Gay Marriage

Kendall Marquez, COM 268-01, Informal Speech
1. Header
A. My topic is about Gay Marriage in Connecticut. It has been an ongoing process trying to pass the same-sex marriage law, and Connecticut is one of the first 3 states to pass the law.
B. To inform the audience regarding Gay Marriage in Connecticut.
C. I am going to speak about how Gay Marriage became legal in Connecticut, what certain groups believe about Gay Marriage, how people in this world can have their own beliefs and make certain decisions about themselves, and what our own President believes in this issue.
D. Topical Pattern
E. During the surveys, I found out that most of the audience has some type of relation to someone who is of Gay/Lesbian or Bisexual. This is helpful to my speech because this means the audience has some knowledge of what is going on within the Gay community.

Kendall Marquez Informative Speech Outline
1. Introduction
2. Body
A. Legalization in Connecticut I. Candidates for Same-Sex Marriages II. Candidates against Same-Sex Marriages
B. Marriage is a basic civil right and people have their own beliefs I. Marriage is legal and it is of the most basic laws in America II. People can make their own choices III. People can have their own beliefs and now they have a choice to do what they’ve always wanted.
C. Certain Religions are believed to be against same-sex marriage. I. Ancient Definition II. Religious groups and conservative groups
D. President Obama addresses the issue I. ABC News II. His stand on Gay Marriage, not only in CT, but across America.
3. Conclusion A. “President Obama is one of many Presidents that the general public can connect with on a personal level and some people, like myself, could refer to Obama as someone like a friend. This gives the President a comfort level with certain people and Gays are most definitely among that group of people.” B. Restate the evidence of the Legalization of Gay Marriage, Marriage being a civil right, people having their own beliefs, and the fact that our own President supports this issue. C. “Now that you have heard me speak to you about this and are more aware of the situation at hand, where will you stand?”

When I say “marriage,” what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it the cake? The bride? The ring? Does main Government Issue cross your mind? I bet it didn’t at all. It doesn’t seem like that would be a main issue since marriage is legal in America everywhere you go. But once “same-sex” or “Gay”, is in front of the word, a heated debate begins to arise, and a fight for equality around the states being to erupt. Gay Marriage is right up there with War, Health Care, and Immigration. The United States have been in discussion about Gay Marriage for years now, and the moment you think the issue is resolved and fixed, a Politician brings it back into play. Gay Marriage is an issue that continues to progress because a President finally admits that they support it, Connecticut is one of the first three states to approve it, and other states continue to appeal the decision. Marriage is a basic civil right, and whatever you believe is what you believe. Gay Marriage laws will affect people of heterosexual marriages also. Being Gay is a choice and something you decide. In certain Religions, being Gay is an abomination and would never stand up in a court of law. This presentation will be useful because it will give the audience a good understanding of what is going on and why this is all happening. This speech will be well educated, but also very understanding.
Now in 2004, the Connecticut case took place when eight same-sex couples were denied marriage licenses by the town of Madison. They sued, saying their constitutional rights to equal protection and due process were violated. Connecticut legalized marriages of same-sex couples on November 12th, 2008. Connecticut was the third state to do so after California and Massachusetts. The ruling of four to three, came in just weeks before Californians go to the polls on a historic gay-marriage ballot question. The first time the issue will be put before voters in a state where same-sex couples are legally wed. This is the first time that a state that had willingly offered an alternative to marriage was told by a court that civil unions aren’t enough to protect the rights of gay couples. Connecticut was the first state to voluntarily pass laws to affirm civil unions. In the majority opinion, Justice Richard N. Palmer wrote that denying marriage to same-sex couples would create separate standards. “Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise qualified same sex partner of their choice.” The Family Institute of Connecticut, a political action group that opposes gay marriage, called the ruling outrageous. “Even the legislature, as liberal as ours, decided that marriage is between man and a woman,” said executive director Peter Wolfgang. “This is about our right to govern ourselves. It is bigger than gay marriage.” These people who I have quoted are highly respected within the Government in Connecticut. In some certain place, they know someone close to them who has had to deal with situations within this debate.
This topic has been very controversial, and it has taken a toll on the people who are the ones being criticized, possibly someone within a political action group. And those are the Gays, Lesbians and Bisexual. These group of people have been treated unequally throughout the years. Fighting to become married with their loved ones, and never succeeding in the past years made each and every one of them who they are today. Having the decision to become gay or lesbian is all about your preference and choice. Being with that someone of the same-sex, in a conscious state of mind, and having the label as being married means more than a Government Law. It means believing in what you believe in as a person and doing what some say was impossible to do. Marriage is a process that seems difficult, but as a heterosexual couple trying to get married, it is pretty simple. So why is it that when “Gay” is put in front of marriage it becomes a heated debate and can never be resolved?
Certain religious groups feel that same-sex marriage should not be allowed in Connecticut, and protestors believe the same thing. They believe this debate should not be resolved and if it is it should be illegal in not just Connecticut, but in the entire United States. Justice Peter T. Zarella wrote that he believes there is no fundamental right to same-sex marriage, and the courts majority failed to discuss the purpose of marriage laws, which he said is to “privilege and regulate procreative conduct.” Zarella also added, “The ancient definition of marriage is that as a union of one man and one woman has its basis in biology, not bigotry. If the state no longer has an interest on the regulation of procreation, then that is the decision for the legislature or the people of the state and not this court.” Some groups even take it a step further to say, Gay Marriage caused the mass shootings in Connecticut. James Dobson, who in 2010 retired from a Christian conservative group he founded in 1977 called “Focus on the Family,” told listeners of his “Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk Show” that the massacre at Sandy Hook was a result of Americans turning their back on God. Now to President Obama, as he went to Sandy Hook and showed his appreciation towards that situation, our own President believes Gays should have the right to be able to be married to each other.
President Obama became the first sitting president to announce his support for same-sex marriage. At first, Obama was sensitive to the fact that to a lot of the people, the word marriage, was something that evokes very powerful decisions, religious beliefs, and so forth. But over the course of time as he talked to friends and family, when he thinks about members of his own staff who are in committed same-sex relationships, who are even raising kids together, at a certain point he concluded that for him personally, it is important to him to go ahead and affirm that he believes same-sex couples, should be able to get married. Before same-sex marriage laws were passed in Connecticut, some laws made it unfair towards people who are in same-sex relationships. For example, when person one goes to the hospital because he is sick, only someone who is married, or is family is allowed to visit, and find out certain information about the patient. So if person number two is in a same-sex relationship with person one, they did not have the ability to visit person one. Strictly because they were not married, because they couldn’t. And Obama believed certain aspects, such as that one, weren’t equal to gay and lesbian relationships.
These gay and lesbian relationships are happening all over the world and the community will continue to rise. The US Government is one of the only decision makers when it comes to such high priority cases like these. Legalization will either continue to grow, or it will stop. People’s beliefs are their own, and once a person believes they can do something it is hard to stop them. Especially in a situation like this. Religious groups and protestors will do their best to prevent from Gay Marriages from happening. While President Obama continues to endorse his opinion and support to same-sex marriages. Now that you have heard me speak to you about this and are more aware of the situation at hand, where will you stand?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/10/connecticut-gay-marriage_n_133605.html http://www.gaymarriage.procon.org On Top Magazine, Published December 17, 2012 “James Dobson Blames Gay Marriage for Connecticut Shooting”
ABC News; May 9th 2012 “President Obama- Gay Marriage: Gay Couples ‘Should Be Able To Get Married’