Gay Marriage: Wrong or Right?

One of the most discussed issues around today is gay marriages. Many people blame the media for the idea of same sex marriages but when you break it down it all comes down to two different opinions. Those who think its right and those who think its wrong. Through out this essay I will be discussing key points about gay marriage.

“On the 16th of June, 2008 the Supreme Court of California made it legal for homosexuals to marry” (Wikipedia). Many people were very upset with this and felt that it was wrong. There were many religious groups such as the Mormons, Christians, Catholics were trying to fight it and the judge ruled that it would be determined on the 4th of November 2008 if it would remain in effect or not by the total of votes on Proposition 8. “Proposition 8 is a proposition making it illegal in the state of California for same sex couples to marry” (BallotPedia). During the time that it was legal for homosexuals to marry, around 18,000 couples were married (Wikipedia). “Between both sides for the Proposition more than 80 million dollars were raised and that made Proposition 8 the highest funded campaign on any state ballot” (Wikipedia). On the 4th of November, 2008 with the voting in California Proposition 8 passed and it became illegal for homosexuals to marry. On that day many lawsuits were filed stating that it was un-constitutional and that homosexuals deserved the right to marry. “On the 4th of August 2010 Judge Vaughn R. Walker overturned the vote and made it legal again in the State of California for homosexuals to marry (Pending approval)” (Ballotpedia).

Many religious groups such as the Mormons, Catholics, Christians find that proposition 8 should be enforced because it is not religiously right and that it is against all religious views. Many believe that “marriage should be only between a man and woman and that a marriage is a gift from god and it must be preserved.” (Angelfire) Some feel that schools will begin to teach their children that gay marriage is alright. There are kids in schools today with homosexual parents, and it does not seem to affect other kids so how would it effect them if it was legal (Cameron). Society allows people who are sex offenders and murders and felons to get married and have children. Many gay couples raise children who are either adopted or either their own from previous relationships. In lots of scientific studies it has shown that the outcome of kids raised by same sex couples are the same as if the parents were straight. Many family psychologists say that what makes the difference in a family is the love and not the gender and that same sex couples are just as easily to love a child as a straight couple. Many gay couples wish to have children for the same reasons as any straight couple to have a child to love and care for them. Many gay couples want to provide a great home and a loving family to another generation or even a loving environment that the parent themselves have never had. A positive thing about gay couples being able to marry is to show everyone that we are all equal and can love and be happy just as that of a straight couple. Overall people should marry the one that they truly love whether they are gay or straight. Many people say that god does not approve of homosexuality (Angelfire). Not everyone practices religion. Not everyone feels the same way. Each person should be treated equal and not different. Often times homosexuals are judged and treated differently such as being called names, beaten and sometimes killed but we are all humans. Gay marriage is not a topic that is going to just go away. There are so many organizations such as Freedom To Marry and Glad are out pushing for gay marriage in every state so we can all be treated equally. In recent surveys the “gay to straight ratio was 1 out of 10 people were either gay, bisexual, or a repressed homosexual/bisexual which means they had feelings for the same sex but were too afraid of the adverse effects to act upon such feelings” (Wikianswers). By the time we know it the ratio will be greater as more and more people are more open with their sexuality. “Many homosexuals feel that they have to be secretive about their sexuality due to the risk of possibly being hated, losing their job, or even being judged by their family” (Yahoo! Answers).

Gays should have the same rights as everyone else. We should have the same rights when it comes to housing, jobs, and when it comes to government aide. At one point in history people were debating that whites and blacks should be equal and everyone is the same well now its like the same thing is coming up in debate between gays and straights. Why cant it be settled like it was back then where everyone is equal. There was the big debate with Rosa Parks sitting in the front of the bus. Are gays not allowed to sit in the front of the bus because its for straight people only? Nearly three out of four people are opposed to gay marriage but many believe that gay is nothing but sex. Being gay is more about love and affection then it is about being gay. With straight people relationships are also based off of love and affection so what is the difference? Gay people should be able to marry just as a straight couple is allowed to. Most people think marriage should be between men and woman only. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but when it comes to something as allowing gay marriage you have to separate church and state and realize that once again not everyone practices religion and/or has the same religion. If we were to say straight people can not kiss or hold hands in public because it is against the bu dist religion how many people are really going to follow it? Not everyone is bu dist so why should everyone follow it? It is like the same thing with marriage, some religions believe that it is wrong but what if someone practices a religion that it is alright to marry someone of the same sex are you going to deny them their religious right? There is a bill out that is called the Defense of Marriage Act that was signed by President Bill Clinton back in 1996, but what happened to the defense of love because as we all know that marriage is based around love right. Marriage is about two people who love each other and want to spend the rest of their life together so with that being said its only right that two people should be able to marry regardless of if its two guys or girls, just as long as they love each other. Five out of ten couples end up getting a divorce so why not allow two people who are willing to commit to each other to marry? There are a few other things that gay couples do not get because they cant marry. When a gay couple is together for a long time and “Practically” married but yet they can not get health insurance together because their insurance carrier only allows married couples so what if their loved one is really sick they are more or less out of luck because they can not afford to go to the doctor. If something was to happen to a gay couple and one of them get in an accident and die its up to the family that disowned their son because he was gay to deal with funeral arrangements and medical decisions and the guys partner cant because hes technically not family but yet the two have been together for ten years. There is a lot of technical stuff that no one really looks at but its actually a big part because those decisions should be that of the partner who has been there when the family didnt want nothing to do with their son. If same sex marriage was to become legal in the next generation or so it would not be something weird it would be something that is just another way of life but many people think that it would affect the future generations. With all these doors open for discussion whether gays can actually raise a family and actually be good parents is something that will be debated for quite sometime because so many people have so many different opinions about it.

The ban on gays being able goes against everything America stands for. America is known by other countries of a place to live where people can live not in fear but be themselves without being killed for believing in another religion. America is suppose to the country of freedom and the right to make ones own choices. With the beliefs of gay marriage being disgusting and not right it only shows that there are a lot of prejudice and narrow-minded people in our country. Our Constitution is the back bone of our nation and we must stand up for it and show everyone we live by what we say in it.

I am gay and married. On the 24th of October, 2008 my partner and I decided to get married here in California. We are still together until this day. We are just like any straight couple. We pay bills, work, and pay taxes just like a straight couple. The only difference is we are gay. We decided to get married because we wanted a unity between us just like a heterosexual couple. We have the typical dreams of any married couple hoping to have kids one day and a family. We should not be judged just because we are gay and married. Being gay and married is not as easy as being straight and married. When we file taxes it is a lot harder because we have to show that we are married and have to have supporting documentation. When applying for student financial aide it is hard because the state recognizes same sex marriage but federal organizations do not. So it is not as easy but it is worth the fight because I can truly say my husband and I are one of the 18,000 couple that were first to get married in California. I really hope that one day the government will pass Proposition 8, so that many other gay couples like my husband and I, have the chance to marry the person they love just like we did. I feel that gay marriage is not a bad thing like many people say it is and whether homosexuals are able to marry or not homosexuals will always be around.

The fact of the matter is that everyone has the right to be themselves whether if they are gay, straight, bisexual or transgender. Everyone is equal. Just because someone has a different sexuality does not mean its right to judge or treat them differently. You never see a homosexual go up to a straight couple and tell the that it is not right for them to be straight or telling them how to live their life. Everyone is equal and should all have equal choices in life to make. A homosexual couple may have the same desires to have a family and have a couple of kids and have a family with a dog and they should not be stripped of their right to do so. For a bunch of straight people to say nope they should not be able to have dreams of family is not right. The government has a duty to uphold our Constitutional right and take control of this situation and protect the homosexuals rights to freedom of choice and as our Declaration of Independence states, “all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness – That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men.” (Declaration of Independence). Who is to say that two people who love each other can not bind their love with marriage? As long as you love someone and you would do anything for that person you should be able to get married and have a family with kids and have dreams. Your goals in life should not be limited by ones views or beliefs. We are all entitled to our own beliefs and some may not respect the choice of someone being homosexual but it should be respected that it is their choice to be a homosexual and that they deserve to be treated equally just as anyone else is the United States of America regardless of the sexual orientation. One should be able to marry the one of choice as long as they are committed to that person and wish to follow their dreams and life long desires.

Work Cited

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_California#cite_note-0

http://www.ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_8_%282008%29

http://www.angelfire.com/ny/adonai/marriage.html

http://www.familyresearchinst.org/2010/09/homosexual-parents-a-comparative-forensic-study-of-character-and-harms-to-children-2/ (Paul Cameron)

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_ratio_of_gay_to_straight

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101023101404AAzgtoW