Legalizing same sex marriage, is it right or wrong? “In 2003 when the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to ban a marriage between two individuals of the same sex” (www.uua.org, 2008) it sparked new controversies and debates all over the United States. This has sparked new issues to be raised in Congress to put into law that marriage would consist of a union between a man and a woman and not two genders of the same sex. This ruling has caused many states to pass state laws banning the union of the same sex and declaring it a violation of state law. “In 2008 California and Connecticut followed suit with Massachusetts and the Supreme Courts of these states stopped the ban on same-sex marriages.” (www.uua.org, 2008) With this taking place it has caused debates between Religious factors and liberals throughout the country.
There are several public figures and non public figures that have an opinion on this issue. The people that are against the issue raise issues like children and the moral issue of the upbringing of the children and the impact that it will have on society for many it is a religious belief that in the bible it says that” a marriage is between a woman and a man for life.” (“Matthew 19:6” Good Will Publishers, Inc, 1990) The Liberals have arguments for the marriage of same-sex couples argue mainly that Couples of any sex deserve to be married and have the safety and security that comes along with being married. They also state that it is good for America because the more married couples there are the more successful society will be. I will go into further explanations of the cases for and against same-sex marriages in the paragraphs to follow.
In the following paragraphs I am going to present arguments for and against same-sex marriages and why they have such a strong opinion on whether it is right or wrong. I will end with my position on the issue and why I feel strongly about my stance on this issue.
Three of the main arguments against same-sex marriage are that the legalization of same-sex marriage would quickly destroy the traditional family, that legalization of same-sex marriages will lead inexorably to polygamy and other alternatives to one man/one woman unions, and that it will hurt the raising of children because they have the right to start with a mother and a father and without one or the other the child is losing the relationship of having a mother and a father. I will now go into further explanation of each issue.
ISSUE 1: Legalizing same-sex marriage would quickly destroy the traditional family.
Dr. James Dobson position on this issue is that “same sex marriages cannot co-exist with a marriage between a woman and a man because they represent two opposite ends of the universe.” (Dobson, 2004) If the state was to sanction same-sex marriages it would give the younger generation unclear description of marriage. It would cause short term relationships and confusion about their sexuality, emotional bonding and sexual purity, understanding of lifelong commitments and the sanctity of marriage. It reduces marriage to a partnership not a lifelong commitment to one another under the eyes of God.” It is reduced to only the attractive benefits and sexual convince of a partnership.” (Dobson, 2004)
ISSUE 2: Legalization of same-sex marriages will lead inexorably to polygamy and other alternatives to one man/one woman unions.
People who practice polygamy are using this issue as a basis for them to legalize polygamy. They are arguing in court that the state must prove that polygamy is harmful to society instead of them proving that it is not. In court cases from polygamist in Utah are citing cases such as Lawrence vs. Texas as legal authority for their cases. “In the past for the definition of marriage we have fallen back on the foundation of tradition, legal precedent, theology and overwhelming support of the people.” (Dobson, 2004) If we were to allow same-sex marriages it would open the door for other types of marriages like a marriage of two men and five women or one man and ten women. If a court decides to allow the marriage of same sex couples it “will open the meaning of marriage up to anything that is doable by civil rights and destroy the legal underpinning of marriage.” (Dobson, 2004)
ISSUE 3: Same-sex marriage and parenting.
The main concern today is, what would same-sex marriage due to children. They pose the issue that every child has the right to start out life with one mother and one father and to take that away from them would be detrimental to their emotional well being. There is no research on what same-sex marriages would do to the future generations of children. “No society at any time has ever raised a generation of children in same-sex homes. Same-sex marriage will subject a generation of children to the status of lab rats in a vast untested social experiment.”(Stanton) (Bohan, 2008) In foresight there has not been enough research done on the gender preference of children raised in same sex marriages. Children raised in same sex marriages do not have the upbringing of what is proper to society or what it is like to have both a mother and father and the moral upbringing that this would provide.
In arguments for legalization of same sex marriages they argue that denying them is a violation of religious freedom (civil and religious marriages are two separate institutions), marriage benefits (such as joint ownership, medical decision-making capacity) should be available to all couples, and denying these marriages is a form of minority discrimination.
ISSUE 1: Denying them is a violation of religious freedom (civil and religious marriages are two separate institutions).
People in favor of allowing same-sex marriages argue that the concept of a marriage being only between a man and a woman is a religious belief and they believe that homosexuality is a sin. If government starts passing laws based on this reason then they are going against the “First Amendment of the Constitution because it clearly states that a person’s religious views or lack thereof must be protected. “ (Messerli, 2008) In this issue they are raising their civil rights to chose to believe in the religious text or not.
ISSUE 2: Marriage benefits (such as joint ownership, medical decision-making capacity) should be available to all couples.
Homosexual couples argue that they should have access to all the benefits that a heterosexual couples do. They believe that they should be able to have the tax filing benefits, joint ownership of property, insurance benefits, and be able to make critical medical decisions for the other partner. They also state that marriage is more than a legal status.
ISSUE 3: Denying these marriages is a form of minority discrimination.
Homosexual couples argue that denying them the privilege to be married is going against the Bill of rights that ensures equal protection and that the rights of minorities should be protected. They argue that denying them this right is no different than telling a black or Hispanic couple that they cannot marry. This is one of their weaker arguments.
My stance on this issue is that I believe that marriage between the same sexes should not be legalized. For centuries marriage has always been considered the union of one man and one woman and children should have the advantages of having a mother and a father not two mothers or two fathers living in the same household as husband and husband or wife and wife. I do not hold anything against people who are homosexuals but I do believe in God and the Bible and God had written in several passages that marriage is one woman and one man for life. I always use the example that God made Eve from Adams rib so that he would have a partner in life and that he did not make another Adam. For some this may not be logical to them but when I am discussing this issue it is the best way for me to convey how I feel. In today’s society this is an issue that will not be going away and whether you are for or against same sex marriages we need to take into consider all the facts and research more the effect this will have on our future.
Works Cited
Bohan, D. (2008, September 16). Family expert lays out argument against same-sex marriage. Minnesota Family Council / Minnesota Family Institute .
Dobson, D. J. (2004). Marriage Under Fire. Multnomah Books.
“Holy Bible Matthew 19:6” Good Will Publishers, Inc. (1990). Holy Bible “Matthew 19:6”. J.G. Publishing Company.
Messerli, J. (2008, December 28). Should Same-Sex Marriages be Legalized. Retrieved from Balanced Politics: https://www.balancedpolitics.org/same_sex_marriages.htm
Sullivan, A. (1997). Same-Sex Marriage: Pron and Con. New York: Vintage Books.
www.uua.org. (2008, november 3). Retrieved from Social Justice: https://www.uua.org/socialjustice/issues/bgltequality/marriageequality/27673.shtml