The Case for Same-Sex Marriage

The Case for Same-Sex Marriage

The United States is known world wide for its civil rights and freedoms. Many Americans are appalled by the idea of same-sex marriages. What's wrong with the idea of two people who care greatly for one another wanting to spend their lives together? The gay community is misunderstood because many straights are not willing to listen. These individuals would rather just be closed-minded in this situation and reticent to really think about what this means to the gay community and the country. Same sex couples are not asking for any special rights; they are just asking to be treated equal with opposite sex couples. The explanations given by many Americans against gay marriages are based on false assumptions and unsubstantiated arguments. However, the real and unspoken reasons many heterosexuals have against same-sex marriages are based on religious beliefs.

There are a number of false assumptions the straight community has regarding same sex marriages. Marriage is a basic human right and an individual personal choice. The government should not interfere with same-sex couples who choose to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities, and commitment of the institution of marriage. The real nature of marriage is not a relationship between a man and a woman but rather a binding commitment between two adults. Another false assumption regarding same sex marriages is that the institution of marriage is for procreation. If so, why are infertile individuals allowed to marry? Why are childless couples allowed to remain married? The false assumption that the institution of marriage ensures the continuation of the species is hard to visualize with the current population of the world. The notion of institution of marriage being threatened by same-sex marriages is an additional false assumption by the straight community. In the 1950's miscegenation laws prevented interracial marriages between whites and blacks. A 1967 United States Supreme Court decision finally legalized mixed race marriages. Interracial marriages have not irreparably harmed the institution of marriage. The false assumption of marriage being between a man and a woman, for procreation, continuation of the species, and that the institution of marriage will be threatened by same sex marriages is unfounded.

Opponents of same-sex marriage argue that it is immoral, will result in the raising of "harmed' children and that it is an untried sexual experiment. They also argue that marriage is a special "right" of heterosexual adult couples. Many insist that everyone needs to realize that gat relationships are immoral, and that god placed a man and a woman on this earth for each other. This has nothing to do with whether gay marriages should be legal or not. This nation believes in freedom of religion as well as the right of freedom from religion. If an American believes in religious freedom then he or she has no basis for this argument. Furthermore, religious arguments should be immediately dismissed in the court of law. The straight community has fears for children who live in the home of a same-sex marriage. However, there is no scientific evidence to support that children who are raised in the home of same-sex couples are not "normal." Moreover, there are a number of dysfunctional heterosexual couples who have not provided a healthy, supportive environment needed to raise a "normal" child. Then there is the argument of needing a man and a woman to raise a child. There is no scientific evidence to support that children raised by a single never-married or unmarried parent are not "normal." Opponents of gay marriages argue that same sex marriage is an untried social experiment. However, there are a number of countries that have permitted same sex-marriage including Denmark, Holland and Belgium. The Denmark clergy have noted beneficial effects from legalizing same sex marriages. Another argument against same sex-marriage is that marriage is a special "right." If we live in a country where all individuals have equal rights then how can prohibiting same sex-marriage be allowed? By denying homosexual couples the right to marriage they are excluded from legal benefits