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Emily Barrett
November 13, 2014
English 115
Professor Altman

America: Land of the Banned, and Home of the Homophobic


Governor Romney says hes against same-sex marriage because every child deserves a
mother and a father. I think every child deserves a family as loving and committed as mine.
Because the sense of family comes from the commitment we make to each other to work through
the hard times so we can enjoy the good ones. It comes from the love that binds us; thats what
makes a family. Mr. Romney, my family is just as real as yours. (Zach Wahls, Democratic
National Convention). The United States of America federal government has declared that gay
marriage is very much legal, as it deserves to be. However, there are still 17 states that have a
ban on gay marriage, preventing couples from being together forever, legally. Some say that gay
marriage should not be allowed, as it goes against certain religions, or the ideal American
marriage, but I firmly believe that gay marriage should be legalized in each and every state of
The United States of America, because the bans on gay marriages are unjust, as it prevents gay
couples from having the legal benefits of marriage, and it goes against the basis of this country
that all men are created equal.
In the United States of America, being legally married has its benefits. There are legal
benefits, financial benefits, personal benefits, and a whole other world of benefits simply from
being married. However, this means that gay couples in 17 states, regardless of how long they
have been together or any other personal matters, cannot visit their significant other in urgent
care or make medical decisions for their significant other; they cannot adopt children together, or

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receive or inherit any benefits from the government or from their significant other in case of
death. These are just a few of the benefits that are taken away from gay couples in states where
gay marriage is banned, simply for being who they are. In 1983, a woman named Karen
Thompson was denied the right to see her partner, Sharon Kowalski (Stoddard 1), in the ICU
after Kowalski was in a car accident. Even though the two women had been together a very long
time, lived together, and were spouses in every respect except the legal, Thompson was not
allowed to see her partner, or make any medical decisions for her as Kowalski was left unable to
walk or speak. Instead, that responsibility was given over to Kowalskis parents, whom
obtained sole guardianship they then moved Kowalski to a nursing home 300 miles away
from Thompson and forbade all visits between the two women (Stoddard 1). As one can see,
this disgrace was an unfair and heartbreaking event. Unfortunately, stories like these occur way
too frequently, which is why the ban on gay marriage should be overturned. Gay couples deserve
to have the same rights and marriage benefits as everybody else. The ban on gay marriage also
prevents gay couples from adopting children together, which as one may know, is pretty much
the only way gay couples can have children. So, the governments are basically preventing gay
couples from having children, which is also cruel and unjust. They are practically saying that,
even if it has been your dream your whole life to have children, because you were born the way
that you are, and you have chosen to be who you are, you are not allowed to fulfill that dream,
even though everybody else who is simply being themselves is allowed to. The ban on gay
marriage needs to be overturned so that gay couples can have the same rights, benefits, and
opportunities as everybody else.
Not only does the ban on gay marriage prevent gay couples from having the same
benefits as everybody else, but it is also in direct violation of the U.S. Constitution. It clearly

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states that all men are created equal. So, does that mean that all straight men are created
equal? No, it strictly says that all men are created equal, regardless of their skin color, financial
status, gender, or sexuality. Now, not all citizens or government leaders need to agree with gay
marriage, but they do in fact need to recognize that everybody should have the right to be
married, regardless of what gender their spouse is. Even the President of the United States of
America agrees that the ban on gay marriage violates the constitution and the rights of this
country, stating in an interview that I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not
in favor of gay marriage. But when you start playing around with constitutions, just to prohibit
somebody who cares about another person, it just seems to me that's not what America's about.
Usually, our constitutions expand liberties, they don't contract them. (Barack Obama, ABC
Interview 2012). President Obama, even though he did not necessarily agree with gay marriage,
he did agree with the fact that everybody deserves the right to be happy. This quote points out
that regardless of personal opinion, everyone should have the same rights as everybody else. It
also discusses how the entire point of America is having the freedom to practice what you
believe in, whether its gay marriage or not. President Obama has also stated that I have to tell
you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors
when I think about the members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous
relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those
soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel
constrained, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point
Ive just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I
think same-sex couples should be able to get married. (Barack Obama, ABC News interview,
May 9, 2012). This shows how people in homosexual relationships are just as in love as people

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in heterosexual relationships. They could have the same feelings, same dreams, and same
experiences as people in heterosexual relationships, but they are not considered real
relationships. There is no difference between the two, besides body parts and whether or not they
can legally marry. If the President of the United States can agree that the ban on gay marriage
goes against the basis of this country, other people and state governments should also realize that
the ban is unjust.
On the other hand, some people may argue that gay marriage itself is in direct violation
of the Bible. The Bible clearly states that Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit
the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
homosexuals, norsodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinithians 6:9-10 NKJV). These people
claim that God created marriage to be between a man and a woman, and that is why gay
marriage should not be allowed in the U.S. (Gend). The bible also states that "Therefore a man
leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh. (Genesis
2:24), again pointing out that marriage should be between a man and a woman. I agree that yes,
gay marriage does in fact violate this religion, which is my own religion, however, that does not
mean that everybody else in the country needs to follow by anothers religious customs. The
entire purpose of America being founded is to have the freedom of religion, meaning to have the
right to believe and practice whatever religion you want to, regardless of what anyone else is
practicing. This also means that, nobodys religious beliefs should be forced on to one another,
(Schmitz) because it violates the U.S Constitution, Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the

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Government for a redress of grievances. (U.S. Constitution, First Amendment). Because of this,
again, direct violation of the Constitution, that is why the ban on gay marriage should be lifted,
regardless of what religions it is violating.
In conclusion, the ban on gay marriage should be lifted in every state so that gay couples
may have the same rights and benefits as straight married couples, and because it violates the
constitution and the basic ideas that this country was built on. It shouldnt matter whose religion
it violates, or who it offends, it should only matter who it makes happy: the hundreds of
thousands of people who could finally, legally, be married to the person they love.

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Emily Barrett
November 12, 2014
English 115
Professor Altman
Works Cited Page
Anonymous. "Obama and Biden Lend Support to Gay Marriage Movement." Contemporary
Sexuality, 46.6 (2012): 6.
Gend, David van, and Tim Wilson. "The Gay Marriage Debate." Review - Institute of Public
Affairs, 63.3 (2011): 36.
Schmitz, Matthew. "How I Evolved on Gay Marriage."First Things: A Monthly Journal of
Religion and Public Life, 245 (2014): 72-73.
Stoddard, Thomas, and Bruce Fein. "Gay Marriage."ABA Journal, 76 (1990): 42.

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