Its historical design is founded in the marriage relationship and thus depends wholly thereupon" (85). Advocates of same-sex marriages maintain that gay and lesbian partners need the legal framework of marriage to provide them with the same protections that are enjoyed by their heterosexual counterparts; however, these individuals already enjoy the same constitutional protections afforded all American citizens. According to Coolidge, Duncan, Strasser and Wardle (2003), any laws that discriminate on the basis of sex are unconstitutional: "All laws that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation thereby discriminate on the basis of sex and thus are subject to heightened scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Since these laws are not substantially related to any important state interest, they are unconstitutional" (209). It would therefore seem that advocates of same-sex marriages are seeking additional legal protections above and beyond those typically provided. This warped view of the marital framework carries with it a fundamental threat to Western civilization itself. "Marriage has always been," Coolidge et al. advise, "and remains now, one of the most important relationships in any culture, causing every society to be based conceptually upon this unit and on the institutionalization of this unit" (85). In fact, in spite of an increasing amount of literature advocating same-sex marriages, Wardle reports that the evidence that legalizing same-sex marriage or some comparable domestic status would effect an overall improvement in the institution of marriage or in society is lacking. "Indeed," she says, "there are substantial indications that legalizing same-sex marriage would undermine some of the important social purposes for marriage and would ultimately harm society" (771). Notwithstanding the inability of same-sex marriages...
Absent any substantive contribution to the essential social purposes of traditional marriage, a state that legalizes same-sex marriages may be committing fraud when it represents a false image of same-sex unions as being comparable to traditional marriages. "This undermines the institution of marriage by implicitly denying and devaluing the unique strengths and unequaled contributions of heterosexual marriage to the critical social interests it serves, and it impairs the integrity of the law" (Wardle 771).
Gay marriage is a topical and controversial issue, as evidenced by the subject's coverage in the media, presence on ballot initiatives and the high visibility of the controversy in general. There are a few different ethical issues where gay marriage is concerned. To opponents, the primary ethical issue relates to concepts such as the sanctity of marriage and the survival of the species. For proponents, the ethical issues are greater,
Gay Marriage A Discussion about the Relevant Factors that Affect Same-Sex Partners in the Modern World Gay marriage, or same-sex marriage, is one of the most controversial topics in the modern age. It can be a divisive topic because many people feel strongly about the issue from both sides. Many argue that any form of partnership should have equal rights as the traditional marriages do and cite legal arguments and make reference
Gay Marriage Many same-sex couples want to be granted the right to legally marry. The reason is simple: They are in love with each other. They want to honor their relationship in the greatest way society has to offer, by making a public commitment to stand together in good times and bad life brings. While they receive some state-level protections, they do not receive most of the federal emotional and economic
Gay Marriage The issue of gay marriage is a very hot topic in today's world of current events. Many have attributed this quest of equality as a civil rights issue that compares to many of the civil rights battles fought in our history. The purpose of this essay is to make an argument for gay marriage as a viable means of expression for society. I will present this argument by using
Gay Marriage Gaiety is the practice of bossom love for similar sex and especially between two males or females, bisexual exclusive. "Continued engagement into such practices more often than not lead to desire to attain psychosocial satisfaction through intense urge to achieve a feeling of love and sense of belonging" (Abraham Maslow - Hierarchy of Needs). Hence eventually becoming life long partners as depicted in gay marriages, but marriage is defined
Homosexual Marriage and the Impacts on Parenting Homosexual marriage refers to legal matrimony between two individuals of the same gender and it is a phenomenon which has come under a great deal of scrutiny and debate during the last few years. As of the time of this writing nine states have legalized gay marriage, and 31 states have constitutional amendments which ban gay marriage to some extent -- a fact alone
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