Gay Marriage
The issue of gay marriage has been a long-standing issue that has plagued our society worldwide. With the same fire as ethnic equality issues brought during the civil rights movement, gay marriage has brought similar attitudes our of current generations. Opponents of gay marriage claim that it would destroy the foundation and meaning of traditional marriage and family and that it would lead to polygamy and a growth in sexually transmitted disease. I believe that gay marriage is a right that should be afforded to all individuals, as it would help the local and state governments, change traditional family values for the better, and for the mere fact that it is a right protected and often overlooked by the constitution.
Concerning local, state and federal government it is argued that those opposed to gay marriage should not have to spend their tax dollars supporting them in the form of employment benefits consisting of tax ride offs, medical benefits, etc. According to the Congressional Budget Office (2009), “the cost to the federal government of extending employment benefits to same-sex domestic partners of certain federal employees would be $596 million in mandatory spending and $302 million in discretionary spending between 2010 and 2019.” Those for gay marriage believe otherwise stating that a large amount of income in the form of taxes would benefit local and state economies in the form of marriage licenses and high income taxes. It was found in New York, one of the countries biggest metropolitan areas with one of the highest gay populations, that legalizing gay marriage “would bring $142 million to the city’s economy and $184 million to the state’s economy over three years.” According to the American Journal of Public Health, after the banning of gay marriage in many states “gay, lesbian and bisexual people suffered a 37% increase in mood disorders, a 42% increase in alcohol-use disorders, and a 248% increase in generalized anxiety disorders” ("Pro & Con
Concerning local, state and federal government it is argued that those opposed to gay marriage should not have to spend their tax dollars supporting them in the form of employment benefits consisting of tax ride offs, medical benefits, etc. According to the Congressional Budget Office (2009), “the cost to the federal government of extending employment benefits to same-sex domestic partners of certain federal employees would be $596 million in mandatory spending and $302 million in discretionary spending between 2010 and 2019.” Those for gay marriage believe otherwise stating that a large amount of income in the form of taxes would benefit local and state economies in the form of marriage licenses and high income taxes. It was found in New York, one of the countries biggest metropolitan areas with one of the highest gay populations, that legalizing gay marriage “would bring $142 million to the city’s economy and $184 million to the state’s economy over three years.” According to the American Journal of Public Health, after the banning of gay marriage in many states “gay, lesbian and bisexual people suffered a 37% increase in mood disorders, a 42% increase in alcohol-use disorders, and a 248% increase in generalized anxiety disorders” ("Pro & Con
References: Pro & Con Arguments: "Should Gay Marriage Be Legal?". (2013). Retrieved from http://gaymarriage.procon.org/