Pro gay marriage Essay

How would you feel if someone tried to deny you the right to marriage? Does the government have the right to define marriage and decide who may marry? Marriage is one of the most common and powerful ways to show love and secure rights in that relationship. Marriage is many times taken for granted and even abused by many people. People tend to forget that the right to marry is not available to all people everywhere in the United States; some people have gone as far as proposing an amendment to the Constitution that denies same sex marriage. While churches can base their practice on their religious beliefs, civil rights, including the right to marry, should not be denied to anyone.How would you feel if someone tried to deny you the right to marriage? Does the government have the right to define marriage and decide who may marry? Marriage is one of the most common and powerful ways to show love and secure rights in that relationship. Marriage is many times taken for granted and even abu sed by many people. People tend to forget that the right to marry is not available to all people everywhere in the United States; some people have gone as far as proposing an amendment to the Constitution that denies same sex marriage. While churches can base their practice on their religious beliefs, civil rights, including the right to marry, should not be denied to anyone. In a country governed by the rule of law, the right to marry for homosexuals is inconsistently applied; and even when allowed, it is inconstantly recognized. Why should this be? The 1st amendment of the Constitution states that a person’s religious beliefs, or a lack of thereof, must be protected. Legislatures also cannot discriminate against marriages of the minority portions of the population; homosexual people fall into that category. There is also an amendment stating there is separation of church and state; therefore, religion cannot play a role in the civil rights issues of same sex marriage. Not t oo long ago, interracial marriage was frowned upon just like same sex marriage is today. (source 1) Imagine waking up one day to a world that was completely opposite from the world we knew when falling asleep, meaning gay people were now straight and all straight people were now gay. Do you think we would be willing to fight for our rights or have them denied; personally I would fight for my right to marry whom I choose, just as millions of Americans are currently doing. America is the land of the free, but we are not free to marry whomever we would like. We are equals in this world whether we are Black, White,  Hispanic, Indian, or any other race for that matter. Why should we not be equals based on sexual orientation? Churches must base their practices on their teachings; but basic civil rights under the law must be assured to all. No one in this nation is a second class citizen: marriage is a right under our legal guarantees of equality. Even though gay marriage should be legalized, some people have different beliefs. In most religions including Christianity, Islam, and Orthodox Judaism, same sex preferences may be a sin. Some decree that only homosexual activity is sinful. People believe in procreation to repopulate the world, but are against gay marriage and homosexuals adopting children to have the family they cannot create on their own. If this is truly the key issue against gay marriage, then it would only seem reasonable that only people w ho are fertile and want to procreate should be able to get married according to this bias. America has never really given gay marriage a chance, but seems to believe gay marriage will weaken this institution by leading to high divorce rates. Divorce rates are already high, even though most churches are not in favor of divorce. â€Å"One reason legislatures are denying gay marriage is because they are fearful that opening the door to allowing gay marriages will open the door to polygamy as well. This would also mean reopening cases about polygamy in the past which they are not willing to do.† (source 4) Others are fearful for children’s futures, and they fear being raised by two fathers or by two mothers may compromise children’s mental capacities and confuse their moral understandings. Marriage, based on true affection for another person, is not only a social intuition but an economic and safety measure as well. In places where gay marriages are banned, the gay couples are not able to have the same benefits as others. When filing for health care or insurance through a job, gay couples are not able to add each other on to their accounts. Most loved ones, such as a spouse or a child, in a straight marriage, can make life altering decisions in a hospital if need be. Since gay marriage is not legal, said person’s spouse is not recognized as the next of kin and care is delayed or wishes denied. (Source 2) California, Hawaii, New York, and the District of Columbia all have domestic partnership laws and civil partnerships, meaning it is a marriage without the religious factor. Civil partnerships also give couples the ability to have joint bank accounts, live in the same house, and pay bills together. Homosexual couples  are not entitled to this in most states. Ma rriage benefits should be available to all couples, no matter what. Parenthood is a benefit of marriage but gay couples cannot have children by themselves, without some type of help. They often look to adoption agencies. In some cases, gay couples are put on longer waiting lists or denied completely. There are other benefits to being married as well, such as tax breaks, a shared last name and adoption sharing as well as legal standing in society. It would seem that the solution to the question of same sex marriage would be easy; allow an individual the right to choose a partner and marry whom he or she wants. However, the issue in our society is intertwined in questions or religion, politics, ethnicity, and tradition. These factors affect every major issue in the nation today. Although I and many others support the right to marry, overcoming societal hurdles will not be easily accomplished. We must be heard on this issue, however long it takes to make the needed changes. It would seem that the solution to the question of same sex marriage would be easy; allow an individual the right to choose a partner and marry whom he or she wants. However, the issue in our society is intertwined in questions or religion, politics, ethnicity, and tradition. These factors affect every major issue in the nation today. Although I and many others support the right to marry, overcoming societal hurdles will not be easily accomplished. We must be heard on this issue, however long it takes to make the needed changes.