Same-Sex Marriage

Judith Huggins
Period 2
AP English Language
9 September 2014Same-Sex Marriage
Gay marriage or same-sex marriage has been a controversial topic for approximately the last ten years. While legalized in some states, it is not legalized in all. Out of fifty states in the United States of America, gay marriage is only legalized in nineteen of those states; meaning there are still thirty-one states where same-sex marriage is illegal. For this reason gay marriage should be legalized in all states because as humans we have the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”, which entitles us to love, and the freedom to marry whomever we want.
We all have right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”, as stated in the Declaration of Independence. The key aspect of that is the pursuit of happiness. This means that we the people can do whatever we feel makes us happy as long as it does not negatively affect somebody else’s life and is legal. Being able to marry the one we love is included in that pursuit, so if a heterosexual couple can get married legally and thus pursue happiness, then why can a homosexual couple not do the same? Homosexuals, like every other individual, have all the same rights except for marriage. Their sexuality should not take away their pursuit of happiness. Although homosexuality is against some people’s beliefs and religions, it is not affecting their personal lives. All people have different beliefs, so to tell someone else that they cannot get married because of a personal belief is wrong. In addition, separation of church and state is a part of the Constitution, so why are other people’s beliefs still affecting the law making?
As individuals who live in the United States of America, we are all equal and free, are we not? American citizens have freedom to do as we please legally unlike other countries. We can earn our money, practice our own personal beliefs and religions, and do what we want. Homosexuals however, are almost discriminated against when the law says that they cannot marry the man or woman they love. We are free, so why do we discriminate against other individuals because of their sexuality? Does that make them us any more free than them? They are the same as us and should have the exact same rights we do, which includes marriage.
We are currently living in the twenty-first century, times are changing, laws are changing, styles are changing, and people are changing. As times change people should learn to accept some changes, especially changes that do not harm anyone, such as same-sex marriage laws. If the reader takes a look back into history, African Americans were not accepted into society and were separated in schools, stores, etc. Then, after the civil rights movement there was still racism but they were better accepted into society. When this happened, interracial couples starting existing in the public community. People back then did not believe in it and were extremely against it; like people today are against gay marriage, but it was soon accepted. Times are changing and the other thirty-one states need to legalize gay marriage and accept this change. If interracial couples and heterosexual couples can legally marry, then homosexual couples should too because we are all the same.
Same-sex marriage has been a big controversial topic that is still being discussed. Same-sex marriage needs to be legalized in all fifty states because the Declaration of Independence gives us right, being American citizens gives us freedom, and homosexual couples are the same as interracial couples or heterosexual couples, and we are all equal.