Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Civil Unions and Same Sex Marriage

Good Essays
939 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Civil Unions and Same Sex Marriage
Jeanette A. Roberts
SOC-220 Social Problems
June 16th, 2013
Dr. Claerbaut

Civil Unions and Same-Sex Marriages

Questions about morality, family relationships, freedom of expression, and sexuality are at stake in the gay marriage debate. The main argument of the issue of same sex marriage is how much we should allow the government to control in issues like marriage in our private lives.
“At Issue: Gay Marriage”, which is a book written by Debra Miller in 2012, includes a broad spectrum of views on the subject.
One of the biggest issues in the gay marriage debate is the meaning of the separation of church and state in the United States. Some organizations and churches argue that state support of same-sex marriage is a breach of their religious freedoms which are protected by the US Constitution and if they are forced by laws enacted to include same sex marriages that they are being forced to accept acts that are against their religious beliefs. In a statement made concerning same sex marriage; some religious organizations and churches claimed that homosexual acts go against their religious beliefs and the natural moral law and that they should not be forced to perform marriages that go against their beliefs. Religious organizations say that to legalize homosexual marriage is religious persecution in their eyes. People that approve of gay marriage make the point that marriage is a legal right and a religious right as well because church and the state are separate. Activists argue that homosexual couples have a right to a marriage the same as heterosexual couples do. Another point that is called on is that people do not have to marry in a church but can do so in a court house as well and that no church or religious organization is bound to marry any couple. They are basically saying that churches are not forced to do anything against their belief system.
One side will argue against federal laws that encompass and over rule state laws. Others will argue that each state should be able to make and enforce laws that concern each state as they see fit within their state governmental departments, like those concerning marriage laws. President Bush believed and stated that “the voice of the people is being compromised by the actions of a few judges in isolated cases”, (President George Bush, 2003). Former President Bush believes that laws like these could threaten every state in the union because of the “full faith and credit” clause in Article IV of the Constitution, (The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 2, 2013), which requires all states to honor the laws of every other state. President Bush said in an interview that the full faith and credit clause would require all states same-sex marriages performed anywhere in America. (Bush, 2003)
Civil Unions include heterosexual and same sex unions according to The Department of Internal Affairs, (The Department of Internal Affairs, 2004). Civil Unions differ from marriage because they are entered into by two people who chose to live together as man and wife and present themselves to the public and in private this way without an official marriage or marriage license. They consider themselves married but the government, whether state, local, or federal do not. At one time heterosexual civil unions were accepted and now are no longer recognized in most states. What this means is that people with a marriage license issued by the state are guaranteed certain rights, responsibilities, and privileges that people in civil unions are not given. These rights extend to the work place where insurance is guaranteed to a spouse of heterosexuals that are married but not to civil unions between same or opposite sex couples working in the same place.
If same sex marriage and civil unions are both accepted and laws are enacted to approve of them then I believe this opens the doors to many other types of behaviors in the future that will do more harm than good to our society. These behaviors would include the right of an older person to marry a child for instance or to marry an animal or inanimate object even. We must ask ourselves one question and that is where we are willing to draw the line in our inclusions and amendments to the laws that were written to protect us in the beginning. The more we accept the more we are willing to accept as a society.

References:

1. Stone, R. (2011). GENDER EQUITY IN MARRIAGE AND CIVIL UNIONS. American Journal of Public Health, 101(2), 201. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/847329325?accountid=7374 2. Ross, H., Gask, K., & Barrington, A. (2011). Civil partnerships five years on. Population Trends, (145), 172-98. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1039643404?accountid=7374 3. The Difference Between Marriage and Civil Unions: “What 's the Difference between Civil Unions and Gay Marriage?” Kathy Belge, 2013. Retrieved from http://lesbianlife.about.com/cs/wedding/a/unionvmarriage.htm 4. New York Times, “Same Sex Marriage, Civil Unions, and Domestic Partnerships”, Sunday, June 16, 2013, Retrieved from http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/s/same_sex_marriage/index.html
Note: (I used several of the articles from The New York Times Chronology) 5. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 2, Retrieved from http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html, on June 16, 2013. 6. At Issue Series, Gay Marriage", by Debra Miller, May 2012 7. The Department of Internal Affairs, 2011. Retrieved from http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Births-Deaths-and-Marriages-Civil-Union, on June 16, 2013.

References: 1. Stone, R. (2011). GENDER EQUITY IN MARRIAGE AND CIVIL UNIONS. American Journal of Public Health, 101(2), 201. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/847329325?accountid=7374 2. Ross, H., Gask, K., & Barrington, A. (2011). Civil partnerships five years on. Population Trends, (145), 172-98. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1039643404?accountid=7374 3. The Difference Between Marriage and Civil Unions: “What 's the Difference between Civil Unions and Gay Marriage?” Kathy Belge, 2013. Retrieved from http://lesbianlife.about.com/cs/wedding/a/unionvmarriage.htm 4. New York Times, “Same Sex Marriage, Civil Unions, and Domestic Partnerships”, Sunday, June 16, 2013, Retrieved from http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/s/same_sex_marriage/index.html Note: (I used several of the articles from The New York Times Chronology) 5. The United States Constitution, Article III, Section 2, Retrieved from http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html, on June 16, 2013. 6. At Issue Series, Gay Marriage", by Debra Miller, May 2012 7. The Department of Internal Affairs, 2011. Retrieved from http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Births-Deaths-and-Marriages-Civil-Union, on June 16, 2013.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    “Gay Marriage: A Milestone”, is an article published by the New York Times on June 26, 2011. The author of this article is not stated. This article covers the law that was passed in New York to allow the marriage of two same-sex individuals. Though this is a significant stepping stone, the federal government still does not recognize same-sex marriage; and all other states that have not passed this law, have the right to refuse the recognition of another state’s unions. The author of this article displays some strength but more weaknesses in the writing of this article on gay marriage.…

    • 375 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Best Essays

    Coun 501

    • 4924 Words
    • 20 Pages

    Jost, K. (2003, September 5). Gay marriage. CQ Researcher, 13, 721-748. Retrieved June 22, 2010, from CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher…

    • 4924 Words
    • 20 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    WGU GLT1

    • 878 Words
    • 3 Pages

    There is growing attention to the issue of marriage equality for gay people in this country. As of the writing of this paper, 16 of the 50 states in the United States of America have legalized gay marriage, either by legislation or by popular vote (Wisniewski, 2013). The discourse regarding the issue becomes quite contentious largely because of non-secular ideology that has demonized the concept of homosexuality for many years. As a sociological issue, the conflict has become a divisive force for many, from political powers as far down to the family level. The constitution guarantees equal rights for all in this country; freedom of religion, speech, etc. yet appears to stall when equal rights for the gay community are involved. There has been significantly more popular support for the cause recently, but the stigma and prejudice continue to linger. Is this a moral debate or has an outdated ideology become so embraced by many that the battle has only just begun?…

    • 878 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    1. Stoddard, Thomas B. “Gay Marriages: Make Them Legal”. Current Issues and Enduring Questions. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin 's, 2007. Pages (737 & 738). Eight Edition…

    • 817 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    One of the most controversial topics of today’s matter is whether gay marriage should be legalized or not. There are numerous reactions when this subject comes to discussion and can sometimes lead to a heated debate. Some individuals believe that homosexuality is unethical while people who agree with gay marriage believe to put in consideration that the sexual preference of another human being is necessary. With every conflict comes pros and cons and this topic is like pulling a tight-rope if ever brought up in a debate because you never know who will pull the rope tighter. Gay marriage has a vast influence on the society today, relevant to it becoming legalized, it is bound to impact future generations, and will affect the establishment of marriage later in life.…

    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Doma Debate

    • 2390 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Smith, A. M. (2012, May 9). Same-Sex Marriages: Legal Issues. Retrieved from Congressional Research Service: www.crs.gov…

    • 2390 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gay marriage seems to be one of the biggest topics today. There are people who agree and disagree about gay marriage because of religious factors. Religious groups, for example, Christians are divided by this issue. “Some Christians argue that it is immortal and disgracing God’s only wish which is to make children. Others argue that same sex couples are created by God, and should be able to have the same rights as any other regular couple” (Debate).There are some religions that just open reject the idea of gay marriage. “An example would be the Islamic faith, because the story of Lot in Sodom condemns homosexuality” (Debate). Same sex marriages are a problem today because people have different views based on their religion, and the fact that back then it was unheard of to even be thought as…

    • 689 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Cited: Alvear, Mike. “Gay Marriage Strengthens The Institution of Marriage.” Introducing Issues with Opposing Viewpoints: Gay Marriage. Ed. Lauri S. Friedman. Los Angeles: Greenhaven Press, 2009. 56-62. Print.…

    • 968 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    A prominent issue of today is the question of whether or not to grant the right of marriage to same sex couples. Although same sex marriage has been legalized in many parts of the country, the majority is still on the fence about the issue. There are questions of if would harm the traditional institution of marriage, if it’s religiously righteous, whether it’s constitutional to ban gay marriage, as well as what it would do to the economy. The pros and cons of legalizing gay marriage are almost equal, leaving the issue unresolved.…

    • 887 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Cited: Eskridge, William W Jr. and Darren R Spedale. Gay Marriage: For Better or For Worse. New…

    • 1276 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    The debate of gay marriage is very complex, due to the many different feelings people express on the topic. One opinion is that gay marriage should be legalized nationally. Others feel that gay marriage should not be legalized but civil unions should be granted to homosexuals so they have an alternative that allows gays and lesbians to receive something that compares to the same rights as marriage. On the other hand there is a large group that believes neither gay marriage nor civil unions should be offered to gay and lesbian couples and that any legal union should be available to heterosexual couples only. The different opinions that are expressed by society’s attitudes towards gay marriage continue to cause great controversy throughout the country, and should come to a halt by allowing homosexuals to wed.…

    • 1165 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    “a contract based upon a voluntary private agreement by a man and a woman to become husband and wife” . This limits marriage to a man and a woman. (Marriage par.2) To protect this legal definition of marriage, the government has passed an act that allows states to basically nullify gay married couples. It is stated in the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that no states are required to respect gay married couples. This act means that there is a difference in a legal sense between the states that have legalized gay marriage and those that have not. So, once a gay married couple enters the boundaries of a state that has not legalized gay marriage, their union can be ignored and they may not receive the same rights that a heterosexual couple…

    • 962 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gay marriage has been the cause of intense debate in the United States for years. Sexual activity within the same gender was something that was considered normal in Greek and Roman times but in today’s society, there is a great amount of controversy concerning sexual activity between homosexuals and same-sex marriage. A couple of reasons why gay marriage has become so controversial is because of religion, the issue of procreation, and the concern for children who are raised in same sex house-holds. Although there are a great deal of people who find gay marriage to be considered a negative idea, there is also a significant amount of people who are for gay marriage and would like gay marriage to be legal in the United States. According to The Associated Press 3/27/13, a “Pew Research Center poll” that took place in March shows that the number of people in America who approve gay marriage are up to forty-nine percent and there is forty-four percent of people who do not approve (par.6). These percentages show that both sides of opinion come close in number and when there is a great amount of differences in opinion on one given subject, conflict will certainly arise.…

    • 1599 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Goodwin, P., & Mosher, C. A. (2010). Marriage and cohabitation in the United States: A statistical portrait based on Cycle 6 (2002) of the National Survey of Family Growth. Washington: National Center for Health Statistics.…

    • 972 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Gay Marriage in America

    • 1844 Words
    • 8 Pages

    In the United States, marriage has always played a crucial role in the lives of its citizens. Known to some as a lifetime commitment of devotion, to others a promise to reside with a stranger, or even a matter arranged by parents, marriage is widely practiced and celebrated all over the world. Marriage can be said to be the ultimate act of love, supported with benefits and privileges from the government. The right to marry and love whoever you want has been an corner stone in culture for centuries. It has naturally left such an impact on the development of our country that it has been integrated into the parameters of the law. However, out-dated traditions dictate that marriage must be between a man and a woman, a notion that has sparked much debate in a society where the battle for equal opportunity and freedom of expression run rampant. The institution of marriage is only as strong as those who are in it, and it is weakened, by definition, when it arbitrarily excludes any class of couples. Moreover, to outlaw same-sex marriage is to deny equal-individual’s rights and freedoms under the first amendment, and a clear discrimination against one of our founding principles that is held dear by many.…

    • 1844 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays