As the years have progressed, it has become increasingly clear that traditional relationships are the thing of the past. After the Civil Rights Movement, interracial couples gradually moved into the forefront of nontraditional relationships and became the brunt of much social commentary and hostility. Eventually, interracial couples were accepted among the majority of Americans and are now an established part of society. However, despite our apparent social progress as a nation, society has pointed an accusing finger at another nontraditional relationship: couples of like-gender. In this paper I will discuss why gay marriage should be accepted by society and legalized in the .
According to the ACLU, in January of 1998 anti-gay marriage laws were passed in 25 states and blocked in 24. Hawaii did not pass these laws until November of that same year, when a bill allowing same-sex marriages was rejected in Hawaii and it was decided only to allow the legal validation of opposite-gender marriages. Homophobia has swept the country and earned itself comparisons to the Red Scare of 1918-1921 (at this time, much of society feared the infiltration of Communism just as there is a fear today of homosexuality). We have, since the Red Scare, learned that mass hysteria brings no reward or benefit, yet we continue as a country to allow it to overtake us. What could this possibly be saying about a supposed superpower?
Common arguments against same-sex marriages are tradition, procreation, and alleged Biblical opposition. Tradition is irrelevant. If the United States had used tradition as an excuse to oppose change, cars, electricity, planes, paved roads, interracial marriages, civil rights, the belief in heliocentricity, and countless other things could have never come about. We could still be under Britain’s rule. People could be persecuted for differing religious beliefs. Any scientific theory that went against the beliefs of the “traditional” Catholic Church would be disregarded, and the beliefs’ perpetuator would be put to death.
Procreation is another common argument against common-gender marriages. Perhaps it has not occurred to some that many traditional marriages produce no children, whether because they are not physically able to procreate or because they simply do not want to do so. Also, many same-sex relationships raise children. They use surrogate mothers, sperm banks, a close confidant to donate sperm, and/or adoption so that they, too, can have the opportunity to experience the joy of raising children. Generally, society agrees that every couple deserves the opportunity to raise children and watch them grow into adults, so why does society believe it to be wrong that the same couple that raised a child together for eighteen years should not be wed under the grace and acceptance of their legal system?
Biblical opposition is another controversial argument surrounding same-sex marriages. To begin, not everyone holds the Christian belief, and the right to freedom of religion is one of the things that allow our country to operate effectively. It is unconstitutional to allow religion to control the government, and is therefore an irrelevant argument against the legalization of gay marriage. Christians would argue that the Bible is the ultimate authority on truth and should be the sole determiner in human morality. However, the government does not operate by these standards and should not be expected to operate by these standards with the issue of gay marriage.
The general arguments against same-sex couples being able to legally marry are tradition, procreation, and Biblical opposition. None of these arguments are easily defended, as some are unconstitutional while others represent fallacies in reason. Ultimately, what one must understand is the importance of recognizing homosexual couples as legal and normal. One should not infringe on others’ right to the pursuit of happiness- a constitutional human right. The legalization of gay marriage should be pursued strongly as it is constitutional, natural, and the right of every human being.
Bibliography
“ACLU Answers Gay Marriage: Should Lesbian and Gay Couples be Allowed to Marry?” 30 June, 1998. .
Elrich, Paul and Anne. “‘s Population Crisis.” March/April, 1983.
