Arguments for legalizing same-sex marriage in the United States

¶ … Same Sex Marriage

The issue of same sex marriage remains one of the most controversial topics in the new millennium. This issue has conservatives and liberals at odds and the battle is far from over. There is little difference between gay, lesbian, and bi-sexual couples and their heterosexual counterparts. They experience similar feelings towards one another and have the same level of commitment. The right to choose one's partner in life is a basic human right. This essay will support the concept that same sex marriage should be allowed in the United States and that it should have the same status as heterosexual marriage.

The idea of same sex marriage has been around for as long as these partnerships have been around. However, due to social constraints, those who preferred a partner of the same sex were forced to keep it secret. They had to hide in the shadows and pretend to be something that they were not on the inside. If it were revealed that they were gay or lesbian, they faced social persecution, or even potential physical harm from the rest of society. Some of this old attitude still persists, but for the most part, same sex partnerships are at least tolerated by society. Acceptance of the right of any human being to choose freely is becoming more widely recognized.

The next step in the progression towards acceptance and ending the discrimination that had plagued gays and lesbians for decades is the ability to enjoy marital rights and privileges. In modern society, certain rights and privileges are reserved for married persons that are difficult to obtain for those that are single. For instance, many lending institutions hesitate to lend to single persons. The married person is considered to be more stable and less likely to default. This may or may not be true in any individual case. However, regardless of whether it is really true or not, the perception exists and decisions are made that are based upon it.

Married people also have tax advantages. They can file as "married filing jointly" and qualify for many additional deductions as a result. The same sex couple may be just as committed and just as stable as a heterosexual couple, but they are denied many of the legal and social privileges afforded to heterosexual married couples. From a psychological standpoint, they are essentially the same, but from a legal standpoint, they are very different.

History of Same Sex Marriage

The history of same sex marriage goes back for as long as these couples has existed. The desire to become accepted socially and to be able to end the hiding goes back to ancient times. In the Ming Dynasty, females were allowed to enter into a binding contract using elaborate ceremonies to a younger female. Males were allowed the same privilege (T.L.). Woman to woman marriage has also been documented in over 30 African cultures. In these cultures, the woman "father" figure takes precedence over the children produced in the relationship. The children will belong to her lineage, not to that of the biological father (T.L.).

As one can see, not every culture agrees that same sex marriages should be taboo. In some, they are even promoted. However, the same cannot be said for European-based societies and the United States. Until recently, same sex couples have been denied these privileges and had to remain in the underworld of society. The history of the desire for equality, even if it were kept quiet, is long, but the legal battle has a relatively short history.

In 2001, the Netherlands became the first European country to legalize same sex marriages and to give them the same status as heterosexual marriages. Belgium followed in 2003 (Cosgrove-Mathers). Spain and Canada followed in 2005, South Africa in 2006, Norway and Sweden in 2009 (Press Trust of India). In the United States, same sex marriages are not recognized federally, but some states have allowed same sex marriages to be recognized on a state level (NPR). Although many states still have a law that bans same sex marriage.

Conclusion

Many of the arguments against same sex marriage were found to be unsupported by a vast majority of academic research found. Yet, certain groups continue to hold on to these ideals. In the United States, those that oppose gay and lesbian marriage are the majority. Regardless of whether their opinions can be supported with evidence or not, the fact still remains that their opinions continue to represent the majority and therefore, still prevail.

Considering the lack of academic evidence supporting the potential negative affects of same sex marriage, this leaves the topic in the realm of a philosophical, rather than a scholarly debate. There is no logical reason, based on the evidence found, for continuing to disallow same sex marriages. Yet, the opposition is strong and at the present time, continue to encompass the majority vote.

The lack of empirical evidence against same sex marriages makes it a matter of personal opinion. Various religious groups have led the opposition to the legalization of same sex marriages. Society has loosened its constraints regarding the acceptance of gay and lesbian couples. It is slowly becoming more acceptable to admit that one is no of the heterosexual persuasion. Yet, the United States still remains socially behind on the issue of same sex marriages and the legalization of them.

In light of these arguments, the legalization of same sex marriages is the next major step in social evolution. Continuing to allow same sex marriages to be unrecognized is to allow a certain segment of the population to dictate discriminatory practices. The question is no longer only about whether same sex marriages should be legal, it is about whether a certain faction of society should be allowed to have control over the whole of society. In order to achieve true equality in America, we need to legalize same sex marriages.