Same-Sex Marriage Essay Example for Free

Same-Sex Marriage Essay Gary Persinger and his partner Joseph Adams could only dream of the day they got married. They were together since high school and had spent ten long, happy years together. They brought joy into each other’s world and they were in love. Gary and Joseph dreamed of one day walking down the isle and getting married here in California, by the beautiful beach. They both planned out their wedding, envisioning the day their dreams would come true. On the way home one night, after a gay activist meeting, Gary and Joseph were in a terrible car accident. In the hospital were Joseph was dying, his last words to Gary were, â€Å"Never give up on our vision Gary, never give up. If I don’t make it, I want you to find someone else who deserves you, and makes you happy. Get married, Gary. Be happy!† Now, seven years after the tragedy, Gary thinks he has found the one who he can spend the rest of his life with. Gary and his new partner, Ryan Ashbelle, are continuing the vision were it was last left off. They eagerly plan every detail of their wedding hoping that one day, they can turn that vision that started off many years ago, into a reality. Same sex couples should be allowed to get married because they are being discriminated against, its their life and they would not be affecting anyone else, and they have the potential to build strong families. By not allowing same sex couples to get married, this democracy is discriminating against them. â€Å"The Defense Of Marriage Act, a 1996 law that specifically denies federal marriage rights to to same sex couples, is unconstitutional,† stated Aron Kase in his article, â€Å"Court Rules Defense of Marriage Act Unconstitutional.† Denying federal marriage rights to people simply because of their sexual orientation is a cruel discrimination that should not happening in this day and age. It is very similar to the discrimination in the 1900’s against colored people. In both cases, people are denied rights and not treated equally simply because of their differences. President Barack Obama does not support the Defense of Marriage Act. â€Å" Attorney General Eric Holder said President Barack Obama can no longer defend a federal law that defines marriage as only between a man and a woman,† stated the Huffington Post in their article, ‘’Obama: Defense Of Marriage Act Unconstitutional.’’ This country needs to obey the constitution, realize that we are all created equal, and allow gay marriage. Several parts of Europe have allowed gay marriage and give same sex couples federal marriage rights. If they can do it, why cant America? In his article â€Å"Should Gay Marriage Be Legal?† Nate Silver declared, â€Å" Same sex couples should have access to the same marriage benefits and public acknowledgement enjoyed by heterosexual couples and prohibiting marriage is an unconstitutional discrimination.† Its not fair to same sex couples if they cannot get married. Many same sex couples are heartbroken and devastated that they cannot get married and enjoy the many benefits that come with marriage. Some people argue that marriage should only be between an man and a woman. However, people need to realize that the world has changed over the years, and not everyone is â€Å"traditional† in that sense. This democracy needs to be more open minded. Same sex couples should be allowed to marry because its their life and they would not be affecting anyone. Some people are so against gay marriage when it would not even affect their life in any possible way. â€Å"People act as if their whole world would turn upside down if gays and lesbians get married. Gay marriage would not affect or harm anyone!† declared Brian Saldivar, a supporter of the gay and lesbian community, during his interview on gay marriage. Nobody should worry about other peoples’ relationships. If a homosexual couple want to get married, its their business and nobody should try and stop them from being happy. People should not be nosy and interfere with a couples’ personal life. â€Å"Its my life and I should be in control of it!† stated Saldivar. It is not okay for this democracy to dictate the lives of gays and lesbians by telling them what they may and may not do. So far, same sex couples have been relatively calm about the situation, but it wont always be just banners and protesting. Either this democracy allows same sex marriage, or one day, they will all rebel. When Spain allowed same sex marriage, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said they were â€Å"Expanding the opportunities of happiness for our neighbors, colleagues, friends and family.† America should do the same and let same sex couples enjoy their lives happily and peacefully. Gays and lesbians are people too, and this democracy cannot keep treating them differently and stand in their way of happiness. Some people mistakingly believe that by allowing same sex marriage, society will be destroyed. The truth is that it can only make society stronger because it will bring happiness to millions and millions of people and they will all feel ac cepted, and a part of society. Same sex couples should be allowed to get married because they have the potential to build strong families. â€Å"Most research studies show that children with two moms or two dads fare just as well as children with heterosexual parents,† said Dr. Deanna Linville in her article, â€Å"Same Sex Parents and Their Children.† Children love their parents as long as the parents take good care of them. Children do not care if their parents are gay or straight. All same sex couples can be wonderful parents. With the right environment and care, children can grow up just as good in a same sex couple household. â€Å"Where research differences have been found, same sex parents have sometimes been favored. For example, adolescents with same sex parents have reported feeling more connected at school. Another study reported that children from same sex households are more likely to talk about emotionally difficult topics. They are often more resilient, compassionate, and tolerant,† said Dr. Deanna Linville. Homosexual parents are more inclined to teach their kids not to be judgmental or ignorant because they know what it feels like to be discriminated against. Children with same sex parents are a lot kinder that children from traditional households. â€Å"In the 5 states that recognize and perform gay marriage, the number of divorces in 2009 was 41% of marriages,† stated Danielle Kurtz-Leben in her article, â€Å"Divorce Rates With Same Sex Marriages.† The heterosexual divorce rate is about 50%. It is far more than the homosexual divorce rate, therefore there re more unhappy children who belong to heterosexual couples. Divorce has a huge, negative affect kids, and way less kids with same sex parents experience it. The uneducated believe that same sex couples cannot make good parents. The truth is however, that they can be just as good, if not better, than heterosexual couples. Same sex couples are discriminated against because they are denied federal marriage rights. They should be allowed to marry because its their life and they would not affect anybody. Same sex couples should be allowed to marry because they can build strong families. Imagine if you could never marry the person you love, and your church did not support your relationship. This democracy and church both treat you as if you were not equal and made you feel guilty for loving the other person. How would you feel if you could never get married? If this democracy allowed people to get married, then the country would be filled with happier people and it would be a better, more peaceful place. Become a supporter of the gay and lesbian community and help stop this cruel injustice! Works Cited Deliberating in a Democracy. â€Å"Marriage and the States†. Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago 2009. http://www.deliberating.org. The Huffington Post. â€Å"Obama: Defense of Marriage Act Unconstitutional†. Huffingtonpost.com. 25May2011. 24Aug2012. http://the huffingtonpost.com Kase, Aron. â€Å"Court Rules Defense of Marriage Act Unconstitutional†. Lawyers.com. 31May2012. 24Aug2012. http://lawyers.com/2012/05 Kurtzleben, Danielle. â€Å"Divorce Rates Lower With Same Sex Couples†. Usnews.com 6July2011. 24Aug2012. http://usnews.com/divorce-rates-lower-with-same-sex-couples Linville, Deanna. â€Å"Same Sex Couples And Their Children†. Aamf.org. 08Aug2011. 24Aug2012. http://aamf.org Plain, Patrick. â€Å"US Gay Marriage law Unconstitutional†. Newsday.com. 31July2012. Aug242012. http://newsday.com Saldivar, Brian. Personal Interview. 24Aug2012. Silver, Nate. â€Å"Should Gay Marriage Be Legal?† Procon.org. 10Aug2012. 24Aug2012. http://gaymarriage.procon.org. Zmith, Marlene. â€Å"How to do Citations†. Englishhelp.com. 17July2001. Aug2001 http://www.englishhelp.com/citations