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¶ … Defense of Gay Marriage
Over time, the issue of gay marriage has been regarded controversial. Proponents and opponents of the same continue to front arguments in support of their positions. I strongly believe that gay couples should enjoy the same marriage benefits their heterosexual counterparts enjoy. In this text, I discuss gay marriage and why it should be permitted.
Why Gay Marriage Should Be Permitted
Most of those opposed to gay marriage cite procreation as being the primary purpose of marriage and as such, individuals of the same sex should not be allowed to marry owing to the fact that they can't procreate. The view of procreation as an inalienable component of marriage is however defective. If procreation is indeed an inalienable constituent of marriage, should a heterosexual couple that cannot procreate as a result of issues to do with infertility be denied marriage? In my opinion, procreation just like companionship should be viewed as one of the components of marriage but not as the sole component of the same.
Yet another prominent argument...
Proponents of this argument argue that permitting gay marriage will open the floodgates for other practices considered questionable or disreputable. This argument is largely supportive of the classical view that adopting a given policy often leads to the adoption of a number of other related policies. For instance, what will keep us from legalizing polygamy after we permit gay marriage? It is however important to note that this view is largely based on assumptions. There is no evidence indicating that permitting gay marriage could influence the adoption of a similar stand on other contentious issues.
Taking into consideration the issues presented in the discussion above, denying gay couples benefits similar to those accessed by their heterosexual couples does not have any valid justification. In support of gay marriage, it should be noted that individual autonomy in matters relationship should at all times be respected. In my opinion,…
References
Knox, D. & Schacht, C. (2012). Choices in Relationships: An Introduction to Marriage and the Family. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.
Rosenthal, M. (2012). Human Sexuality: From Cells to Society. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.
Gay Marriage Many same-sex couples want to be granted the right to legally marry. The reason is simple: They are in love with each other. They want to honor their relationship in the greatest way society has to offer, by making a public commitment to stand together in good times and bad life brings. While they receive some state-level protections, they do not receive most of the federal emotional and economic
" (Quoted in Hillary Goodridge & others v. Department of Public Health...") Implementing the Court's decision, Massachusetts made same sex marriage legal in the state on May 17, 2004; it is thus far the only state to do so. Most other states have enacted constitutional provisions that define marriage as a union of one man and one woman. Conservatives Propose Constitutional Amendment: The legalization of gay marriage in Massachusetts and issuance
American marriage would reflect American principles of liberty and self-government. Unlike the hordes of serfs, servants, and subjects in other parts of the world, American citizens were going to shape their own lives and determine their country's destiny. Just as citizens would be self-governing in the political realm, they would also choose their spouses freely." (Hymowitz, 2004) Hymowitz shares the fact that the development of the idea of romantic love
Further, the American government and political system was built on multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-denominational principles (Marcel, 2004). American is not a Christian nation, or at least it was not created on this ideology. Rather historically America has often been referred to as the 'melting pot' where people could seek refuge from persecution on the basis of religion or other practices or beliefs that might be considered personal and individual. Religious
Homosexual marriage does not pose a threat to me or my manhood therefore I am for it." Although I am heterosexual, I know what it means to long for union with another human being. I will choose a woman for my partner, but if another man desires to choose one of his own sex, there is no harm for me in his choice. In fact, since we are both
2001. 5. Hladky, Gregory B. Proviso causes same-sex vote again. Bristol Press. April 2005. On the Internet at http://www.bristolpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14344465&BRD=1643&PAG=461&dept_id=10486&rfi=6 6. Same-Sex Marriage in California - Overview and Issues. March 2005. 7. Hochkeppel, Christine. Gay marriage movement gains ground across U.S. The Daily Free Press - online edition. February 2004. On the Internet at http://www.dailyfreepress.com/media/paper87/news/2004/02/20/ 8. B-275860. Office of the General Counsel. United States General Accounting Office. January 1997. On the Internet at http://www.icantmarryyou.com/images/1049.pdf B-275860.