The Issues of Gay Marriage - Research Paper Example

Gay Marriage Introduction The issues of gay marriage are of high relevance nowadays. Unfortunately, the problem of discrimination still present, notwithstanding that a struggle with it is constant and serious. Sexual minorities still do not have enough rights in the society. The same rights for same-sex couples as for the heterogeneous couples should be guaranteed. Legalization of same-sex marriages is often considered from different perspectives: firstly, it is claimed that religious beliefs and norms cannot justify these types of marriage. Moreover, the global society blurs different limits and the globalized world makes the contemporaries think in the broader terms…Therefore, same-sex marriages should be considered as an integrative part of the modern society as not violating, but rather diversifying the norms of a traditional heterosexual marriage. Literature Review The New York State Senate evoked the issue of same-sex marriages legalization. The gay community finally succeeded. The proponents of gay rights have fought for their ideas and they proved that their considerations were based on humane and tolerant attitude for different members of the society (Rayfield, 2011). The idea of legalization of same-sex marriage has been developed for a long period of time by gays and lesbians and the sociologists considered it as a logical continuation of same-sex couples’ relations. Laura Kipnis positions same-sex marriage as an emotional and a social anchor of relations. The author does not make an emphasis on intimate or sexual side of their relations. She is more focused on a logical continuation and equality of rights of people. The US Constitutions from the time if its development was focused on equality of human rights and it is necessary to claim that people should be aware of their sound opportunities of having equal rights in any aspect of their lives. Same-sex couples are not intimidating for the society, as it is often claimed, because they are concentrated on their own happiness and they want other people to be happy too, In case they are prohibited to continue their relations or to make them legal, they will show hostile moods to other people. So, it is irrelevant for the opponents to seed grains of anger and sorrow. It is better to give a chance to same-sex couples and to support their intentions of creating favorable and successful families. It is inhumane and incorrect to position same-sex relations as a kind of deviance. Therefore, there are many studies and researches devoted to this theme and it is impossible to claim if opponents or proponents are right in this vivid discussion. Jullian Rayfield wrote the article “New York State Senate Passes Marriage Equality Bill” (2011). She was focused on the process of gay marriage legalization. Different controversies occurred, but the author is sure that legalization of same-sex marriage would have positive effects. Republicans positioned themselves as the devoted supporters of gay marriage. They are sure that the rights of different people should be protected in the modern global world. On the one hand, it would be difficult for the society to accept gay marriages, because it is out of the frames of normality. Seidman (2008) underlines that condition for gay marriage legalization are unclear. Moreover, he introduces the example of the Justice Scalia, who claimed that defense of gay’s rights "employs a constitutional theory heretofore unknown" and it is based on "a novel and extravagant constitutional doctrine" (Seidman 2008, p. 135). This opinion can be supported, because the Constitution says nothing about the protection of gays’ rights and the country "has no foundation in American constitutional law, and barely pretends to" (Seidman 2008, p. 135). In the political and legal context, those parties, who support defense of gays’ rights they can make an attempt of implementation of certain amendments for the US Constitution. In the social context these issues are considered by Biblarz and Savci (2010). There is a dynamic overview of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families (LBGT families). Structures of family and social location have changed. These changes have directed the modern researches and studies to such explorations, as LBGT families formation, parenthood in these families; the issues of sexual self-identification in the context of LBGT relations (Biblarz&Savci, 2010). The researchers underline the necessity of a dynamic and diversified context development for more appropriate analysis of a sound background for same-sex marriage legalization. Brumbaugh and Sanchez (2008) in their study underlined the negative attitudes of the modern society to same-sex marriages. At the same time, they claimed that numerous gay couples use courts for advancement of their option of same-sex marriage. Starting from 90s the legal and social enforcement of same-sex couples marriage have been developed, but it is obvious that promotion and strengthening of these efforts is being continued even nowadays. In their study the researchers came to two important findings. At first, “feelings about the vulnerability of heterosexual marriage are extremely important determinants of attitudes toward gay marriage, net of sociodemographic characteristics, marital, parenthood, and cohabitation histories, and religious and political attitudes” (Brumbaugh and Sanchez 2008, p. 347). The authors claim that it is relevant to have peaceful and tolerant political and social regulations of same-sex marriage. The second conclusion made is that the issues of parenthood and cohabitation are necessary triggers for the issues of same-sex marriages legalization (Brumbaugh and Sanchez 2008, p. 347). There is a great conflict of social values among the modern Americans. It is relevant to correlate the values of same-sex marriage with the values of a traditional marriage. Laura Kipnis (2006) shows a humane attitude to all people. They would have many opportunities for a sound social and personal realization in case they are not prevented from their legal marriages. This author makes an emphasis on the fact that the concept of marriage should be considered in a more diversified context. There are essential changes happened to the society and there is no doubt that morals and beliefs of common Americans should be more tolerant and readily accept different changes in the social norms. People should be higher than gossiping about intimate or sexual relations among different people. It is more appropriate to talk about a successful parenthood. Thus, Nava and Dawidoff (1995) claimed that: “loyal to their mates, are monogamous, devoted partners. They value and participate in family life, are committed to making their neighborhoods and communities safer and better places to live, and honor and abide by the law” (Nava and Dawidoff 1995, p. 23). So, there are not reasons for prohibiting same-sex marriages. The issues of parenthood are directly connected with the necessity to legalize their marriages and add a legal basis for these types of marriages. Recommendations and Conclusions Therefore, it should be noted that the majority of current explorations on this theme are protecting the rights of gays for their marriage. Same-sex marriages are positioned as a deserved and a voluntary individual choice. Moreover, it should be mentioned that equal rights guaranteed to every member of the society are the necessary conditions for future favorable development of the society. In spite of the fact that there are a great number of antagonists, same-sex marriages have already obtained its legal basis in some states. Thus, there is only a need to ensure its political basis and create a favorable legal basis for further protection. To my mind, the modern researches and studies are lacking of a holistic vision about a concept of marriage as a whole. These social integrative elements should be considered independently of LGBT or any other types of families. Cohabitation of different people and their desire and ability to become parents should be the main concerns for legalization of their relations. Also, it is better to consider same-sex marriages on a more diverse background. Thus, gay versus heterosexual categorical dichotomy does not include all possible ideas about the relevance of same-sex marriage legislation. Relevance of legal marriage among same-sex couples should be correlated with a clear vision about relationships dynamics, kinds of adaptations or transitions from hetero-to homosexual preferences, social location of the same-sex couples, the issues of cohabitation and parenthood et cetera. Bisexuality and the issues of transgender families are of crucial importance and they are not properly covered in the modern researches and studies. LGBT families are mainly considered from the socioeconomic perspective. Recent studies have been focused on relationships of lesbian mothers and their children. For example, it is appropriate to consider relations of biological mothers and co-mothers to their children in same-sex relations. Gender relations between different genders, biological relation of parents to children, and attitude among children and parents in institutionalization context should be covered too. The children raised by gay and lesbian parents should be considered from the social perspective. Their lives in the society can be traced in different spheres of their lives and the aspects. Therefore, it is appropriate to implement quantitative and qualitative research methods. In the questionnaires issued for the members of random communities, it is relevant to ask the following questions to LGBT families: 1) Have you ever experienced fraud or intimidation from other community members? 2) What is the main purpose for legalization of your relations? 3) Are the issues of parenthood interesting for you? 4) Please, define your cohabitation/relations in five words. 5) Have your children (if any) felt derisions from the community members or at school, college etc? Consequently, even with the help of a small number of questions it is possible to define how the things are going in LGBT families. There is no need to ask the names of the respondents, but it is rather interesting to find appropriate quantitative correlations between their answers or to evaluate their answers from quantitative perspective. Moreover, it should be noted that a more profound look is required with respect to the modern researches and studies. Legalization of same-sex marriage is appropriate social issue and the modern politicians should not prevent a logical continuation of relations, cohabitation and parenthood among same-sex couples. There are no doubts, that implementing necessary political changes, sociological innovations and a broad vision about same-sex marriages legalization would make a process of socialization for LGBT families easier. Works cited 1. Biblarz, Timothy J., and Evren Savci. "Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, and Transgender Families."Journal of Marriage and Family 72.3 (2010): 480+.  2. Brumbaugh, Stacey M., Laura A. Sanchez, Steven L. Nock, and James D. Wright. "Attitudes toward Gay Marriage in States Undergoing Marriage Law Transformation." Journal of Marriage and Family 70.2 (2008): 345+.  3. Kipnis, Laura. "Something's Missing." Women's Studies Quarterly 34.3/4 (2006): 22+. 4. Nava, M. and Dawidoff, R. Created Equal: Why Gay Rights Matter to America. St. Martin's Griffin, 1995. 5. Rayfield, J. New York State Senate Passes Marriage Equality Bill, 24 June, 2011. Web. 18 July, 2012. http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/new-york-state-senate-passes-marriage-equality-bill.php 6. Seidman, Louis Michael. "Gay Sex and Marriage, the Reciprocal Disadvantage Problem and the Crisis in Liberal Constitutional Theory." Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy 31.1 (2008): 135+.  Read More