Same-sex marriage is something that many people have a strong opinion about.
From the essay “What’s Wrong with Gay Marriage?” by Katha Pollitt, she states, “Gay marriage-it’s not about sex, its about the separation of church and state.” (572) In the very beginning of this essay though, Pollitt asks, “Will someone please explain to me how permitting gays and lesbians to marry threatens the institution of marriage?” (570) This concludes that Katha Pollitt obviously has the mind-set that same-sex marriage is acceptable and should be allowed, she does not see a problem with it. Reading this essay, there are points that are important to understand. One being, that there are more often than not, people that are only getting married because there is a baby on the way or they have already had a child. (Pollitt 571) This being said, getting married is simply too easy for its own good. “An eighty year old can marry an eighteen year old; a john can marry a prostitute; two terminally ill patients can marry each other from their hospital beds.” (Pollitt 572) This essay also states that the marriage of a man and women is
“sacred”, and opening it to same-sex violates its sacral nature. (Pollitt 572) This point right here is unacceptable in the eyes of many. One might even go into protest over such a statement. Marriage is wholly owned by the state, not wholly owned by religion. It is
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Katz simply a separation of the church and the state. (Pollitt 572) Clearly Pollitt has a little something to say about same-sex marriage, stated in her very first sentence, “Will someone please explain to me how permitting gays and lesbians to marry threatens the institution of marriage?” (570)
“Gay “Marriage”: Societal Suicide” by Charles Colson believes that marriage is not a private institution designed solely for the individual gratification of its participants.
(578) The outlook on this essay is a little bit different than that of “What’s Wrong
Cited: Pollitt, Katha. "What 's Wrong With Gay Marriage." Bedford Reader. 11th ed. Boston/ New York: Bedford/St. Martin 's, 2012. 1-728. Print. Colson, Charles. "Gay “Marriage”: Societal Suicide." (n.d.): n. pag. Rpt. in The Bedford Reader. 11th ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St. Martin 's, 2012. 1-726. Print. 6