Reasons Why Same-Sex Marriage Should Be Legalized - Essay Example

?Reasons Why Same Sex Marriage Should be Legalized The of marriage is an old fashioned that is fast becoming an archaic tradition in our modern times. The reason that the tradition is losing its relevance in our modern times has nothing to do with what the institution itself symbolizes, but rather because the institution that is seeks to legalize, the union of 2 people in love and wanting to live a life together for what they hope will be the rest of their lives, has changed in definition over the centuries. With the advent of same sex couples choosing to share their lives together and marriage still being defined as a union between a man and a woman, marriage as a symbol of the start of a family unit was bound to lose its significance. Make no mistake about it, same sex couples are here to stay and they will start a family, with or without the benefit of marriage. Therefore, wouldn't it make more sense to simply redefine marriage as a union of two single people who, regardless of gender, have chosen to live their lives together as bound by the rules and laws of man (if not God as well)? Through this paper, I plan to prove that there are legal, valid, and acceptable reasons as to why same sex marriage should be legalized in our country. The main argument against same sex marriage seems to always be based upon a religious bias. An outmoded belief that states that marriage was defined by “God” as being between a man and a woman. In their minds, same sex unions are an abomination because there is nothing in the bible that makes reference to a union between the same sex as being blessed by God. But isn't the God of man supposed to be understanding? The religious often say that God does not judge any man or woman for who they are for we are all equal in his eyes. Equal in his eyes. There is no passage in the bible that states that God views a gay, lesbian, or transgender being as anything less than his child as well. So where exactly does that religious argument get its biblical and religious backing? It seems more believable that it was the human beings who chose to put words into the mouth of their God in order to support their own selfish agenda on the matter of same sex marriage. Marriage is a privilege provided by the state. Therefore, couples have the right to marry the person they wish to marry. This discussion should never have any religious leanings because of the separation between church and state. Nobody can force the religious to legalize a same sex union using a religious ceremony. But the religious should not be allowed to trample upon the First amendment rights that were accorded over 20 million Americans either (Hawkins, John “Five Reasons to Oppose Gay Marriage”). If anything, the constant ban on same sex marriage can be likened to the ban on inter-racial marriage that existed in America back in the 1950's. In her report “Points in Defense of Gay Marriage”, Leah Moore quoted Andrew Jackson as having once explained that the ban on interracial marriage : The right to marry whoever one wishes is an elementary human right compared to which the right to attend an integrated school, the right to sit where one pleases on a bus, the right to go into any hotel or recreation area or place of amusement, regardless of one's skin or color or race are minor indeed. Even political rights, like the right to vote, and nearly all other rights enumerated in the Constitution, are secondary to the inalienable human rights to `life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' ... and to this category the right to home and marriage unquestionably belong (Moore, Leah “Points in Defense of Gay Marriage”). Think about it, we all reserve our right and freedom to choose. That is a basic human right that is guaranteed by our constitution. This law also covers our right to marry anyone we choose. Therefore, same sex marriage should be considered a sacred right of every American citizen under our constitution. In the same report, Moore continues to argue in support of gay marriage based upon the Due Process Clause that is contained within our Fifth Amendment Rights. She explains that the American Civil Liberties Union interprets that particular law in the following manner: The law [against same-sex marriage] discriminates on the basis of sex because it makes one's ability to marry depend on one's gender.” The ACLU goes on to say, “Classifications which discriminate on the basis of gender must be substantially related to some important government purpose…tradition by itself is not an important government purpose.  If it were, sex discrimination would be quite permissible;  discrimination against women has a pedigree in tradition at least as long and time honored as that of discrimination against same-sex couples in marriage. (Moore, Leah “Points in Defense of Gay Marriage”). Read the Declaration of Independence. refer to our country's constitution. Try to find any reference to a law that can legally deny same sex couples a legal marital union as recognized by the state. The LGBT community of this country has fought long and hard to achieve equality and fair treatment under the rules of the land. Their right to pursue happiness and protection from harassment is provided by our laws. Therefore, our government has a right to enforce the rights of that sector of society. It is unfair that our government has allowed this prejudice to have gained steamed and mothballed into heated debates over the past decades. The government has in effect, failed a sector of its population. There are those who oppose same sex marriage on the basis that it is not normal. But can anybody truly justify and define what is moral and what is not? Morality is simply a state of mind that has been inculcated into us by our ancestors. What most people fail to understand is that the definition of normal changes over time. For example, a man whose had a body full of tattoos in the past would have been immediately branded an ex-convict or escapee who should be avoided like the plague. These days, men who wear tattoos are considered artistic and the paintings a work of art. They are not to be feared. Normal is not something that can be defined by a culture because cultures change over time in order to accommodate the changes that are happening to the people living in the era. There was an era in time, about 110 years ago when the author Oscar Wilde was sentenced by the English judicial system to hard labor after being charged with gross indecency because he was gay (Les Nuits Masquees, “10 Reasons Why Gay Marriage Should be Allowed”. )These days, gay men and women openly flaunt their sexual preference and we do not mind it one single bit. Further proof that what we now consider to be normal has changed as time and mindsets have evolved and progressed respectively. Normalcy is whatever our current culture dictates as acceptable within our society. Now we come down to the argument of the conservatives. That gay couples should not be allowed to marry because they confuse the definition of the family unit. Gay couples are unable to conceive and therefore cannot form a family of their own. The act of conception requires a sexual act between a man and a woman. Each of whom bring something unique and special of their personalities when raising the child. Consider this for a moment. Opposite sex unions have the highest rate of divorce in our country today. They traumatize their children with lengthy and ugly custody battles. The children grow up confused and troubled because mom and dad don't get along. Now compare that to the 2000 Census that reported: ... 96 percent of U.S. counties--no matter how remote, no matter how conservative--have at least one same-sex couple with a child. However one may feel about this, it's happening now... (Head, Tom “Four Reasons to Support Gay Marriage and Oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment) Who is to say that gay couples cannot raise children the same way a regular couple would? In fact, gay couple kids have, in my experience, seem to have a more well rounded and balanced upbringing. They are more acceptable of change and rarely feel the need to clamor for acceptance by groups or cliques. They are less rebellious and problematic than my classmates and friends who come from mother-father households. Also consider if you will, the following argument. We currently allow rapists, convicts, and child molesters, criminals of the most despicable kind, to marry (Alamond, John “10 Reasons Why Support Gay Marriage”). Their character and track record already tell us that these people should not be allowed to marry if only to preserve the sanctity of marriage as an institution of love. Their kinds of marriage eventually end up as front page news, Nancy Grace, or Jane Velez as the newest crime of the week as they slay their spouses and/or rape their own children. Those are the kinds of people whose constitutional right to marry is recognized by law? These people should be considered, examples of morality? These are the kinds of people who should be locked away and the key thrown away. The LGBT community is nothing like those aforementioned people and yet they are treated worse than they are. That is a travesty in any setting. Considering all of the factors above, it seems only logical that our society begin to change its mindset and begin to accept the fact that times have changed and same sex unions will eventually become a part of our normal society traditions. It is not something that the conservatives can fight off for much longer. We already have quite a number of states that recognize same sex unions. It is only a matter of time before it finally becomes accepted statewide by individual state law if not by constitutional amendment. Works Cited Alamond, John. “10 Reasons Why I support Gay Marriage”. Opinions. Newsflavor. 19 Mar. 2008. Web. 16 Apr. 2012. Hawkins, John. “Five Reasons to Oppose Gay Marriage”. Townhall Columnists. Townhall.com. 7 Feb. 2012. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. Head, Tom. “Four Reasons to Support Gay Marriage and Oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment”. Issues & Views. about.com. 2012. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. Moore, Leah. “Points in Defense of Gay Marriage”. n.p. angelfire.com. 21 Apr. 2001. Web. 12 Apr. 2012. “10 Reasons Why Gay Marriage Should be Allowed”. Les Nuits Masquees. Les Nuits Masquees. 18 Aug. 2010. Web. 14 Apr. 2012. Read More