should gays be allowed to marry

Marriage is a commitment of private love between two people, yet homosexuals have been denied the right to make their marriage recognized in 45 of 50 states in America. The people that are against gay marriage believe in protecting traditional marriage between a man and a woman. They argue that homosexuality isn?t natural; therefore it shouldn?t be accepted in our society. Also, they say that a child can be raised best in an environment with a mother and a father, and that having gay parents will result in their child being gay. Many religions, like Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, deny homosexuality, and since marriage is a religious ceremony, many believe that it would be wrong to legalize homosexual marriage because it goes against its principles. Also, people argue that marriage is mainly for reproduction, and the reasons for marriage are not fulfilled within a gay marriage
Homosexuals should be allowed to marry because the disallowance of it violates their constitutional rights. Marriage is an institution long recognized by our government under the right to pursue happiness, and denying that right to any couple, regardless of gender, is unconstitutional. This argument, though, is not disputed. In fact, none of the arguments raised in opposition to the allowance of homosexual marriages takes into account the constitutional rights afforded to all humans. The arguments are only in relation to the possible repercussions (real or imagined) of granting these rights.
Our nation was built and has always been based on the fundamental principles of freedomexpressed in the Declaration of Independence and through our Constitution. The opponents of homosexual marriage need to remember what freedom means to America, and understand the significance of setting a precedent that denies that freedom. The Supreme Court has long recognized that the institution of marriage is one of the rights guaranteed to all Americans by our Constitution. Banning same-sex marriage is discriminatory. Marriage is a basic human right and should not be denied to any individual. At various times in U.S. history, other minorities
According to the Human Rights Campaign, the 2000 Census reported 3.1 million people in the United States of America were living in same sex relationships. These citizens reside in 99.3 percent of the counties across the nation and it is estimated that between 1 and 9 million children are being raised by gay, bisexual or lesbian parents (Human Rights Campaign). These individuals are American citizens protected by the United States Constitution. Article 14.1 of the United States Constitution entitles all citizens equal protection under the law and forbids states from enacting laws which deny citizens? rights. Denying same-sex couples the right to marry, denies them equal protection under the law. Therefore, same-sex marriage should be legalized.
Denying people who are homosexuals, the opportunity to marry is a form of minority discrimination. Marriage, in itself, is the highest level of commitment between any couple, regardless of their sexual orientation. Marriage is a public contract between two individuals who choose to be together. In response to the attempts at trying to recognize same sex marriage, the federal government passed the Defense of Marriage Act in September, 1996. This act was written in attempt to permit the federal government and all 50 states to deny recognition of gay marriage performed in any other state. DOMA also permits the federal government to continue denying same-sex couples hundreds of legal rights and responsibilities that come with civil marriage. This is an infringement on a person s OWN RIGHTS. This deprivation of the right to love someone and share the rest of your life with them is just as bad as claiming blacks are inferior to whites, that Protestants are lower than Catholics.
Sharon Kowalski and Karen Thompson shared a home in Minnesota and exchanged rings to show their commitment to each other. However, their relationship was not legally recognized. When Sharon was seriously injured in a car accident, the hospital refused to allow Karen to visit her. Karen was denied any information about Sharon s condition and was not allowed to make any decisions about the treatment of her loved one. She waited in anguish for hours in the waiting room not even knowing whether Sharon was dead or alive. Finally a priest found out for Karen that Sharon had sustained a serious brain injury. Karen spent nine and half years and over $300,000 fighting a court battle to win the right to visit, care for and finally bring home the person she loved.
In Hawaii, two gay men had been in a committed relationship for 20 years. One Friday night, one of the men had a stroke and was taken to the hospital. When his partner arrived, the hospital refused to let them see each other even though the couple had a legal document stating their wish to make medical decisions for each other. When the man denied visitation finally got to speak to the hospital lawyer?s days later, they said you can pick up his body at the city morgue. His partner had died three years earlier.
Rights that married people take for granted such as the ability to visit a sick or injured spouse in the hospital are denied to gay and lesbian people. Because their committed relationships are not recognized by law, hospitals and other institutions and even their neighbors do not have to respect the basic human rights of gay and lesbian couples.
So think about that next time you go to visit a sick loved one in the hospital. How would you feel if you couldn?t see them, and then was told to go pick up their body at the city morgue?
What is marriage? Recently, people argue with respect to the definition of marriage. What happened to marriage? To get married is a very important event for
Almost everyone. Especially for women, marriage and giving a birth could be the two biggest events of their lives. Many people believe that getting married to the one whom he or she loves is natural. However, what do you think if you cannot get married to him or her because it is socially unacceptable? Andrew Sullivan and William Bennett are authors who are arguing about the homosexual marriage. Sullivan agrees with the same-sex marriage because everyone has a right to marry. On the other hand, Bennett contradicts Sullivan?s opinion. Bennett makes an assertion that marriage is between a man and a woman building up their entire life together. Both authors? opinions are totally different. Nevertheless, their ideas are well established.
In Sullivan?s essay, he talks about accepting same-sex marriage. If the judge accepted homosexuals as citizens in the Supreme Court, homosexual people would feel free. They do not have to hide and tell a lie anymore. Most people wonder why they desire to get married. The reason is the same as anyone who wants to get married to the one whom he or she loves. It is normal thought. It seems easy to accept these opinions. However, it is very difficult because marriage is between a man and a woman, and this has been a general thought for a long time. Therefore, some religions refuse homosexuality, but it is not a problem anymore because of the separation of the church and the state. Homosexuals just want a social right to get married. Some people still argue the definition of marriage. It has been change by homosexuality because human values are equal anyone in the world. Everyone has the same rights. Is marriage to bring up children? No, there are many married couples who do not have children. This is no difference between homosexual marriage and other marriage styles. Nevertheless, if there
are people, who disagree with the same-sex marriage, they inhibit homosexual people from staying their country.
In Bennett?s essay, he writes two points which divide opinions about homosexual marriage. One is whether homosexual marriage strengthens or weakens the institution. The other is what the marriage is. If the definition of marriage were extended too much to include homosexual union, the tradition of marriage would be changed. However, there are many people who want to get married to their children or more than two people. Bennett asks how we can consider these people. It is difficult to say what the moral is. Marriage also means to decide your best partner. Everyone desires a beautiful life with a partner, but most marriage is not as the ideal as we think. He mentions that many supporters of homosexual couple do not share this ideal. Another different opinion from proponents to opponents of same-sex marriage is ?the very heart of marriage itself?. Marriage is that a man and a woman love, respect, and help each other. That is what people learn in this society. The definition cannot be changed easily by anyone. In addition, this thought has been taught for a long time in American history. Therefore, we should respect and keep this thought.
I do not think there is a common ground. Of course, both authors talk about the same-sex marriage. Besides, Sullivan agrees with this, and Bennett is the opponent. However, what Sullivan really wants to say is the right of human being. Everyone has the same right, and there is no difference between men and women and black and white. As he says, this is why homosexuality should have the same right as other people have. Right to marry is just one of the whole problems for homosexuality. In contrast, Bennett focuses on marriage. He talks about what the marriage is, and what the marriage should be. In addition to this, he mentions other types of marriages like polygamy and family marriage. If there were these styles of marriages as a culture in the US, he would accept them. He says we should not change this culture because our ancestors made this.
There are many different types of love such as loving family, friendships, to love your pets, to love the one who you should not, your boyfriend or girlfriend and so on. Nobody will predict to love someone because love comes by chance. Did you change your mind to read this essay? Or do you still have your own opinion? I think both ideas those two authors gave us are correct. Only love can solve everything.

Work Cites
Bennett William. ?Leave Marriage Alone?. Constructing Others Constructing Ourselves.
Ed. Gruber et al. Kendall/Hunt, 2002.
Sullivan Andrew. ?Let Gays Marry?. Constructing Others Constructing Ourselves.
Ed. Sibylle Gruber et al. Kendall/Hunt, 2002.
http://www.hrc.org/
http://www.hrc.org/your_community/975.htm