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Equal Rights for the Gay Community

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Equal Rights for the Gay Community
Jones International University

Equal Rights for the Gay Community

Dr. Craig Jonas
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
HUM201
Peace and Conflict Studies

By
Samantha Meche

Kinder, La
2/24/2012
Abstract

In this country there is a flawed assumption that gay people enjoy the same civil right protections as everyone else and there are a lot of stereotypes about gay relationships. Living as a gay individual in this country can be extremely overwhelming and scary. When it comes to marriage between gay couples, controversy is bound to turn up. There are numerous arguments as to why gay marriage is not “right” such as; it offends everything religion stands for, marriage is for procreation, and gay marriage would legitimize homosexuality. These absurd “reasoning’s” are the stepping stones for the conflict over this issue. In the next few pages I will share how I believe that a lot more open minded individuals could help make this issue non-existent.

Equality for the Gay Community

Legal recognition of same-sex marriage continues to be one of the most socially and legally controversial issues of the day. The legality of same-sex marriage varies greatly by jurisdiction both in the United States and around the world. (Sulewski, 2009) The first recorded same sex marriage was between two men, Pedro Diaz’ and Muño Vandilaz, on April 16th, 1061 in Spain. In 2001, the Netherlands became the first nation in the world to grant same-sex marriages. Proponents argue that same-sex couples should have access to the same marriage benefits and public acknowledgment enjoyed by heterosexual couples and that prohibiting gay marriage is unconstitutional discrimination. Opponents argue that altering the traditional definition of marriage as between a man and a woman will further weaken a threatened institution and that legalizing gay marriage is a slippery slope that may lead to polygamous and interspecies marriages. (ProCon.Org,


Cited: Gilfoyle, N. F., & Sheehan, W. F. (2011). BRIEF OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, HAEBERLE, E. J. (1981). The Destruction of Sexology and the Persecution of Homosexuals in Nazi Germany ILGA. (2011, 7 11). Poll: Support for gay marriage continues to rise. Retrieved from ILGA North America: http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/nfx57iF19t
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