Let's Talk About Gay Marriage

On July 16, 2010 the news world focused on this one headline: Argentinabecame the first nation in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage, turning aside protests from the Roman Catholic Church to give gay couples the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts. (Los Angeles Times) Expectedly, this breaking news created a wave of both rejoicing and disapproval. Gay marriage has long been a controversial topic that the extremists feed on like flies to raw meat. Everyone feels the need to preach and push their hatred on the people who are indifferent to it. Gay/lesbian people are very well aware that their preference is different and only wish to become united legally and spiritually with their significant other. They have the same rights as anyone else except marriage. This is due to the majority of the world, specifically the U.S, being bible thumpers and religious extremists. The others who oppose it are made up of ignorant homophobes who do nothing but spread hate. Gay marriage must be legalized because of the equality promised to the gays as human beings. Also, it encompasses the happiness that comes with loving someone and joining in a holy union. Roughly seventy percent of Americans are against gay marriage for a number of reasons. One is the thought that anything involving same sex is morally wrong. Whether the couple decides to get married or not, the mere fact that they are together is enough to turn the stomachs of the homophobes of this country. When adolescents do it, it is viewed as merely a biological phase. When adulthood is reached, it is viewed as a flaw in the mind of those involved. They are deemed unholy, disgusting and a freak to society for proclaiming their love in such an obscene manner. There are those, however, who agree that homosexuals are no different than the rest of the world and can be involved in the same kinds of relationships, serious or not. They can still maintain a regular lifestyle with a job and possibly children if they so choose to adopt. There are many arguments that can be made on whether gay marriage should be legalized or not. Some are taken into consideration more than others. The most common reason gay marriage is looked down upon is that it is a violation of marriage as a holy union between a man and a woman. In the Bible and other religious texts, it is considered filthy and immoral. According to Leviticus 18:22, one must not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable. This verse serves multiple purposes: it enforces procreation between a man and woman and voices that union between men and women is not only physical, but also spiritual. The idea that gay marriage is not legal simply because they cannot produce their own offspring is completely invalid. In reality, if a child is adopted by a homosexual couple, the child/children would still receive the same attention and love as a conventional couple would provide. Just because they are raised by gay parents does not mean they will carry that gene with them. Another aspect that is commonly ignored is heterosexual couples marry, and then later find out they are infertile. Should they be forced to relinquish their wedding rings and be told their vows are now invalid? Of course the senators and religious radicals will say that the only thing that matters is that it is a heterosexual marriage, which proves nothing. It is just ignorant people trying to find loops holes in their own morals and covering them up with judicial processes.

Another reason that gay marriage is frowned upon is that it is considered a violation of the sanctity of marriage and cheapens the act of a holy union. Traditionally, marriage is between a man and a woman. However, people do not always consider the different ways in which to get married. If they are so worried about homosexuals getting married in a church, consider that they themselves may not want that. They might prefer to get married in a Justice of the Peace process, where they are legally bound but not spiritually. Others may prefer simply living together, and after the seven years being considered common law spouses. If people are still harping about this matter, it is because they are still concerned with the percentage of gays that will want to marry in a church/synagogue. This matter can be broken down further. If people are so concerned about gay people joining together under God in a holy ceremony, then let it not be called marriage. If title is such an issue, simply call it something else. If they are still upset that God would not want this, what happened to the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.? (Samuel 16:7) While not everyone believes in the Bible, the ones that do must realize that it can be interpreted in a number of ways. Who are we to think we know what it means when more than half of it is in metaphors and such? Lastly, the matter that really fires up the establishment is that same-sex marriage is an untried social experiment. (Scott Bidstrup) This is a flat out lie, unless this is solely speaking for America. As mentioned in the introduction, Argentina has deemed this act legal for a matter of months now. And countries like Denmark have already been accepting gay married couples as a norm since 1989. The only rights they do not have are the right to adopt children and the right to marriage ceremonies in churches. Even these rights are in the process of being legalized. Other countries can put their guard down and realize that there is no reason for a guard in this case. America seems to be the only country that chooses to be difficult about accepting their citizens fully. In fact, according to a European survey completed in 1995 showed that 89% of the Danish clergy now admit that the law is a good one and has had many beneficial effects, including a reduction in suicide, a reduction in the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and in promiscuity and infidelity among gays. (Bidstrup) If people are so ignorant and stubborn to not see the positive outcomes of this legalization, than we are hopeless as a nation in terms of social growth and understanding. Even by going one state at a time only aggravates those living in the surrounding states. They must wait for their senators and other forms of government to take the time to notice and think and decide to call upon the matter. Until then, they are waiting on a day that may never come. And like the Declaration of Independence states, we all deserve life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If their sexual preference means they have to wait for said happiness, than we as a nation are cruel and unjust. Gay Weddings on Long Island