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William Greer
04/13/2015
Persuasive Essay (Same Sex Marriage)
A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING
Legalizing same sex marriage has been a hot topic these past few years. Although it isnt
a new topic, it has made its way out of the shadows. More people are taking a stand today than
ever before. It has become more common to discuss in conversations and to see on the average
day. LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) communities have made themselves more
known and there are centers all over the United States with California having the largest location.
It is a place of support and acceptance for these individuals. Same sex marriage should be
legalized nationwide and be considered a civil right. Marriage is an important part of this life,
and who better to share it with then somebody you love? Along with this, there are many
personal and societal benefits of marriage.
This world is constantly changing and we make new discoveries every day. Same Sex
marriage is becoming widely accepted, and this is a step forward in the right direction. Eighteen
countries have approved the freedom to marry for same-sex couples nationwide (Netherlands,
Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, Argentina, Denmark,
France, Brazil, Uruguay, New Zealand, Britain, Luxembourg and Finland), while two others
have regional or court-directed provisions enabling same-sex couples to share in the freedom to
marry (Mexico and the United States). (freedomtomarry.org, 2015). In the United States, there
are 37 states that recognize same sex marriage (Refer to the pie chart on the right), and 13 states
that do not recognize same sex marriage (12 by constitutional amendment and state law, and 1 by
constitutional amendment only) as of March 2015. (ProCon.org, 2015). The fact that more than
half of the United
States is open to same sex marriage should be an eye opener. We are living in a time of positive
change.
person and see how important it is to them? You might be a little more open about gay rights and
same sex marriage. Could you truly know unless you were in this type of situation though?
A major issue is the argument of if same sex marriage should be considered a civil right
or not. It is an issue because as a citizen, you have right to do what you want, when you want to
do it as long as it is not affecting anyone else negatively or against their will. We are self-made in
this country and freedom is what we are known for. Not being able to marry someone of the
same sex goes against your civil rights because you are being told you cant do something (*if
there is no law against it). According to the individual state law, same-sex marriage is completely
legal or it isnt. Within that law, the real concerns stem from people and their personal belief
systems. Same sex marriage should be considered a civil right, in writing.
The most controversial issue is from a religious standpoint. There are religions against
same sex marriage, and religions that are for same sex marriage. I consider this to be the
argument of same sex marriage and freedom of religion. The 1st Amendment says that laws wont
be made based on what the bible says, and in the same breath churches do not have to abide by
and accept things based on laws (*within valid reason). Church is separate from state. The state
cant ask the church to change, and civil rights dont apply within the church. Religion is meant
to bring people together, not separate them. To help accompany the law, a person can at the least,
respect the rights of others, even if they conflict with their personal viewpoints. There are plenty
other laws/rules that arent consistently followed today along with exceptions being made, so
why be selective? Should a person change their belief system if same sex marriage isnt
accepted?
The third major issue is violation of natural law. This deals with the people living by
traditional societal beliefs, and following gender and marriage stereotypes/traditions. For
example, that procreation is between a man and a woman. This is the ideal outlook. If that is so,
why can infertile couples still marry? Just like single mothers and fathers can raise children,
same sex couples should be able to do the same. Same sex marriages can allow the opportunity
to adopt and raise children to form more families. The popular TV show, Modern Family
portrays this image very well. A concern is that children being raised by same sex parents
provides an unhealthy environment. Not all heterosexual marriages are perfect. There are many
concerns with any marriage such as high divorce rates, many marriages in ones life, short
marriages, and/or bad marriages, and these should not be overlooked. A healthy/loving family
is a happy family. Another important aspect of marriage is the benefits. If married under the law,
these benefits are available to homosexual married couples. All marriage perks and exceptions
apply.
of marriage, for reasons other than love? A look back in history, marriage was used to create
alliances between countries and elites, to connect power families/relationships, and not
necessarily for the reason of love. Also,
arranged marriages were quite common, and
are still around today in some places. Is this
what marriage is about? Why have it be
denied?
appreciated. If it isnt harming you and does not affect you, why should you care? Be who you
want to be, marry who you want to marry.
RESOURCES
Cornell University Law School. "Equal Protection." Legal Information Institute. N.p.,
1992. Web. 15 Apr. 2015.
Freedomtomarry.org. "The Freedom to Marry Internationally." Freedom to Marry. N.p.,
Mar. 2015. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.
ProCon.org. "37 States with Legal Gay Marriage and 13 States with Same-Sex Marriage
Bans - Gay Marriage - ProCon.org." Pros & Cons of Controversial Issues. N.p., 04 Mar. 2015.
Web. 15 Apr. 2015.