¶ … same-sex marriage. This subject interests me from both a moral and a legal standpoint. The topic has gained national as well as global attention. The debate is especially heated in the United States where the matter is being decided on a state by state basis.
The essential question that surrounds this topic is if same-sex marriage good for society. The ongoing debate over same-sex marriage often generates more heat than light as there are people who feel very strongly about the issues involved on both sides of the argument. This debate cannot be ignored, as legislators and voters around the country wrestle with whether and how to recognize same-sex relationships.
Almost two decades ago William Bennett and Andrew Sullivan argued this issue. Sullivan (1996) asserted that forbidding same-sex partners to marry prevents them from being a full and equal part of America and forces these couples to lie or hide or live as second class citizens. Sullivan contends that throughout history marriage has been between a man and a woman the expanding of the institution to include same-sex couples will not change this, only extend the benefits to gay and lesbian couples so they may be treated like anybody else. He points out that human dignity is the same whether you are a man or a woman gay or straight. Sexual orientation is not a choice.
On the other hand, Bennett (1996) argued that allowing same-sex marriage will weaken the institution by changing its definition, changing the rules that govern behavior, endorsing practices that are contrary to the teachings of the world's major religions, and not support the major function of the institution, procreation and child rearing. Furthermore, Bennett contends that broadening the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples would open a Pandora's Box, speculating that legal recognition and social acceptance of gays would mean that bisexuals who wanted to marry two other people, fathers marrying daughters, sisters marrying sisters, and polygamous arrangements would logically follow.
In 2004 the Massachusetts Supreme Court determined that it was required under the equal protection clause of the state's constitution to allow same-sex marriage. Since then same-sex marriage had been legalized in New York, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington, D.C. In Washington State, a bill legalizing it was passed in February of this year, but opponents said they would seek to block it and put the question before the voters in a referendum. Also this past February the New Jersey Assembly approved legislation legalizing same-sex marriage; however, Governor Chris Christy vetoed the bill calling for the legislature to put the issue before the voters (New York Times, 2012).
Most conservatives would like this issue to be put to a popular vote, while those supporting the matter believe same-sex marriage is a civil right protected by the Constitution and not subject to referendum. The issue has been a hot topic in American politics, setting off a flood of competing legislation, lawsuits and ballot initiatives to either legalize or ban the practice and causing rifts within religious groups. A New York Times/CBS News poll conducted in February 2012 found that 40% of respondents supported same-sex marriage, while 23% supported civil unions for gay couples and 31% said there should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship (New York Times, 2012).
The legalization of same-sex marriage has become a central issue of the gay-rights movement. Gay-rights organizers have funneled money into dozens of state capitals in effort to generate support for the issue. At the same time, conservative groups have pushed hard to forestall or reverse these efforts through new laws or referendums. Twenty-nine states have constitutional bans on same-sex marriage, while 12 others have laws against it (New York Times, 2012).
Religious institutions have also debated policies, privileges and rites regarding homosexuality and same-sex marriage. There is no consensus among Christian faith groups on what the Bible says about homosexuality. In 2005, The United Church of Christ became the first mainline Christian denomination...
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