jennifer t

Love has no gender
Everybody should have the right to a legally recognized union with a partner of their choice. The debate over whether or not people in same sex relationship should be allowed to marry, or even enter into civil unions is no new fight. Legalizing gay marriage has brought a new trend which then providing the arguments on supporting gay marriage such as denying them is a violation of religious freedom and minority discrimination encourages people to have strong family values and constitute a good based family as well as giving up high-risk sexual lifestyles. Homosexuality is an accepted lifestyle nowadays with most evidence proving biological causation, and marriage benefits should be available to all couples.
Denying them is a violation of religious freedom (civil and religious marriages are two separate institutions). The main reason for denying marriage to gay couples is that all major religions consider homosexuality a sin. Virtually every religion in the world, including the major ones in this country, considers homosexuality unacceptable. It is offensive and a swipe to the religious freedom of the majority to have to recognize a relationship they consider sinful. The legal system in the United States evolved out of the laws contained in the Bible. However, the First Amendment of the Constitution clearly states that a person’s religious views or lack thereof must be protected. Marriage by the state is a secular activity; the government cannot start making laws just because a religion says they should.
It encourages people to have strong family values and give up high-risk sexual lifestyles. A same sex couple can really constitute a good based family, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics that has recognized that gay households can be just as loving and supportive an environment for raising children as the straight kind. Research shows that many children succeed and thrive in a home with both parents whether same sex or not. Human sexual choice is both unchangeable and cannot be chosen and sexual orientation does not respond to social influences designed to lead it in a different direction. Denying marriage to a homosexual couple is no different than denying marriage to Hispanic or black couples. A marriage is a relationship between two people. The problems related to sexuality in our society such as STD's stem from carefree, frivolous lifestyles; in other words, having frequent, unprotected sex with many partners. Marriage encourages people to settle down and to give up that type of lifestyle. Married people commit themselves to one partner and work to build a life together. Isn't that the type of behavior we want to encourage?
Homosexuality is an accepted lifestyle nowadays with most evidence strongly supporting biological causation. For too long homosexuality has been considered a form of "deviant sexual behavior". Those making these accusations should examine the history books and the psychological research. Throughout our history going all the way back to ancient Greece, homosexual relationships has existed. The term "lesbian" comes from a Greek island called "Lesbos" where many such couples lived. An overwhelming amount of research has been done showing that homosexuality has a biological causation; not a genetic one, but a biological one.

The easiest way to think of it is as a hormonal switch that gets thrown one way or the other. And if you think about it, it makes logical sense. Consider many gays and lesbians you've seen. Not always, but most times, some secondary sexual characteristics resemble the opposite sex. In other words, homosexual males often have softer voices. Lesbians may have strong cheekbones and a more masculine body shape. It's all affected by those hormone switches. And why would someone choose to be gay.
Marriage benefits should be available to all couples. Marriage benefits (such as joint ownership, medical decision-making capacity) should be available to all couples. Marriage is more than a legal status. It affects many things in society such as tax filing status, joint ownership of property, insurance benefits, and agency law. It affects critical medical decisions. For example, if one member of a gay couple that has been together for 20 years gets critically ill, visitation may not even be allowed since the other isn't considered a "spouse or immediate family member". Also, critical medical decisions must often be made when one person is incapacitated; e.g. should a certain surgery be done or not? It is completely unfair to deny these privileges to people because their relationship doesn't fit the state's definition of one.
Overall the only thing that should matter in marriage is love. Why everyone else can get married, but not gays; we should not limit the freedoms of others who do not agree with us. We shouldn’t come between two people in love, just as mix race/colors are getting marry so should genders. We do not choose our sexuality and who our heart fall in love with. Also by legalizing gay marriage there is a lot of benefits both way.