Same-Sex Marriage and Its Affect on Society

Same-Sex Marriage and Its Affect on Society

April 9, 2011

Same-Sex Marriage and Its Affect on Society
Gay marriage is a highly controversial topic that has caused violence, tears, confusion, debate, and unhappiness, and action towards the gay equality movement. The United States stresses how everyone is equal and everyone has the same rights, but if that were true, why are gays and lesbians not allowed to get married. In the recent years, the concept of same-sex marriage has become quite the controversial issue. Many lawsuits, law amendments, and debates of occurred because of this issue. It has not only caused pain to those who are affected by these laws, but it has caused hatred for both those who are affected and those who believe that same-sex marriage should not happen. There are many benefits to same-sex marriages. Same-sex marriage decreases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases amongst the gay community, increases adoptions, and is all about love; therefore same-sex marriages should be legalized.
Gays and lesbians have been fighting hard for equality for many years now. Before the fight for same-sex marriage came about, discrimination against homosexuals was the current war that is still in process. In its earlier years, being gay was unacceptable. People had to hide who they truly were in order to avoid being beaten or bullied. During and after the wild 1960s, a lot of people were sleeping with multiple partners and even groups. This led to gays and lesbians becoming more open about their sexuality because most of the country was being very promiscuous. The act of being you was often and still is referred to coming out of the closet. Coming out is a figure of speech that was developed once more and more homosexuals became open about being gay. With more people becoming more open about their sexuality, more problems and discrimination occurred. Till this day, gays and lesbians are discriminated against for the same reasons why people do not want same-sex marriage. The idea of same-sex marriage has been around for quite a few decades. “Gay rights advocates pursued same-sex civil marriage rights in America as early as 1971” (D’Angelo, 2009). Since the early 1970s, gays and lesbians have been fighting for the right to get married. That fight has only progressed over the past decade. Every year that passes, the fight for equal marriage rights only increases and in-turn becomes more violent and hurtful. Over the years, the legislature has become more involved. More laws regarding same-sex marriage have either passed or have been vetoed. As time goes by, the fight will only get worse until finally same-sex marriage is legalized.
Proposition 8 is a historic amendment that was proposed to re-phrase the law regarding marriage. At one point, all of the laws stated that marriage is the right for a couple to get married. Proposition 8 was the plea to make California law state that marriage is the union of one man and one woman is known as traditional marriage. Proposition 8 was developed to protect traditional marriage and its values. According to the Proposition 8 website, the campaign was established for three main reasons. As mentioned earlier, it was established to restore the specific definition of marriage; one man and one woman. The second reason was to overturn a decision made by four Supreme Court judges who decided pro same-sex marriage. A deeper reason for establishing the campaign was to prevent people from having to face mandatory compliance towards homosexuality in general (Proposition 8, 2008). Supporters of Proposition 8 did not want to be forced to be okay with homosexuality. They believed that if same-sex marriage became legal, then other events would happen that would lead to the destruction of an ethical society. The voters were the ultimate decision makers and they would determine the fate of many same-sex couples who wished to get married. “The California Supreme Court accepted three lawsuits seeking to nullify Proposition 8, a voter-approved constitutional amendment that overruled the court’s decision in May that legalized gay marriage” (Daily Global, 2008). Same-sex marriage was legalized for a few short months and anti-gay marriage supporters were very unhappy. They fought very hard and showed up to vote. In 2008, voters made their decision and Proposition 8 passed. There were several lawsuits that occurred shortly after the decision and till this day California is still fighting for same-sex marriage rights.
The No H8 campaign is a non-profit organization that promotes same-sex marriage. The campaign was developed as a counter to Proposition 8. The developers of the campaign developed the movement to spread the message of equality and the equal rights for marriage. The campaign was developed in California, but is aimed at everyone all around the world. Initially, the campaign utilized celebrities for promotion, but eventually started including everyone who wanted to contribute. People would take pictures with duct tape on their mouths and No H8 painted on their cheek. The painted cheek represented protest against Proposition 8 supporters. The duct tape over the mouth symbolized suppression and silence. This was a way to say that our rights are being taken away. “The NOH8 Campaign has received overwhelming support from around the world, appearing on various local and national news programs and publications” (Bouska, 2010). The campaign fights all over the world, not just California. The campaign promotes that marriage is all about love and not about hate. The campaign team goes above and beyond in promoting the legalization of same-sex marriage. They continue to raise money so that they can still promote and raise awareness for marriage equality. The funds that are raised also go towards awareness for anti-discrimination all around the world by using education and media. They will continue with their efforts as long as marriage inequality and discrimination exists.
One benefit of allowing same-sex marriage is that it encourages people to have strong family values and encourages them to stop living a high sexual risk lifestyle. For years, gays and lesbians were known to switch partners very quickly and since there is not a lot of risk for pregnancy, most people were having unprotected sex. Unprotected sex has been occurring for several years by both homosexual people and heterosexual people. Unfortunately, it is more popular with gays and lesbians. People today are starting to use protection a bit more, but the fact is that unprotected sex amongst gays and lesbians still occurs. Unprotected sex has caused outbreaks of sexual transmitted diseases and that has caused safe sex campaigns for the past several years. “Many agree that legal recognition of same-gender marriage would make very positive moral and social points--that we as a people value committed, caring relationships and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual orientation or religion” (Interfaith Working Group, n.d.). The main targeted audience of these campaigns is gays and lesbians. Same-sex marriages would mean single partners instead of multiple and that is a direct relation to stopping the spread of sexual transmitted diseases. The fact is that if same-sex marriages were legalized, then it will unite the couple and encourage them to create a family dynamic. The creation of a family sets strong family bonds and values. If gays and lesbians were allowed to marry, they are then allowed to form a family.
Gay couples are not able to pro-create, in order to have children they have to adopt which will increase the number of adoptions. Same-sex couples are not able to have children; therefore they must turn to other options in order to have children. Most people want to get married and have a family when they get older. Gays and lesbians hope for that same dream. Gays and lesbians want to get married and have children. Since they are not able to pro-create, most couples turn to adoption. Of course adoption is not the only option for gay and lesbian couples to have children. Some couples explore options like having a surrogate mother, a sperm or egg donor, etcetera. There are thousands of same-sex couples who have already adopted children, and all they want to do is marry their partner to complete their family. “The children of LGBT parents grow up as successfully as heterosexual parents” (Child Adoption Matters, 2010). These adoptions are great for society and are all about the children. The children finally find a place to call home where they can feel loved and where they belong. The children are not raised any different than children with both a mother and a father. The children grow to become successful and happy. There is no real difference between a child of a traditional marriage or same-sex parents. The couples help society by taking these children out of foster care and gain a child to take care of and love unconditionally.
Same-sex couples show society what the real meaning of marriage is. The only thing that should matter in marriage is love. Whether the love is between a man and a woman, two women, or two men, love is all that matters. Couples get married to prove to the world that they love their partner. So if heterosexual couples can eloquently profess their love, why is it not possible for same-sex couples to do that? The fact is that it is not wrong for them to get married. “Marriage is a human right not a heterosexual privilege” (Piperni, 2009). They should have the same right to get married like the rest of us. The fact is that denying them the right to marry is taking away their civil rights. They are people and everyone should be allowed to marry, no matter who you love. Many same-sex couples have been together for several years, some more than most heterosexual couples. Protestors against gay marriage have had several different arguments that explain why same-sex marriage is bad for society.
Most people who are against same-sex marriage believe that if same-sex marriages are allowed, it will compromise the meaning of marriage. Protestors have named this theory The Slippery Slope. The idea behind this theory is that same-sex marriage will cause a downhill facing chain of events. “It could provide a slippery slope in the legality of marriage e.g. having multiple wives or marrying an object could be next” (Messerli, 2009). They believe that if same-sex marriage becomes legal and accepted, then it will lead to the completely destroy the idea marriage. Those who support same-sex marriage believe this theory to be unrealistic. Same-sex marriage, in no way, can ever destroy the idea of marriage. Over the years, heterosexual couples have already destroyed the ideals that marriage has represented in the past. Today, divorce and annulments are becoming more and more common. People today are jumping into marriage and when it does not work, they get a quickie divorce. The divorce rates have skyrocketed over the years and it is completely ridiculous. Same-sex couples who want to get married, planning on getting married, or got married legally are couples who have been together for several years. Same-sex couples take marriage a little more seriously because their right to marry is very limited. This means that they are actually going to uphold the idea of marriage.
Religious people also believe that being gay and same-sex marriage is considered to be a sin. There are many churches that do not support same-sex marriage for that reason. It has been said that God does not approve of same-sex marriages and that it is forbidden. Conservatives Christians and Catholics believe that being gay or lesbian in general is a sin. They stress that if you are gay or lesbian, you will not go to heaven. Therefore, if you marry someone of the same sex, then you will are breaking God’s rules are definitely not going to heaven. “For most Americans, marriage is a religious sacrament or ceremony. If the definition of marriage is changed to allow SSM, some religious individuals and groups feel that they will become at risk of having to violate their beliefs by being forced to marry same-sex couples” (Robinson, 2009). Many religions also define marriage between a man and a woman. Many same-sex couples experience hatred and anger against them from those religious people. Many of these religious conflicts have led to violence in some instances. They feel that they will be forced to accept homosexuality if same-sex marriage is legalized. Religion is often an excuse to not accept homosexuality. Anti-gay activists are prejudice against gays and lesbians because their view and lifestyle are different from their own. The fact is that people do not choose to be gay and no one chooses who they fall in love with.
I am pro towards same-sex marriage because of my beliefs, experiences, and my best friends. I truly believe that we should not discriminate others because of their sexual orientation and that everyone deserves the same rights. I was raised to be an open-minded person and to accept people for who there are. I do not want people to discriminate against me; therefore I do not want to do that to other people. “America was founded on the concept that the majority should rule, but the rights of minorities should be protected. It is the main reason we have a Bill of Rights as well as anti-slavery and equal protection amendments. Denying marriage to a homosexual couple is no different than denying marriage to Hispanic or black couples” (Messerli, 2009). From my experiences, I have learned that same-sex couples are very loving and just want what heterosexual couples want. Same-sex couples are perfectly able to carry on the same relationship as heterosexual couples. From my experiences, I have seen same-sex couples stay together longer and were more devoted to their partner compared to heterosexual couples. I have a lot of friends that are gay or lesbian and I know how they are in their relationships. Some of my best friends have professed how deeply unhappy they are because they do not have the same marriage rights as everyone else. Not only do they have people who discriminate against them just because they are homosexual, but now they cannot marry their domestic partner. A lot of my friends and me believe that with the increase of divorce rates in the past few years, people cannot say that same-sex marriage will destroy the meaning of marriage. The meaning of marriage is honestly already destroyed by people who get married and then get divorced quickly after. Most of the same-sex couples that I know have been with their partners for several years and stay faithful to them. A lot of heterosexual couples that I know cheat on their spouse or significant other frequently. Marriage and divorce should not be taken lightly and people should not jump into marriage just because they know they can get it annulled or get a divorce in order to get out. Same-sex couples have been waiting for several years to be able to get married and as a civil right, they deserve that right.
Fight for gay marriage has been a rollercoaster and even though it is not legal in every state now, the movement towards equality is in the near future. Everyone needs to teach others about the fight for equality so that everyone is aware of the facts for both sides of the issue. Everyone should analyze the facts of both the pro side and the con side and decide for themselves on how they feel about this topic. It is important for everyone to decide for themselves on what side they want to be on. People who do not accept same-sex marriage need to stop discriminating against gays and lesbians. We need to solve this issue before it gets out of hand and people become more violent. Same-sex couples just want to form their family and marry the one that they love. Looking back at the history of same-sex marriage and the recent fight in California displays the ups and downs that society has gone through to make same-sex marriage legal. If same-sex marriage becomes legalized, does not cause any violence towards homosexuals or discriminate against them. The best thing for humanity is to accept people for their differences and only then will we live in a peaceful world.

Works Cited
Bouska, A. (2010). No H8 Campaign. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from No H8: http://www.noh8campaign.com/
Child Adoption Matters. (2010). Same Sex Adoption. Retrieved April 14, 2011, from Children for Adoption: http://www.child-adoption-matters.com/same-sex-adoption-1.html
Daily Global. (2008, November 19). Calif. Supreme Court to take up gay marriage ban. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from Daily Global: http://www.dailyglobal.com/2008/11/calif-supreme-court-to-take-up-gay-marriage-ban/
D 'Angelo, D. (2009, June). Same Sex Marriage. Retrieved April 18, 2011, from Suffolk University, Law School: http://law.suffolk.edu/library/research/a-z/news/samesex.cfm
Interfaith Working Group. (n.d.). Religious Support for Equal Marriage Rights. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from Interfaith Working Group Online: http://iwgonline.org/marriage/
Messerli, J. (2009, May 2009). Should Same-Sex Marriages be legalized? Retrieved April 12, 2011, from Balanced Politics: http://www.balancedpolitics.org/same_sex_marriages.htm
Piperni, M. (2009, April 3). Same-Sex Marriage becomes Legal in Iowa. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from Political Issues & Not: http://mariopiperni.com/gay-marriage/same-sex-marriage-becomes-legal-in-iowa.php
Proposition 8. (2008). Proposition 8. Retrieved April 8, 2011, from Protect Marriage: http://www.protectmarriage.com/
Robinson, B. (2009, May 10). Gay/Homosexual/Same-sex Marriages. Retrieved April 18, 2011, from Religious Tolerance: http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_marr.htm
Winston, M. E. (2009). Society, Ethics, and Technology. Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Cited: Bouska, A. (2010). No H8 Campaign. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from No H8: http://www.noh8campaign.com/ Child Adoption Matters. (2010). Same Sex Adoption. Retrieved April 14, 2011, from Children for Adoption: http://www.child-adoption-matters.com/same-sex-adoption-1.html Daily Global. (2008, November 19). Calif. Supreme Court to take up gay marriage ban. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from Daily Global: http://www.dailyglobal.com/2008/11/calif-supreme-court-to-take-up-gay-marriage-ban/ D 'Angelo, D. (2009, June). Same Sex Marriage. Retrieved April 18, 2011, from Suffolk University, Law School: http://law.suffolk.edu/library/research/a-z/news/samesex.cfm Interfaith Working Group. (n.d.). Religious Support for Equal Marriage Rights. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from Interfaith Working Group Online: http://iwgonline.org/marriage/ Messerli, J. (2009, May 2009). Should Same-Sex Marriages be legalized? Retrieved April 12, 2011, from Balanced Politics: http://www.balancedpolitics.org/same_sex_marriages.htm Piperni, M. (2009, April 3). Same-Sex Marriage becomes Legal in Iowa. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from Political Issues & Not: http://mariopiperni.com/gay-marriage/same-sex-marriage-becomes-legal-in-iowa.php Proposition 8. (2008). Proposition 8. Retrieved April 8, 2011, from Protect Marriage: http://www.protectmarriage.com/ Robinson, B. (2009, May 10). Gay/Homosexual/Same-sex Marriages. Retrieved April 18, 2011, from Religious Tolerance: http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_marr.htm Winston, M. E. (2009). Society, Ethics, and Technology. Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.