Arguments against same-sex marriage

Against Same Sex Marriages

This paper deals with the same sex marriage issue and analyses the problem with it. Although people have started voicing their opinions for the legality of same sex marriages, this paper gives all the reasons why it should not be legitimized or practiced. At the end of the paper the reader would gain sound knowledge of the reasons that oppose same sex marriages.

The term "homosexual" is used most often to describe a person's overt behavior, sexual orientation and sense of personal or social identity. The terms "gay" and "lesbian" reflect the fact that the person applying these terms on him has some sense of being part of the social group that is similarly labeled. So, in a way these categories of gay and lesbian are used to categorize or label people with a certain sexual orientation. In this article, same-sex marriage refers to two people belonging to the same gender, who chose to marry and live together as a family.

SAME SEX MARRIAGE

There are some who are in favor of same sex marriage, and see it as a matter of expression of their sexual orientation and identity. They also consider it as an alternate lifestyle and many people who although themselves are not homosexuals, advocate for same sex marriages based on the grounds that it is an individual's right to get married to whoever he or she wishes whether its someone from the opposite sex or the same sex. What was once labeled as deviant is now being slowly accepted by people and many are supporting the idea of same sex marriage. However the question remains there of the consequences and negative impact of same sex marriages on individuals (who are involved in gay or lesbian relationship), on the institute of family, and on society as a whole. Individuals have to face a lot of criticism from other people for not conforming to the society's norms and values when it comes to the issue of marriage and the institute of family. The degree of stigma and prejudice attached with same sex marriages can have adverse effects on their psychosocial adjustment. Marriage is a sacred institution for the believers of creationism and an act of nature due to the way man evolved for the believers of Darwinism or more commonly known as atheists. Not all Darwinists are atheists though. Being a sacred institution is comes by some laws that we as members of the institution are to abide by. There are two aspects to marriage and the roles that each sex is to play in it. One aspect is from the people who believe in God and the other is from those who reject God.

From religion many people, societies, communities and nation derive what is moral and what is immoral. Based on the laws of religion as dictated or indicated by God, marriage is an exclusive commitment of a man and a woman to each other. It is a commitment, which is based on nurturance, love and mutual support, which brings stability to our society. While marriage is considered to be a commitment between a man and a woman, the same sex couples are deviating from this norm on which the vital institute of family is based. Particular roles are assigned to both men and women. While men are to be the main bread earners for the household it, the role for women was inclined towards nurturing the children, molding their character and introducing people of morals and ethics into society. However they were not necessarily to stick to these roles and many religions do allow women to also work and become financially stable. According to Christianity, Judaism or Islam, people of the opposite sex are to marry each other and through this sacred bond of marriage they are to procreate otherwise man would just become another extinct species. "Every sexual act within marriage must be both loving and open to procreation, and every sexual act failing to fulfill both conditions is objectively immoral even in cases where subjective conditions mitigate culpability" (Stephen J. Pope, p.530). Religious doctrines of all the major religions of the world condemn homosexuality and teach that it is an evil and a disliked act in the sights of God. In the United States today many people who are not homosexuals are fighting for the legality of same sex marriages. The Catholic Church has voiced some strong opposition to the idea of making same sex marriages legal. Their claim is that God made marriage to be between a man and a woman and that is what should be practiced. In Genesis they say that an entire city of Sodom was destroyed because of the act of homosexuality being practiced there. Hence the conclusion that homosexual behavior is not an acceptable form of behavior in the sights of God and is condemned. Islam, another major religion of the world and the fastest growing religion in the world especially the West, repeats the story of Sodom in the Quran and concludes that homosexuality is not the prescribed way of marriage for man and labels it to be immoral and unethical. When man accepts God to be an authority then man is to abide by his rules and his law and he should then respect that what is labeled by God as forbidden and stay away from it.

An atheist mind would reject these because they do not believe nor take God to be an authority. For them man evolved to the present state and condition. If for a moment we do agree that without the existence of God, man evolved to this state then we cannot but agree that man evolved to become two sexes, one male and the other female and their evolution occurred in such a way that a male is best suited to get married to a female and not a male. The evolution did not occur in such a way that man could also procreate with another man or a female could have a child with another female. You need the DNA of one to combine with the DNA of another for them to have a child. Hence if nature took the course of evolution to make male and female best suited for each other then why does man want to go against the course that evolution itself took? When nature made marriage and procreation to be between a man and a woman how can we today go against nature. We will only end up destroying ourselves and cause the elimination of the human race and only animals would remain to walk on the face of the earth.

Same sex marriage challenges the very foundations of traditional marriage. As individuals we have a right to marry according to our choice. However, we do not possess the right to define marriage according to our choice. Same sex marriage debate involves defining marriage and to whom. Marriage is suppose to be and has been viewed as a gendered institution. It is a union of man and woman, since many years of civilization. Now if someone comes up with the idea, that the union of man plus man or woman plus woman can be a marriage, then they are challenging this ancient and fundamental boundary.

A family's primary focus is on the nurturing and development of children. Same sex marriages are denying the children their right to have a father and a mother. Changing the definition of marriage and including same sex marriage same can have far-reaching changes that can influence the development of children. By changing the definition of marriage and including same sex marriage in that, one is changing the family dynamics and societal structures as well. Firstly same sex couples cannot have any children together as it is biologically impossible. What females can do is that they can either opt to adopt a child or go for test tube babies. If they do undergo in-vitro fertilization, they must use the sperms of the male. What more obvious a hint can nature give them that same sex marriage is not a part or plan of nature. The males in a same sex marriage have no option but to adopt a child. During the upbringing and nurturing of a child, both maternal and paternal care is required. He needs the love of a father as much as the love of a mother and there is no way that an adopted child can be given the love of a father as well as a mother. Only the love of two fathers can be given or two mothers and the love of two fathers or two mothers do not equal the love of a mother and a father. However we still have heterosexuals voting for the legalization of same sex marriages. In their misinterpretation of equality, tolerance and rights they do not realize that by talking about rights they themselves are denying the right of the child to be brought up under the shelter and love of both a father and a mother. What right do these people have to take away these rights of a child? Children without a fatherly figure are more likely to end up breaking the law.

Same sex marriage denies them the right to have the normal environment for socio-emotional development or a normal family and it is their right to start their life with a father and a mother. The children are being raised by parents who are not their biological parents. There can never be a substitute for being raised by the mother and father who brought you into the world and are your biological parents. Most human societies have honored the norm that special responsibility for children lies with the biological parents. Same sex marriage is going against this norm, and the society's values attached with this norm. Whatever else it may accomplish, marriage acknowledges and secures the relationship between a child and his or her set of biological parents. Mitt Romney, the governor of Massachusetts said "It is inconceivable that promoting absolute indifference between heterosexual and homosexual unions would not significantly affect child development, family dynamics, and societal structures." (Jonathan Rauch)

Moreover Susan Holt, the coordinator of the domestic violence unit of the Los Angeles Gay Lesbian Center stated that "domestic violence is the third largest health problem facing the gay and lesbian community today and trails only behind AIDS and substance abuse... In terms of sheer numbers and lethality" (Susan Holt, p.39). This brings our attention to why same sexual relationships and marriages should be discouraged. AIDS is a very dangerous disease and there are many people dying each year due to it. In homosexuals these diseases are found to be at a higher percentage and encouraging homosexual marriages or relationships would only spread this disease further. Bisexuals can also get AIDS from their sexual partner of the same sex and then transfer it to the heterosexuals. This would in turn completely ruin and destroy the society in which we live today. Why should then anyone legitimize a way that only aims to ruin the society in the long run? It is only logical to know and act upon the fact that same sex relationship and marriages are not the way of nature and definitely not the way prescribed by God for His creation. The health status and mortality of gay men is being giving particular attention to ever since AIDS came into existence. "Venereal disease, hepatitis B, and alcoholism are found at much higher rates among gay men than the general population" (Christopher Hewitt, p.390). Hence by legitimizing same sex marriages do we wish to push human beings whether homosexuals or heterosexuals right to face of death?