Gay Marriage

I am choosing to use the text gay marriage because it seems as if people are so afraid to call it what it is that the term has been changed to same-sex marriage..assuming thats the politically correct term. Should there ever be a chance to vote for gay marriage being legalized in the state of Utah, I hope I can impact my peers to be in favor. After all, love is love as commitment is commitment , no matter our choice of sex. Gay couples deserve to be a union, just as heterosexual couples. It is constitutionally right. Americans brag of freedom. Right?? Gay couples also deserve to raise children through adoption if need be. Utah is such a complex state in the area of gay marriage. I believe its due to this being an LDS state. If I can at least open the mind of others, then I have accomplished something. What are our constitutional rights when it comes to love and commitment? No where in our constitution does it say a man cant love a man, or vice verse. The Defense of Marriage Act of September 1996 is a federal law that denies federal recognition of gay marriages. It authorizes states the right to refuse to recognize gay marriages licensed in other

states. This does not happen in a heterosexual marriage. Why does our nation feel that these things are not prejudice to our fellow gay Americans? Though, what D.C., New York, and Rhode Island does is a step in a positive direction; still a little bias, but a step forward in the issue of gay marriage. In D.C., New York, and Rhode Island you can be recognized as a married gay couple, provided you can not marry there. For more states to be open as such can possibly open other doors in the right direction concerning this issue. Other nations have evolved in the area of gay marriage. Sweden, Norway, Spain, and even neighboring Canada, and many more allow gay marriage period. California and Hawaii are states who have went back and forth on this issue, yet currently allow gay marriages. In 2008/2009 Massachustees, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and New Hampshire approved gay marriages. However, 30 other states defined their constitution of marriage as being only between a man and a woman. Prop 8s effectiveness gives choice of state to legalize or ban (..or whatever they choose..) on how they want to deal regarding the issue of gay marriage. Another issue gay couples face is the right to adoption of a child. Society has made it seem immoral for a gay couple to raise a child. How does our choice of sex effect our

parenting skills? What about the stories we often hear of in the news about the man and woman, a couple, who end up incarcerated for brutally abusing or neglecting their child(ren). Obviously our personal preference is not the deciding factor in the kind of parent an individual will be. In 2001 California passed a law that gay couples could adopt and even receive benefits, but only if they were married. In 2002 Connecticut passed a similar law. Adoption by gay couples is legal in 14 countries. However, since constitutions and statutes often fail to mention the adoption rights of homosexuals, it then usually becomes a judicial matter in determining whether or not the person(s) are adequate enough to provide the proper life for a child. Again, our choice of sex does not determine our capability in parenthood. Gay couples who live in Utah and hope to get married in Utah one day may have a long wait ahead. Its my opinion that Prop 8 aides Utah in saying no to gay marriages. Not just Prop 8, but also because this is such an LDS state. Which makes it that much more complex. Which lets be honest, the LDS thing is more a religious view, opposed to a whole entire state view. The LDS church is so against gay marriage that they donated money to support passing Californias innitiative to ban same-sex marriages..a state which currently allows gay marriages Its easy for a church to say its

wrong because the Bible says so. Yet many religions, including the mormon church, have had a finger or two pointed at them for misconduct. Some of appalling greatness. If its going to be a religious thing, I say let GOD be the judge. The LDS church this year decided to allow openly gay individuals to be recognized as boy scouts. Does this show growth for the LDS church in the direction of issues concerning homosexuals? I surely think so. Many things have loop holes. Attorneys for the Utah Pride Center, at a time filed suit against Prop 8. They called it unconstitutional. Further research is needed for me to know the result. With all of this expressed it is most apparent that Utah agrees with a huge chunk of our nation. I have hopes though, should there ever be a time to vote, that I have convinced the minds of others to be in favor of gay marriages. Who someone else chooses to love does not effect our lives in any detrimental way. I have a gay brother and I hope he is allowed to marry at home in Utah (or anywhere he may choose) should he find Mr. Right. Ask yourself this: What would you do or want if you were fighting for something someone you loved believed in? I will share my story and information to no end. If I can even spark a smidgen of doubt in

the mind of someone who is strongly opposed, then I have fulfilled my purpose. We are the next generation. Lets teach openmindedness concerning the contrversy of gay marriage, which has been aboard since the 1990s. Gay couples have a right to marry, its constitutional freedom! Gay couples should not have to go through anything extra should they choose to adopt. They should be treated as any other couple. And for Utah, lets get off the band wagon. What if it was your son, daughter, mom, or dad..sister, aunt, uncle, a best friend..or in my case, a brother..

Written By, RosaLee Berry