The War on Gay Marriages

The controversy in gay marriages, affects our social, and moral belief system that impacts our society. There are many social stigma, and moral conflicts that individuals encounter in gay culture marriages. Clearly we as a nation are undecided on this issue. 36 states have passed legislation banning gay marriages, yet the Vermont House of Representatives approved a bill legalizing gay marriage.Vermontmarriage. Vermont has become the third state in the country, after Connecticut and Massachusetts, to allow same-sex couples to marry. Some other states are also debating whether or not to allow these couples to marry.Unfortunatelymarry. Unfortunately, the dispute has left the United States homosexual community in an awkward position. There are some people who think that gay people have no rights andshouldand should never be allowed to marry. Other people believe that gay people are just like anyone else and should enjoy the same rights and privileges as heterosexuals do.Presidentdo. President Barack Obama has said he wants to repeal the 1996 law. That could give same-sex couples in states that recognize gay marriage or civil union's access to federal benefits, such as Social Security payments in the event of the death of one of the partners. There are many opponents of gay people as it is, and they all have their reasons to dislike the idea of letting them get married. One of the main reasons is that the primary purpose of marriage is procreation. Because gay couples are unable to have children, they should not be allowed to marry. Another main argument is that the word marriage means the union of one man and one woman. This is a long-standing theme of most major Western religions. Under a proposed bill known as the Defense of Marriage act, marriage is defined as a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife. Furthermore, it defines a spouse as a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife. Under these guidelines, it is quite obvious that gay couples would not be eligible for marriage.23-year-old,old; Eric Unger a student atIllinoisat Illinois State University was attacked and beaten by a group of six to eight African-American men due to what he calls an anti-gay hate-inspired attack. Eric had scrapes on his face and left elbow, broken teeth and two broken bones in his jaw. His dentist had to wire his jaw shut for the next four to six weeks, leaving him with limited speech and on a liquid-only diet as he recovers.Thisrecovers. This is not called for if people choses to be gay/lesbian that is their choice, we as people have no right to beat or attack them. You cannot beat a person straight sorry it just does not work that way, it is their lives so let them live it as they please.

In an article written by Colin MegillMagill he compares black people to homosexuals and their place in society as a minority. He uses an example of when black children were allowed in the white public schools, it would diminish the education system. Correspondingly, those who are against gay marriages fear if homosexuals are allowed to unite under the phrase marriage the institution value will weaken.

There are apparent differences between respecting the rights of homosexuals and protecting the term marriage. Colin Megill believes that in a perfect world, marriage would simply be a word and civil unions would be separate but equal. He acknowledges the fact that as a society we have tried the separate but equal movement and obviously have not learned from those mistakes. The example he uses to prove this point is the separation between blacks and whites. Marriage is a symbol of two people being joined together. If society creates a new category for the term, society will be dehumanizing these people and promoting unequal ness. Megill believes we are serving the same purposes as were fought against in the civil rights movement. In the reading of Max Weber's Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism it is not difficult to realize that religion sometimes has an important influence on individuals and cultures. Christian groups historically have criticized homosexuality. Since Christianity is quite a dominant religion, it isn't a surprise that a major source of opposition to same-sex marriage has been with in Christian groups. They are taught to believe in their readings and scriptures that homosexual marriages are immoral and unnatural.

Religion sees marriage as the joining of two people. Megill believes that recognition and legitimization by the state is unnecessary for a true believer and only exists for social reasons. His argument goes on to say that if same sex marriages do not receive religious legitimacy only social legitimacy, then who is same sex marriages hurting?Megillhurting? Megill believes that it only threatens people that are insecure about their religious beliefs and those that are uncomfortable with their own sexuality. For, if everyone were secure with himself or herself, why would it matter what others do in our society?

To notice the differences between homosexual and heterosexual marriages society is encouraging separation with in a society, country and nation. Homosexuals cannot choose who they want to be any more than heterosexuals can. It is unfortunate that because they are a minority with in society they are faced with struggles in which they do not have any control over. The longer society ignores the issue that not everyone fits under an ideal type with in society, the more it only confirms the close mindedness we have as a nation. Megill believes that as long as people are carrying signs that saying Gay marriage is not in God's plan. Then as a society we are saying that inequality is.

People against homosexual marriage also say that it is a person's choice to be gay. Since the individual chooses to be a homosexual, they should not be given special privileges. Another argument that you hear is that these couples should not get married simply because of the torment and ridicule they would be faced with in their everyday lives. There are news reports from across America telling about how a gay person was beaten or killed just because they were looked at as different. Some of these people would end up the target of verbal abuse and maybe even physical abuse, just because some heterosexual people see them as different. There are also some very silly arguments that should be discarded immediately. One of these arguments is that marriage is traditionally a heterosexual institution. Making love to another man takes away everything that is masculine about you also is said to be a reason against homosexual people. Another argument that is not very valid is that same sex marriage would start us down a slippery slope towards legalized incest, bestial marriage, polygamy and all other kinds of horrible consequences. These arguments are absurd to even consider as legitimate arguments from intelligent