Position Paper-Gay Marriage Essay Example

under federal law. Clinton signed it almost sneakily because he had won considerable lesbian/gay support in 1992 and hoped to do so again in 1996, but he feared the political cost of not opposing same-sex marriages.The government—they hold such a vital role in this controversial issue.

The Constitution says that “full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts and records and judicial proceedings of every other state (Bush, 2004). ” Those who want to change the meaning of marriage will claim that this provision requires all states and cities to recognize same-sex marriages performed anywhere in America. Congress attempted to address this problem in the Defense of Marriage Act which I mentioned above although; through civil rights it was not made clear that the administration would vigorously defend this act of Congress.Furthermore, the State says that everyone is equal and has the same rights as everyone else.

Most states do not allow same-sex marriages to have the same legal recognition as mixed gender marriages and as a result, homosexuals feel that they are being belittled because of the unfairness that is placed on their future. Often times people forget about the civil rights that are given to each individual. Being married as a gay couple and obtaining the same rights as a couple consisting of a man and women may be what fulfills a gay persons pursuit of happiness.Specifically, this has been made possible in few places around the world. In the state of Massachusetts, same-sex marriage became legal on May 17, 2004 because the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled in Goodridge v.

Department of Public Health that

it was unconstitutional to allow only heterosexual couples to marry. It is the first and only U. S. state to make same-sex marriages legal.

In addition to Massachusetts, same-sex marriage was made legal in Australia, Canada, and some places in Europe.On the opposing side of allowing same-sex marriage, you have the religious community who share two aspect of the issue. Some believe that equal rights for same-sex marriages should not be permitted while other religions do. Catholic and certain Christian religions are against this act because it specifically sates in the Bible that marriage should be between a man and a woman. They believe that the first relationship was between Adam and Eve (man and woman).

Not everyone has the same religious beliefs, which means there are going to be contrasting definitions of what the connotation of marriage actually is.Everyone has the freedom to follow, if any, the religion of their choice, yet it doesn’t give them the authority to deny the union and love of people who are of the same-sex. Several Jewish organizations have endorsed same-sex marriage, including the largest Jewish denomination in the country, the Union for Reform Judaism, and the Northeast region of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the association of Reform rabbis that voted unanimously to support same-sex marriage.But same-sex marriage is opposed by leaders of Orthodox Judaism, a denomination that makes up a small minority of Greater Boston's 250,000-member Jewish community. The board of trustees of the Jewish Community Relations Council, made up of Jewish religious and social service organizations and prominent Jewish individuals, voted 51-5 in favor of the resolution endorsing same-sex marriage. As stated in the

Bible, homosexual activity is a sin and God makes it clear that one “should not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable (Leviticus 18:22).

God does not create a person with homosexual desires. A person becomes a homosexual because of sin (Romans 1:24-27), and ultimately because of his or her own choice. A person may be born with a greater susceptibility to homosexuality, just as people are born with a tendency to violence and other sins. That does not excuse the person choosing to sin by giving into their sinful desires. If a person is born with a greater susceptibility to anger / rage, does that make it right for them to give into those desires?The same is true for homosexuality. During the past few decades, U.

S courts have been slowly expanding the definition of family. There is a growing recognition of homosexuals as parents, because “courts are increasingly granting visitation and custody rights not only to the gay or lesbian natural parent but also to step-parents in same-sex relationships (Merin,177). ” The latest and most controversial development in the U. S in the field of same-sex partnerships is the fight of same-sex couples to enter the institution of marriage.

Researching further, I found that in recent years, “few courts have come close to according gays the right to civil marriage; this in turn has led to a backlash against gay rights (Merin, 181). ” Today’s society has made being gay a very big issue. They are not allowed to be married, making it impossible for same sex couples to get any coverage or any legal documentation completed. I

feel as though if two people love each other and are willing to be with one and other forever then why shouldn’t they be able to get married.Gay couples are human to; they have feelings and show emotion just like everyone else. There is no reason gay couples should be treated differently.

That just means that our country is not following their civil rights laws that are supposed to be followed or even considering this as inhumane. The deliberative communities who are against gay marriages believe that marriage is an act that occurs only between a man and a woman. In addition, they oppose gay marriages because they assume that when children are involved, it isn’t a “healthy” environment for them.This supports the claim that children need to be brought up in a home with both a father and a mother.

Lastly, it is considered a “sin” to engage in relations with persons of the same sex. On the other hand, the deliberative community that supports gay marriage stands their ground on the simple fact that no one should be able to determine who you fall in love with. Also, equality isn’t fulfilled when their rights of being married are denied. There is no proof that a home is unstable due to the fact that two people of the same-sex are raising a child.

Lastly, many couples want to receive their tax break just as those who are legally married. In summation, being in love is something not everyone has the privilege of finding. So, why should a “heterosexual” love be any different than a “homosexual” love? The two groups have found what its like to

love someone and the right to pursue them legally should be granted to them. As a heterosexual it is hard for me to relate to the lifestyle of homosexuals but society should continue to work on allocating for any two people, including same-sex couples, to experience the lifetime commitment of marriage.