to his/her orientation. As far as homosexuality among females, there have not been nearly as many findings to support the fact that homosexuality among females is genetic; the studies that have been conducted thus far have not resulted in the isolation of any specific gene in order to prove that homosexuality is a result of genetics. Studies, however, have shown that homosexual females’ brains differ from heterosexual females. In one study, “80 homosexual and heterosexual men and women (16 homosexual men and 15 homosexual women) underwent structural MRI. Voxel-based morphometry was used to test for differences in grey matter concentration associated with gender and sexual orientation. Compared with heterosexual women, homosexual women displayed less grey matter bilaterally in the temporo-basal cortex, ventral cerebellum, and left ventral premotor cortex. The relative decrease in grey matter was most prominent in the left perirhinal cortex. The left perirhinal area also showed less grey matter in heterosexual men than in heterosexual women. Thus, in homosexual women, the perirhinal cortex grey matter displayed a more male-like structural pattern. This is in accordance with previous research that revealed signs of sex-atypical prenatal androgenization in homosexual women, but not in homosexual men” (Plos One). With this being found, is it fair to say that genetics could be the reason for the brains of homosexuals and heterosexuals to be deemed “different” via MRIs? Science and biology would most certianly say so. Therefore, in conclusion, is it safe to say that homosexuality is the result of genetics and that those who are homosexual are indeed born (ProCon) “that way”? The findings from these particular studies above would suggest that it is so. From the similarities in the developmental traits of homosexual males to the homosexual DNA implanted into the fruit flies that “caused” them to be gay, there is most certainly enough evidence to at least consider the possibility that homosexuality could most certainly be biological. Because these studies are relatively new and incomplete, however, other scientific and biological studies must be conducted in order to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the origins of homosexual orientation are indeed biological. Once it it proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that homosexuals are indeed not responsible for their “preference”, and that their sexuality is indeed an “orientation”, it will be interesting to see if America will “step up to the plate” and grant the same equal rights concerning the bonds of matrimony, parenting, insurance benefits, etc. as they do everyone else. If the United States of America doesn’t, then shame on this nation! Descriminating against gays is the same as descriminating against others because of their race, creed, gender or handicap; and, it should not be tolerated within a nation whose theme is “equality and justice for ALL”, not “equality and justice for ALL—except for gays(jaysays)”! What research holds concerning futher conclusion of homosexual orientation, and what the religious and, most importantly, political outcomes will be when proof indeed arises that homosexuality is indeed biological. Once it is scientifically deemed that the origins of homosexuality are genetic and/or developmental and cannot be helped by those who are homosexual, then science, perhaps, will turn today’s religion and politics upsidedown, and rightly so, because gays deserve to be treated with the same equality by law as everyone else in America is! Work Cited Cherry, Bessie. “Personal Interview: My Cousin Is Homosexual”. Letter Press Publications. Executive Director of Communications.2011. Connor, Steve. “Antibodies In Womb ‘Create Gay Men’.” The Independent. 16 April 2011. 27 June 2006. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/antibodies-in-womb-create-gay-men-405672.html Crooks, Robert. “Our Sexuality”. Google Books. 23 April 2011. Cengage Learning 2010. http://books.google.com/books?id=MpRnPtmdRVwC&pg=PA256&lpg=PA256&dq=homosexual+males+go+through+puberty+earlier+than+straight+males&source=bl&ots=KpxodsM3w7&sig=zUqV3g8wCv9hMIz9YkxGXRPAMbA&hl=en&ei=skezTfu5GorytgfL8NTqDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false Horne, Authur M. “Handbook of Counseling Boys and Adolescent Males: A Practitioner’s Guide”. Google Books. 16 April 2011. Sage, 1999. http://books.google.com/books?id=q05DD2OSXckC&dq=gay+male+adolescents+exhibit+same+traits&source=gbs_navlinks_s Jaysays. “Inauguration Declares Equality for All—Except for Gays”. 23 April 2011. 21 January 2009. Jaysays.com. http://jaysays.com/2009/01/inauguration-declares-equality-for-all-except-gays Myers, David G. “Exploring Psychology”. Google Books. 16 April 2011. Macmillan, 2004. http://books.google.com/books?id=YRdyxGQ5WqAC&dq=homosexual+males+go+through+puberty+earlier+than+heterosexual+males&source=gbs_navlinks_s Newman, Dara. “The Genetics of Homosexuality”. Serendip. 16 April 2011. 18 January 2008. http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1925 http://www.skeptictank.org/gaygene.htm http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0000762 Procon.org. “Is Sexual Orientation Determined At Birth?” 23 April 2011. 21 April 2011 http://borngay.procon.org Read More