Ransdell 1 Matthew Ransdell Melinda Zepeda Composition 1301-111 9:30 Gay Marriage Same-sex marriage is a widespread social issue

in the United States. I believe that a person who is a homosexual does not mean that they are any less human than a heterosexual. We all live, feel emotion, and breathe the same air as any other human being regardless of our preferred sexual orientation. Because I believe these things, I support gay marriage. Marriage is a basic civil right that everyone is entitled to enjoy at their own free will. Should a couple be prevented from marrying one another is to strip them of one of their basic rights. For instance, an African American man can marry a Caucasian female, to deny same-sex couples the same privileges, is to discriminate against homosexuals. According to the U.S. Supreme Courts declaration in 1974s Cleveland Board of Education v. LaFleur, the freedom of personal choice in matters of marriage and family life is one of the liberties protected by the Due Process Clause. This is stating that the decision to get married lies with the individual rather than with the government. If all of mankind was created equal, then we should all share the same rights as everyone else. If African American man can marry a Caucasian female, then to deny same-sex couples the same privileges is to discriminate against homosexuals. Marriage is the next logical progression after a civil union because a civil union has some of the same rights as a marriage. Though this is true, it is only legal in certain

Ransdell 2 states. If same-sex couples are allowed to have a civil union, it only makes sense that they should be allowed to have the title of marriage. Forbidding homosexual couples from receiving that title is discrimination. People have fears that same-sex marriages are not a family oriented environment, but opposite-sex marriages can also have the same negative impact on children. Just because a marriage consists of two of the same genders does not mean that a child will be raised in a hostile environment. Children to opposite-sex parents are still often succumbed to problematic childhoods, due to distant or abusive parents. Allowing same-sex couples to marry amongst one another would encourage the acceptance of diversity among many people around the United States. There are a lot of people who disagree with same-sex marriage and would rather discriminate against homosexuals who wish to get married with their partner. To legalize same-sex marriage would increase the acceptance by many Americans. The same concept happened with the abolishment of slavery in 1865. This action may have caused a lot of controversy, but people came to accept that African Americans were now free to do as they please and work alongside those who are not colored. Legalizing gay marriage would have the same effect, although it may be easier to accept due to the reason that people in recent times are more open-minded than they were during the 1800s. Legalizing same-sex marriage could also potentially lead to an increase of adoption rates since most child adoption agencies will not allow you to adopt unless you are married. According to the Adopt America Network, there are 130,000 children in the U.S. alone waiting to be adopted. If the United States were to legalize gay marriage, then that couple would be able to adopt a child meaning more children would have families

Ransdell 3 instead of having to wait in an adoption home for a heterosexual couple to adopt them. More children in the United States would then have a home to go to at the end of the day rather than having to sit around doing nothing in an adoption home. Not only would the adoption rates increase, but it has also been published on June 7, 2010 by Pediatrics that children of lesbian mothers are socially and academically more competent and have fewer social problems than children of heterosexual parents. In another study published on July 19, 2010, children of lesbian, gay, and straight parents were all equally adjusted to one another. This shows that even though a childs parents may be homosexual, it does not mean that the child will grow up socially inadequate. Although same-sex marriage is acceptable by quite a few people around the nation, the marriage between two males or females goes against my religious beliefs. In the bible, it is stated that a man shall not lie with another man because it is cause to be put to death. For two men or women loving each other to be considered an act punishable by death, it is clear that it should be forbidden. Same-sex marriage is often viewed as an issue in the United States, but there are viable solutions to solve the problem that many face. Seeing as same-sex couples do not have the same privileges as a married couple, but some people do not want gay couples to be able to marry, a civil union could be given those same privileges. For instance, samesex couples in a civil union can be given the privilege to adopt as easily as a married heterosexual couple would have. Giving homosexual couples the same privileges as married heterosexual couples would bring same-sex marriage one step closer to becoming a reality. Doing so would open more peoples minds to the idea of a same-sex marriage being a normal thing in our world today.

Ransdell 4 Works Cited

Ransdell 5 Annotated Bibliography Boies, David. "Gay Marriage Is Protected by the US Constitution." Gay Marriage. Ed. Debra A. Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "Gay Marriage and the Constitution: Why Ted Olson and I Are Working to Overturn California's Proposition 8." Wall Street Journal 20 July 2009. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. This article is helpful. Constitutional right to marry. Dodd, Chris. "Gay Marriage Promotes Equality." Social Justice. Ed. William Dudley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Rights, Responsibilities and Love." Meriden (Connecticut) Record-Journal 21 June 2009.Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. Learning to accept same-sex marriage. Somewhat helpful. Kellard, James. Gay Marriage Could Infringe on Religious Liberties. "Gay Marriage Should Be Legal." Gay Marriage. Ed. Debra A. Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "Do We Have a Constitutional Right to Ban Gay Marriage?" 2011. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. Arguments based on religious freedom. Counter claim possibility. ---. Gay Marriage is a Human Rights Issue. "Gay Marriage Should Be Legal." Gay Marriage. Ed. Debra A. Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "Do We Have a Constitutional Right to Ban Gay Marriage?" 2011. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. People treat gays as a lesser people. Being gay doesnt justify physical harm. Good article.

Ransdell 6 ---. Gay Marriage Should be Legal. "Gay Marriage Should Be Legal." Gay Marriage. Ed. Debra A. Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "Do We Have a Constitutional Right to Ban Gay Marriage?" 2011. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. Institution of marriage not real. Children and gay parents. Good Article. Lithwick, Dahlia. "The Defense of Marriage Act Should Not Be Defended in the Courts." Gay Marriage. Ed. Debra A. Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "Indefensible: Why the Obama Administration Changed Its Mind About the Defense of Marriage Act." Slate.com. 2011. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. Obama administration not defending DOMA. Somewhat useful. Maybe last resort if at all. Molinet, Rudy. "The Defense of Marriage Act Should Be Repealed." Gay Marriage. Ed. Debra A. Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "Defense of Marriage Act Is No Longer Defensible and Should Be Repealed."KeysNews.com. 2011. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. Gays get full and equal protection of laws. Useful article. Sprigg, Peter. "Gay Marriage Should Not Be Legal." Gay Marriage. Ed. Debra A. Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "The Top Ten Harms of Same-Sex Marriage." Family Research Council, 2011. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. Taxpayers, consumers, businesses forced to subsidize same-sex marriages. Schools teaching same/opposite sex marriage is the same. Useful counter claim.

Ransdell 7 Trowbridge, Ron. "There Are Several Constitutional Hurdles to Gay Marriage." Gay Marriage. Ed. Debra A. Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "Six Constitutional Hurdles to Gay Marriage." Human Events (5 Sept. 2010).Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. Constitutional complications/difference in interpretations. von Spakovsky, Hans. "The Defense of Marriage Act Should Be Defended in the Courts." Gay Marriage. Ed. Debra A. Miller. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. At Issue. Rpt. from "Obama Drops Pretense, Administration Will Not Defend DOMA."The Foundry. 2011. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. President Obama does not defend DOMA. Somewhat useful counter claim.