Gay Marriage Deviance

Society’s View Towards Gay Marriage In society today, gay and lesbian couples are looked at in a different light than what is ordinary. The standard couple in society is believed to be man and woman. In other cases, people fall in love or are attracted the same sex. This is seen as deviant behavior because of the fact that it is not the custom couple. “If two openly gay men walk down the street holding hands and show general signs of affection… they will likely receive remonstrative stares, be viciously derided, and avoided.” (Lowes). This is punishment in itself. Essentially all people want is to be accepted and to fit in. Gay and lesbians are consistently denied rights that are typically taken for granted by the average American. Even
(Adams, 9/24) This theory can describe or classify an individual. It shows how self-identity and behavior of individuals may be determined or influenced by society. Although, the flaw in this theory is that people who have been labeled deviant are not all the same. This process makes mistakes. For example people can be accused of something wrongfully that they did not do. Also, people actually committing deviant acts may not be labeled as deviant. Gay marriage is an act that is labeled deviant. This idea is created by society because what is intended is man and woman. Technically, this is so the cycle of life can continue reproducing. Realistically, love is involved, and some people are attracted to the same sex. “Labeling theory is based on the idea that behaviors are deviant only when society labels them as deviant. “(Crossman) Society sees two people of the same gender and views it as socially unacceptable. They are thought of or labeled as something other than what is ‘normal’. The process of labeling deviance is paying attention to the reaction of the people surrounding in society. Those people view being gay or lesbian as something unnatural and abnormal. Thus the reason it is thought to be deviant is due to society’s traditions. Hughes said being labeled as deviant becomes the single most important defining characteristic of a person. Being seen this way can cause major changes in one’s public identity.
People who are unsure of their choices in a partner can be influenced quickly and easily by their surroundings. Teenage years and young adult years are the time in one’s life they are most influenced by their social surroundings. “The number of LGB teens who "come out" to family and friends has grown dramatically in the past two decades. In 1991, the average coming-out age was 25. But as of 2010, he notes, it is 16 years old -- a dramatic shift. ” (Shilo) Society is influencing that number by making it more known that there are other gay and lesbian people in the world. Family, friends, and society have an effect and influence in the choices being made. People are becoming more comfortable, which results in them coming out sooner. The media also has a strong influence on this topic. Social media is so accessible that it is seen in celebrities almost every day. The decision to turn away from what is considered to be normal is greatly influenced by society in everyday