Family and Marriage Evan\'s Two

Family and Marriage

Evan's Two Moms

The author's evidence for writing "Evan's Two Moms" seems to be her own understanding of the gay community and the problems they face in everyday life, in everything from sharing their commitment to adopting children and simply living life. Quindlen does not state she is gay, but it seems from the article that she may be, or she at least sympathizes with gay and lesbian couples who suffer all kinds of indignities because they cannot legally marry. She uses her evidence throughout the article to show how society treats gay and lesbian couples differently, and she cites evidence in a variety of areas. For example, she writes, "In Madison, Wis., a couple who applied at the Y with their kids for a family membership were turned down because both were women. it's one of those small things that can make you feel small" (Quindlen). Society does not approve of gay unions, and so, there are many barriers, both large and small, to gay and lesbian couples, and she uses this evidence quite effectively to indicate that things most people simply take for granted are things that can affect the gay and lesbian couple, and often they affect them quite dramatically.

She seems to be writing for a straight audience, because gays and lesbians would already be aware of these problems, and probably would not want to read about them, because it would make them feel as if they were experiencing their own problems all over again. In fact, this article seems to be written to get more people to understand the problems gays and lesbians face everyday, and to do something to put a stop to it. Her arguments are a bit emotional, even though they are well written and thought out, and they are provoking, hoping to create a reaction in the reader so that they identify with gays and lesbians and help them get over some of the difficulties they face in society.

A find the author's evidence and persona quite persuasive. It is quite clear she understands the issues and identifies with them, and finds the problems gays and lesbians face are simply inexcusable in our society. Her persona is one of knowledge and intellect, but also compassion, and she is not afraid to say what she thinks, even if it might not be the most popular or appropriate opinion. She is smart, she understands the issues, and she has a good way of communicating them to her readers. After reading this op-ed, it should make the reader want to get up and get involved, and it should also point out that society's mores change through time, and that means there is hope for the future, anyway. She writes, "Perhaps 25 years from now we will find it just as incredible that two people of the same sex were not entitled to legally commit themselves to one another. Love and commitment are rare enough; it seems absurd to thwart them in any guise" (Quindlen). This is the way she ends her essay, and it makes the reader think about old-fashioned belief systems, and how ideas change, and makes this reader hope that she is right, and someday, this all may just seem like a bad dream.