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Same Sex Marriage Essay for Students

Introduction

The same-sex marriage has sparked both emotional and political clashes between supporters and opponents for years. Although it has been regulated through law and religion in many countries around the world, legal and social responses often range from celebration to criminalisation of the pair.

Essay No - 1

Marriage equality – importance of same sex union.

Back in 2018, the Supreme Court of India passed a watershed judgement that was ordained to go down the archives of the country’s history. In spite of the majoritarian prejudices prevalent in India directed towards the LGBT community, the apex court revoked the draconian and out-dated Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

This Section, in typically vague and diplomatic terms, belittled homosexuality and criminalised intercourse that goes against the “laws of nature”. It was incorporated into the Indian Penal Code under the British Raj in 1861, and it took the Indian judiciary system 70 years since independence, to abrogate the law and decriminalise homosexuality.

Nonetheless, the landmark decision was met with euphoria from its proponents, especially the activists who fought for the cause for more than a decade, wrangling with society and courts to attain equality in the eyes of the law. Even though a marriage equality essay is far from sight in a time when it is legal to marry the person one loves irrespective of their gender identity or sex, the decision by Supreme Court portends its occurrence.

Equality in Marriage

Equality in marriage is an idea, which propagates that all marriages notwithstanding whether it is a Sapphic marriage or gay marriage or heterogeneous matrimony are equal and should enjoy similar rights and status in society.

Unfortunately, our society’s construct is such that we grow up with the idea that only a man and woman can be bound in matrimony. And while doing so, we overlook the multitudes of individuals that associate with different sexual preferences and gender identities.

While the western world marches toward inclusive societies, where individuals are treated as equals irrespective of their sexuality or gender, we still are in the embryonic stages towards such acceptance.

If one searches for same-sex marriage essay or statistics, one will find that support for marriage equality in countries like the USA hovers above 60%, a data presented by Pew Research Center. And if one were to rummage through the same statistics for India, it is a dismal 18%, according to a poll by Mood of the Nation (MOTN) in 2019.

Importance of Same-Sex Marriage

Because no change is appreciated until it contributes to the betterment of society in one way or another, proponents of an inclusive society have long contested its importance in same-gender marriage essays and discourses.

We are an overpopulated country and encouragement of marriage equality and an increase in same-sex matrimonies would lead to lower population growth. At the same time, it might witness a growth in adoptions of orphans, which is a significant move towards a holistic society.

And last but not the least it would be an encouraging shift towards adherence to the laws of human rights, which dictates that no human should live under discrimination, fear, or oppression.

The seeds of prejudice prevalent in our society, however, will not change overnight. Our traditions and social construct are vastly different from those of western societies. A change in mindset is a process that might take decades and even centuries.

Nonetheless, the change should begin somewhere. And awareness that every human is equal and their preferences and choices about who they love and marry should not be a ground for discrimination is quintessential to that change.

Essay No - 2

Same-gender marriage: a threat or blessing for the reunion of two people.

Marriage or wedlock is the cultural union of two people for a lifetime. Considered an integral part of one’s life, it involves both legal and social formalities performed by the two families in concern. Besides, it also comprises regulations and obligations to be followed by the spouses and their children as well as their immediate family members.

However, there have been instances where marriage equality essays have been spoken of by many. These are instances where marriage between couples of the same gender is considered inappropriate. Nevertheless, the global society is evolving and people are coming out of the closet more often than ever before.

How Does the World Perceive?

Most communities are becoming liberal in terms of being more accepting in nature. People by and large are taking a stand to abide by their sexuality. It is no more a matter of shame that has to be kept hidden or shut behind the doors.

Multiple same sex marriage essay has come up sighting the incidents where the couple were accepted by their respective families. In addition, the act of legalization of same-sex marriage has been going on since the past two decades with great vigour.

Countries like the Netherlands, Spain, and Belgium had legalised it in the wake of the 2000s, while other countries such as Canada, South Africa, and Norway followed suit in the upcoming years.

The marriage equality essay has been in the limelight because more people are opening up about the benefits and importance of such marriages in today’s world. The reasons that have fuelled such a dramatic change can be listed below as -

People can be themselves and do not have to try hard to get accepted for who they are.

They are proud of both their individuality as well as sexuality and do not have to wear a mask.

They can plan for the future instead of having to succumb to societal pressure.

Same-sex couples now have the opportunity to live with their loved ones happily, without having to take cover.

The spread of the same gender marriage essay has been a saviour for many who were not aware of the changes that are taking place all around the world. It has not only made the LGBTQ community aware but also encouraged them to evaluate themselves and take the plunge to raise their voices too. They can now take a stand for themselves and feel relieved that they are not discriminated against anymore.

What is the Scope in the Future?

Although a significant part of the world including countries like Taiwan, Germany, USA, etc. have been able to match the steps with the advancing surrounding; there is still a section who has not. Even now, marriage equality essays and other online content create backlash.

Therefore, it is essential that more people come forward and join hands to the cause of being united in terms of accepting the bond between people.

Essay No – 3

Same-sex marriage - the changing attitude of modern society.

Most religions and cultures accept that marriage is not a trivial matter but is a key to the pursuit of happiness. However, they still openly criticise the practice of same-sex weddings. Fortunately, the stigma related to homophobia and LGBTQ community is slowly but surely lessening. Better education, introduction to different cultures, and an open mindset played a critical role in this development.

Let’s discuss the changing attitude of today’s society and the benefits a culture might enjoy in this same-sex marriage essay.

The History of Same-Sex Marriage

During the mid-20 th century, historian Johann Jakob Bachofen and Lewis Henry Morgan made systematic analyses of the marriage and kinship habits in different cultures. They noted that most cultures expressed support towards a heteronormative form of marriage that revolves around union between opposite-sex partners. However, all these cultures practised some form of flexibility while following these ideals.

Scholars like historian John Boswell often declared that same-sex unions were recognised in medieval Europe, but the most notable changes were introduced during the late 20 th century.

An Accepting Society

A more stable society was created over the years, with a better understanding of each other and acceptance for the different. As the culture opened its arms to learn about others, it also learned about minority groups such as the LGBT community. Similar to racial equality, or the equality movement for women, growing acceptance of that community ultimately made the commune much more stable.

Many consider that same-sex unity will only benefit the homosexual community. However, it leaves a much more profound impact on the overall society. To begin with, it will reduce homophobia by a significant margin. Acknowledging a homosexual relationship will also reduce hate crimes in countries like India. There are many research papers and marriage equality essays available that show how communities that allow an individual to choose their partner to enjoy a significantly less rate of crime.

The Economic Boost

An unlikely benefit of same-sex marriage and a compassionate society towards homosexuals is the economic boost. For one, the wedding and marriage industry is the biggest beneficiary of same-sex marriage, as it increases their customer base by a significant margin. It also allows several business providers to service them, and helps the travel and tourism industry by boosting the number of honeymoon goers.

For example, businesses in New York enjoyed almost 260 million dollars boost within a year when same-sex marriage was legalised. Similar effects were also found in other countries.

Even though India still hasn’t shaken the stigma attached to a same-sex relationship, somewhat modern society is slowly learning to accept the diversity of human nature. With the help of the government, activists, and hundreds of individuals creating and posting blogs, same-gender marriage essays on the internet, society is gradually becoming an understanding and nurturing entity for everyone.

FAQs on Same Sex Marriage Essay for Students

1. Which countries have legalized same-sex marriage and when?

With the advancement in the thought process of people, many countries have passed laws in favor of same-sex marriage, thereby legalizing it in their countries. The first countries to legalize same-sex marriage before 2010 were the Netherlands who legalized it in 2001, Belgium legalized it in 2003, Canada and Spain legalized it in 2005, South Africa in 2006, Sweden and Norway in 2009 and Iceland, Argentina, and Portugal legalized same-sex marriage in 2010. Later on, Denmark legalised it in 2012, and countries like Uruguay, New Zealand, France, and Brazil in 2013, Ireland, Luxembourg, and the United States in 2015, Colombia in 2016, Malta, Germany, and Finland in 2017, Australia in 2018 and Ecuador and Austria in 2019. The recent country to legalize same-sex marriage is the United Kingdom. Thus, now people have started accepting the idea of same-sex marriages across the world.

2. What is the importance of same-sex marriage and why should it be legalized?

As the world is progressing we all must understand that each one of us is a human being and before labelling us with our caste and love preference, we must learn to respect each other. In this progressing era as more people with same-sex preference are coming up it has become more important to accept and legalize same-sex marriage because of the following reasons:

It will give people a chance to be themselves and enjoy their own individuality.

It will make people understand that loving a person of the same sex is not wrong or abnormal.

It will teach people that it is better for people to spend their lives with someone they love and not with the person whom they don’t even like.

This will make this place a much happier space to be in.

It gives people with homosexuality a hope of a happy life.

3. What is the status of same-sex marriage in India?

Same-sex marriage in India is still not encouraged. In India, neither the laws are lenient nor the people are broad-minded to accept it happening around them. The legal and community barriers never give these people a chance to prove themselves. Indian society is not very welcoming to changes that are different from the customs and culture they have practised till now. Thus, any change in these cultural laws gives rise to an outburst of anger in the country which makes legalising these issues even more sensitive and challenging for the law. India still needs time to get accustomed to the concept of same-sex marriage. However, not knowing about the concept is a different thing, and completely opposing it is different, therefore, awareness about such issues is very necessary for the developing countries so that people can first understand the pros and cons of it and then either accept it or reject it. Not only in India, but in other countries also, the idea of same-sex marriage is not accepted because they think it is against their religion. People opposing the LGBTQ community to get the right to marry their lovers take away the very basic human right of such people. There has been a long-lasting war for the members of the LGBTQ community for their rights. Although there have been some positive results in recent years, for example, the end of Section 377, which criminalizes homosexuality. However, India still has a long way to go in terms of the LGBTQ community and their rights.

4. What approaches can be used to legalize same-sex marriage?

Same-sex marriage is currently not taken in kind words by the people but slowly and steadily the things are changing and people are able to change their perspective with respect to the LGBT community. Legalizing same-sex marriage in a country like India where a number of religions and customs are practiced is really difficult. Therefore, few approach switch can help legalize same-sex marriage without hurting any religion are that the existing laws are interpreted in such a way that they legalize same-sex marriage, LGBT can be regarded as a different community which has customs of its own that permits same-sex marriage, making amendments in the Act itself or all the religions can individually interpret their marriage laws in such a way that same-sex marriage becomes in accordance with their religion.

5. Briefly discuss your view on same-sex marriages?

Same-sex marriage refers to the marriage of the same sex which is similar to heterosexual marriages in terms of rituals and proceedings. Same-sex marriages should not be ashamed of and are justified because after all love knows no boundaries. The community must be made aware of this concept so that they can appreciate and celebrate the union of two loving souls without considering their gender. The community as a whole must attempt to legalize and accept same-sex marriage with respect to the laws, religion, and customs of the country. In the coming years, there is a ray of hope that same-sex marriages will also be celebrated just like normal marriages in India.

Religious, Governmental and Social Views on Same-Sex Marriage Essay

Introduction, religious and social views on same-sex marriage, government legislation and same-sex marriages, legal rights and non-discrimination, reference list.

The concept of same-sex marriage is considered to be a union that is recognized by the state in both a social and legal context wherein the marriage of two individuals of the same sex is considered to be legally and socially binding. It must be noted though that its inception and implementation within a few U.S. states and countries have only been established within the past decade and a half.

In fact, the very concept itself is widely considered to be the result of the gay rights movement that gained popularity in the U.S. during the early 1960s which subsequently spread to a worldwide gay community as a direct result of its popularity and the freedoms it entailed.

What must be understood though is that while the concept of same-sex marriage exists it is not widely accepted within the general population; in fact, it is often considered to be a social aberration which has actually resulted in delays in its widespread acceptance and institution as a standard practice (Sherkat et al., 2010).

An examination of the underlying factors behind this apparent resistance to the implementation of same-sex marriage as a standard social institution reveals that religious and social precedent play distinct roles in promoting the idea that allowing same-sex marriage is an aberration towards what is normal (Ellison et al. 2011). It must be noted though that such arguments are based on historical precedent rather than factual evidence indicating that same-sex marriage is actually bad for society.

Further examination of the issue reveals that there are actually no adverse effects beyond that of social aesthetics in implementing same-sex marriages. Society is already well aware and has somewhat accepted the fact that same-sex relationships do, in fact, exist. Extending such relationships towards a legalized union does no apparent harm to society and thus can be considered an inherent right of an individual.

It is on this basis of inherent rights that various countries and states in the U.S. have begun to adopt new forms of legislation that actually allow same-sex civil unions (marriages) since it is argued that people have an inherent right to choose who they want to marry with religious and social institutions having no right to interfere with a person’s inherent freedoms.

What must be understood is that the basis for the creation of recent legislation allowing same-sex unions is not one where the unions are inherently approved of based on the predilections of the individual actors or groups that brought about the legislation in the first place but rather are a direct result of responding to the request of a community within a nation who are advocating their right to a civil union bases on their inherent human rights which the state has the responsibility to uphold.

The basis for this apparent social abhorrence behind the act is actually the result of two distinct factors, namely: religion and the adherence to traditional partnerships within society.

Religion, particularly Christian and Muslim groups, are thoroughly against the concept of same-sex marriage and due to their population majority within society with both groups numbering in the 2 billion to 3 billion range this means that a large percentage of community already has developed the preconceived notion that same-sex marriages are a travesty and are against the natural order.

It must be noted though that while a majority of Middle Eastern countries are thoroughly against the concept of same-sex marriages a large percentage of countries, of whom most of the population is inclined towards Christianity, are actually more tolerant of the concept of lesbians, gays, bi-sexual and transsexuals (LGBT) (Ellison et al. 2011).

This tolerance though, should not be considered as thorough acceptance since LGBT groups within such countries still experience various forms of harassment and discrimination. An examination of the different arguments presented by religious groups against the act of same-sex marriages usually coincides with various references towards religious texts which specifically state that same-sex marriages are not allowed within their respective religions (Healy, 2011).

The attitude of religious groups has extended towards presenting the message that LGBTs are an aberration to the natural order of the world and as such claim that these individuals will not go to heaven and are destined for hell (Healy, 2011). While such messages are highly inappropriate, they are actually keeping with the rather conservative nature of religious groups who are usually at odds with liberal ideas of which same-sex marriages are extensions of.

Another factor that has caused delays towards the adoption of same-sex marriages as a standard practice is the traditional idea of man-woman partnerships within society. As noted by institutional theory, people are more likely to adhere to traditional financial, economic, government or social institutions despite their inefficiency and the presence of better alternatives due to the fact that they have been around for such a long period of time.

This longevity is thus equated towards stability which most people consider vital in everyday existence. When applying this particular concept towards the establishment of same-sex marriages as a new social institution it becomes obvious that people would initially be against it and would not immediately accept it due to the fact that it is relatively new and that they prefer to stick to traditional social institutions as their basis for defining what is and what is not acceptable within society (Sherkat et al., 2010).

As such it can be seen that religion and traditional societal concepts are one of the inherent problems behind widespread acceptance of the practice of same-sex marriage however what must be understood is that while religions and established social norms are inherent parts of society they are categorized under influential aspects of society rather than binding legal institutions (Messerli, 2011).

Religions and societal norms cannot enact legislation in government, they can be thought of as methods to influence the creation of legislation but in the end individual actors or groups within the government are the primary creators of all legislation and as such it is only them that can determine whether the act of same-sex marriage can be considered legal or not.

This is one of the reasons why same-sex marriages are increasingly being allowed in various U.S. states and countries since most legislators and individual actors who help enact legislation take into consideration factors such as inherent individual and human rights when they legalize certain practices and cannot allow themselves to be influenced by social and religious advocacy since when creating effective legislation what is needed is not a person’s religious or social orientation but rather a consideration of the moral and ethical standards behind the creation of the new law or piece of legislation.

On the other hand this also explains why same-sex marriages are not allowed within various Middle Eastern countries since religion and the creation of government laws and pieces of legislation often overlap with the concept of “Shariah law” often taking precedent resulting in individuals being unduly influenced by the necessity of making sure new laws and enacted legislation often stays true to religious concepts and opinions.

When examining arguments in support of same-sex marriage terms such as “inherent human rights” and “non-discrimination” are often used as methods of justification for same-sex marriages. It is argued that people have an inherent human right to freely marry who they choose to and as such the state should support such unions. This particular argument is based on the freedom of choice, which is cited in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which most states ascribe to (Barry, 2011).

What must be understood is that states have the inherent responsibility to uphold the basic human rights of its citizens. While some states such as China, the Middle East and several countries within Africa do limit certain human rights in favor of national security the fact remains that states that are set in a more democratic orientation (such as the U.S.) do often take into account the individual rights if its citizens in shaping new pieces of legislation (Glass et al., 2011).

Since the right to choose is a basic human right, it is used as method of justifying same-sex marriages since people are entitled to choose who they wish to marry (Glass et al., 2011). What must be understood is that before any legislation is passed that condones a particular action sufficient impetus must be proven to show that such actions are beneficial towards society, the state and are methods of upholding individual rights.

In the case of same-sex marriages this took the form of establishing the fact that a sufficiently large LGBT community is in place within a particular country/state and that same-sex relationships do occur on a regular basis so as to justify the creation of legislation that allows civil unions between same-sex couples.

When examining the justification behind the creation of legislation allowing same-sex civil unions it is often the case that such pieces of legislation are created since it is necessary for the government to uphold individual and community rights, in this particular case it is the inherent human right of same-sex couples to get married (Barry, 2011).

Another factor that should be taken into consideration (which is often expressed by the LGBT community) is their right not to be discriminated against by the government.

The 1960 gay rights movement that occurred as a direct result of the influences of the 1960 Civil Rights movement resulted in the passing of various forms of legislation that made discrimination on the basis of gender illegal within the United States. This particular piece of legislation is often utilized as a basis for the creation of legislation within states to allow same-sex marriage since to limit marriage to people of opposite genders is taken as a form of discrimination under the law.

While it may be true that individual states have the prerogative to subjectively interpret the law based on their inherent predilections that fact remains that it has been noticeable that states are often siding against religious and social groups and are in effect interpreting the law to allow same-sex civil unions.

What must be understood is that from a legislative standpoint, same-sex marriages should be allowed by the law since states need to uphold the individual rights of their citizens. Same-sex marriage is thus continuing to be interpreted under the basis of an inherent right and as such is one of the reasons why individual states within the U.S. as well as other countries are beginning to allow same-sex civil unions.

While it may be true that religious and social institutions vilify the practice the fact remains that the right to choose who to marry is an inherent human right that states need to uphold. As such, the creation of legislation allowing same-sex marriages can be considered an evolution in the way in which the terminology of the institution of marriage is formulated so as to take into consideration the inherent human right of individuals who wish to marry despite being of the same gender.

Barry, P. (2011). Same-Sex Marriage and the Charge of Illiberality. Social Theory & Practice , 37(2), 333-357. Retrieved from EBSCO host .

Ellison, C. G., Acevedo, G. A., & Ramos-Wada, A. I. (2011). Religion and Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Marriage Among U.S. Latinos. Social Science Quarterly (Blackwell Publishing Limited) , 92(1), 35-56.

Glass, C. M., Kubasek, N., & Kiester, E. (2011). Toward A ‘European Model’ of Same – Sex Marriage Rights: A Viable Pathway for the U.S.?. Berkeley Journal of International Law , 29(1), 132-174. Retrieved from EBSCO host .

Healy, M. (2011). St. Paul, Ephesians 5 and same-sex marriage. Homiletic & Pastoral Review , 111(8), 12. Retrieved from EBSCO host .

Messerli, J. (2011). Should same-sex marriages be legalized? . Web.

Sherkat, D. E., de Vries, K., & Creek, S. (2010). Race, Religion, and Opposition to Same-Sex Marriage. Social Science Quarterly (Blackwell Publishing Limited) , 91(1), 80-98.

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Essay on Same-Sex Marriage

Marriage, also known as wedlock or matrimony, is a culturally and biblically recognized union between individuals, spouses of the opposite gender. Through marriage, rights and obligations are established between the spouses, spouses, and children and between the spouses and the in-laws. A widely accepted marriage entails formal union and social and a legal contract between individuals that unite their lives legally, socially, economically, and emotionally. In a marriage, there is legitimacy to sexual relations within the union. However, most marriages entail individuals of the opposite gender. There is another type of marriage where individuals of the same gender come together as a couple, commonly referred to as same-sex marriage.

Same-sex marriage, also known as gay or lesbianism dates back to the first decade with several records of the same. In terms of the legality of marriage, the lawful union has oscillated between a private accord made by two persons and an accord of social importance under State’s control (DiGregorio, 2019). Contemporarily, no interpretation of marriage respectfully serves the diverse global population. However, the narrative of marriage equality has been driven for several centuries, and the Netherlands first adopted first marriage equality in 2001. Marriage equality meant that no individual is to be discriminated against because of sexual orientation. The issue of same-sex marriage is a controversial topic that has been embraced in some regions, even as it is loathed in some regions in the world. As a result, marriage equality has different jurisdictions; for example, it is considered a human right and civil right in the regions where it is embraced. Same-sex marriage is a political, social, and religious issue whose prominent supporters are human rights activists and civil rights organizations. However, most religious groups are the primary opponents to same-sex marriage as they consider it an ungodly and sinful act.

Gay marriage has evolved, and there are tales of records of same-sex marriage globally. Records show that several same-sex marriages have taken place before, stretching from casual to reverent unions. Biblically, the Old Testament of the Holy Bible prohibited same-sex relations. Initially, same-sex marriage was common in Ancient Greece, Rome, ancient Mesopotamia, and some regions of China at some point in European history. Historians revealed that gay relationships existed in Sumeria between young and adult men, even renowned and respected priests practicing homosexuality. Historical research revealed that Ancient Mesopotamia believed that gay relationships were standard and did not need to be condemned.

In Mesopotamian religion, same-sex relationships and religious prostitution were expected and encouraged, like having sex between a man and another man was believed to make one free of misfortune. According to Münnich (2021), homosexuality was sanctified prostitution as part of the Inanna/Ishtar cult. The male temple worker engaged in such a form of worship had a lower status than free men. However, ancient homosexuality in Mesopotamia differed from contemporary homosexuality in ancient times. It was an assertion of the superiority of one individual male to the other and a disgrace to the other person. There is equality in marriage in the modern case of homosexuality, just like in the male-female marriage. Also, in ancient Mesopotamia, if homosexuality took place in relation to an equal person, it was punished, and one could be wished to be a male prostitute. Over time, same-sex marriage spread over the world. History also records that some previous Rome emperors were in a same-sex union, with thirteen of the first fourteen Roman sovereign rulers being bisexual or generally homosexual. The first Roman emperor to have wedded a fellow man was Nero, who also wedded two more men on different occasions.

Same-sex marriage evolved through different scenarios to the contemporary where several countries accept it fully since they believe marriage is a fundamental right that no one should be denied. Same-sex marriage is currently embraced by the United States (US) that officially enacted and legitimized same-sex marriage in 2015 when the Supreme Court of the US pronounced itself by legalizing same-sex marriage. Obergefell vs. Hodges case of 2015 granted same-sex couples the freedom to the civilian marital union, thus repealing contemporary state constitutions and constitutional modifications that illegalized same-sex marriage (Ogolsky et al., 2019). Today, there is an escalation in championing of gay marriage in the US. According to Twenge & Blake (2020), there is a considerable escalation in support for gay marriage in the US, with studies showing that Americans of any age changed their conviction about same-sex marriage with time.

Several milestones have characterized the development of social movements involving same-sex marriage. The marital union has not been a fixed social institution. Still, it has deviated over the trajectory of history due to rotating religious faiths, social beliefs and behaviors, technology, and even population. Federalism, the separation of powers, and the roles of courts in modifying the institutional composition of political moments for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT), marriage movements have been necessary for the US and Canada (Smith, 2018). Ideology, religious intensity, contact with gays and lesbians, and millennial generation thoughts affected opinion about same-sex marriage (Daniels, 2019). Differences by religious affiliations reduced influence while differences by religious and political values increased between 1988 and 2014. This clearly shows that opinion on gays and lesbians, same-sex marriage has changed across all groups, although the increased difference in opinion promotes continuing conflict.

Based on analysis of stories from tolerant and conventional US newspapers, the newspapers framed the same-sex marriage issue from 2004 to 2016. For the liberals, newspapers used attributes like human rights, access to benefits, and public support to promote same-sex marriage. For the conservatives, they argued about protecting the traditional marriage union between man and woman, public objection to homosexuality, and securing conservative votes as the basis of objecting to same-sex marriage (Zheng & Chan, 2020). As a result, a policy theme was employed to organize stories reporting same-sex marriage; morality and economic themes followed. Same-sex supporters improved the general tone over the years despite minor differences. This clearly shows that social movements touch on marriage, especially same-sex marriage in the US.

Further, another study reported that American society had undergone unprecedented changes in the 21 st century. The transformation began in the 1960s by civil rights movements, and as the US became more diverse, equal access to certain institutions became more challenging. Concerning opposite-sex marriage and same-sex marriage, mainstream media continually reported blurring boundaries between ethnic and racial groups. Before the judiciary, experts provided particular weight to political movements that social movements and decision-makers solicited (Stambolis-Ruhstorfer, 2020). There has been a substantial increase in interracial dating and matrimony for several decades in the US. As well, assimilation contributed to the spread of same-sex marriage among individuals in the United States. Some states were skeptical about same-sex marriage in the US, for example, Georgia, a state that was so religious. However, due to the supremacy of the federal constitution over the states’ constitutions, Georgia finally embraced same-sex marriage in 2015 after the declaration by the Supreme Court that same-sex marriage is legal and no individual should be discriminated against because of sexual orientation. Other states like California were among the first states in the US to legalize same-sex marriage. Generally, many social movements came in handy in the US to promote same-sex marriage and fight against discrimination of the minority same-sex community.

Over the past decade, there has been an evolution of federal legislation on gay marriage. The first twenty years of the 21 st century saw same-sex union acquire backing from prominent personalities like John Lewis and Julian Bond of the civil rights movements. By 2011, national public support for the same-sex shot to more than 50%. That means half of the American population or half of the states supported same-sex marriage. At the same time, then-President Obama proclaimed that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unlawful, and New York legalized same-sex marriage. In 2013, the Supreme Court of the United States also beat down DOMA for being insensitive to the fifth amendment of the US constitution leading to federal recognition of same-sex marriage. By 2015, support for same-sex marriage was at 60% as people had changed their opinions about the issue. Same-sex marriage became more acceptable almost in all the states in the United States. In 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States made a landmark ruling on same-sex marriage. In the civil case of Obergefell vs. Hodges of 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that the fundamental right of same-sex to marry with same terms as opposite-sex couples is guaranteed by the due process and equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment to the constitution of the United States (Ogolsky et al. (2019). Therefore, 2015 is the year that same-sex was officially legalized and enacted in all the states of the United States. This means that the states whose constitutions had not allowed same-sex marriage had to change and adopt the new amendment; because the federal constitution of the United States is supreme to the state laws, the state laws must be consistent with the supreme law of the land.

Since 2015, all the states in the US have allowed and embraced same-sex union. The 2015 Supreme Court ruling demonstrated the impact of national-level judicial decision-making. In 2016, Alabama’s Chief Justice illegalizing state officials from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex partners. However, due to the supremacy of the federal constitution, the ruling did not affect, and the counties of Alabama continued to issue marriage licenses to all couples without discrimination. During this time, more than 80% of Americans aged 18-29 years supported same-sex marriage. Due to the error in the ruling going against the federal law, Alabama’s Chief Justice was charged by the state Judicial Inquiry Commission for ethics violation and eventually suspended from the bench for the rest of his remaining term that was to end in September 2016. Alabama legislature proceeded and moved a bill in substituting marriage license with marriage certificate in 2019. An annual poll between 2017-2020 revealed support for gay marriage, with the majority of Americans opening that same-sex marriage is to be acknowledged as justifiable under the law.

The issue of same-sex marriage is equally an emotive political issue. There have been a lot of political debates on the issue. The issue of legal recognition of same-sex marriage became prominent in the 2004 United States elections. The then-president George W. Bush used the State of the Union address to call for the federal constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage, making San Francisco Mayor issue a marriage license from the City Hall; 11 states approved a state ban on same-sex marriage in November 2004 (Hull, 2016). Subsequent polls showed that the majority opposed legalizing same-sex marriage. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) political and legitimate convocation has integrated dictates for accepting same-sex unions. The debate accelerated following the passage of civil union in Vermont, the Goodridge decision, which resulted in same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. Outside LGBT communities and in national political debates, same-sex marriage adversaries aspire to preserve a differentiation between same-sex and heterosexual unions. The Christian Right resists recognition of same-sex marriage while others argue for limited recognition on principal grounds. Reports show that three-quarters of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents and fewer than half of Republicans support gay marriage. Support for gay marriage recently stands at 88% among the self-described liberal Democrats, and fewer conservative Republicans of about 36% support same-sex marriage. This shows that more Democrats and fewer Republicans support same-sex unions in America.

Important political players in the national debate over same-sex marriage include legislators and the executive. There have been several amendments to the constitution to take care of the LGBT community in the US. The legislators of the bicameral parliament of the United States are bestowed with the responsibility of making laws and amending the existing governing policies of same-sex relationships. The executive is bestowed with the implementation of the policies passed. As a result, they are leading vital political players. Similarly, same-sex marriage is also permitted through legislative and judicial means in the US. Many vital politicians in the United States waded into the debate of same-sex marriage. In 2012 during election times, President Barack Obama was forced to share his thoughts on the gay marriage issue. Obama went ahead and opined that same-sex couples should be able to get married. In his cabinet, Eric Holder, John Kerry, and Chuck Hagel publicly agreed with the opinion of same-sex marriage. Most public individuals submitted to the Supreme Court of the United States that DOMA violated equal protection of the fourteenth amendment.

Further, Hillary Clinton was pro-LGBT throughout her career. Additionally, one of her children, a Republican, is transgender and has consistently broken ranks with the party on LGBT issues. According to The Washington Post, the current president of the United States (POTUS) Joe Bidden and his deputy President Kamala Harris both worked for gay marriage in opposite ways. Before President Obama publicly gave his sentiments on gay marriage, his then deputy president and now POTUS Joe Bidden had endorsed equality marriage in May 2012 interview (Issenberg, 2020). In-office as California’s attorney general, Kamala Harris made herself a barrier to laws that illegalized same-sex marriage. Therefore it is evident that national political personalities and leading political parties in the United States waded into the politics of same-sex marriage with more democrats than Republicans supporting same-sex marriage. Today, same-sex marriage is fully recognized and even part of the current cabinet secretaries and influential government employees have publicly declared gays.

Some sociological theories can understand why some players are more powerful than others in the same-sex debate. For example, conflict theory can be applied. Conflict theory states that tensions and conflict arise when resources, status, and power are not equally distributed between different groups in the society. As such, conflict becomes essential for social change (Crossman, 2019). This means that power is understood as control of resources and control of politics and institutions that make up the society and is determined by gender and sexuality, among other things. Through the conflict theory, we find same-sex couples as a minority in the United States social, political, and economic arena. The majority of the citizens in the US, although they have no issues with same-sex marriage, are actually in an opposite-sex marriage. As such same-sex marriage, individuals wield less power than opposite-sex married couples.

However, continued uncertainty in political and legal environments affects the stakeholders that seek to expand their rights and challenge existing policies. For example, in Georgia, individuals are pessimistic about same-sex marriage and are reluctant to accept new diverse ways of life (Gelashvili, 2020). As a result, same-sex couples or crusaders would find it hard to reside or advance their campaigns in Georgia due to the unwelcome environment. Activists on the side of same-sex marriage and activists on opposite-sex marriage have used different tactics to further their debates on the issue. Same-sex activists campaigned based on equality as enshrined in the constitution. They argue that marriage is an absolute right enshrined in the constitution, and as such, no one should be alienated from the right. The opposite-sex activists, primarily religious groups, base their argument that it is against the holy books and equally interfere with the traditionally accepted culture of opposite-sex marriage.

In conclusion, same-sex marriage is an issue that has existed since time immemorial. It is an issue that has brought forth a lot of debate since proponents talk about equality. In contrast, opponents talk of dignity and the traditionally accepted type of marriage that was allowed even in the holy books. The first nations with records of same-sex marriage are Mesopotamia and Greece. However, with time, same-sex marriage spread, and currently, it is practiced all over the world. There have been several debates on the issue, especially in the United States. It is recorded that the United States finally enacted same-sex marriage in 2015 when the Supreme Court pronounced itself on the issue and legalized it. It is a political issue in the US, and both political divides in the US have their stand on the issue. Most supporters are Democrats, even as some individuals of the Conservative Republican Party also support it. However, the US constitution is the supreme law of the land, and therefore even opponents are bound by it.

Questions to be asked and the answers for each:

1. “I heard 75 percent of people are against gay marriage. Who are they?”

There are individuals opposed to gay marriage. However, the number does not reach 75% of the population. Studies show that today, 61% of the United States population supports same-sex marriage and has no issues with same-sex couples (Ogolsky et al. (, 2019). The percentage of support for same-sex marriage increased exponentially from 31% to 61% from the onset of the 21 st century to 2020. Most people who support same-sex marriage are civil society groups and human rights, activists. Most opponents of same-sex marriage are religious groups that view homosexuality as a sin and erode the acceptable traditional social fabric.

2. “If we allow gays to marry, won’t it destroy our social fabric?”

If we allow gays to marry, it will not destroy the social fabric. Gay marriage has been in existence for a very long time since the first decade. Individuals are already aware of it and can make robust decisions before deciding on sexual orientation. Further, the most robust constitution globally, the United States Constitution, declared that same-sex marriage (Carpenter, 2020) is legal, and as such, we are all bound by it. It is a prerogative of parents and guardians to sensitize their children on the issue, after which they can make robust decisions.

References:

Ashley Crossman (2019). Understanding Conflict Theory.

Carpenter, C. S. (2020). The Direct Effects of Legal Same-Sex Marriage in the United States: Evidence From Massachusetts. Demography , 57 (5), 1787-1808

Daniels, R. S. (2019). The Evolution of Attitudes on Same‐Sex Marriage in the United States, 1988–2014. Social Science Quarterly , 100 (5), 1651-1663.

DiGregorio N. (2019). Same-Sex Marriage and Language Appropriation Practices of Lesbians. Journal of homosexuality , 66 (9), 1198–1218. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2018.1500777

Gelashvili, T. (2020). Political opportunities for the extreme right in Georgia. Terrorism and Political Violence , 30 (5), 772-792

Hull, K. E. (2016). The evolution of same-sex marriage politics in the US. In Introducing the new sexuality studies (pp. 567-574). Routledge.

Münnich, M. (2021). Homosexuality in Ancient Mesopotamia. Survey of Sources. Verbum Vitae , 39 (1), 27–48. https://doi.org/10.31743/vv.11079

Sasha Issenberg (2020). The Washington Post. Joe Bidden and Kamala Harris both worked for gay marriage- in opposite ways.

Smith, M. (2018). Historical institutionalism and same-sex marriage: A comparative analysis of the USA and Canada. In Global Perspectives on Same-Sex Marriage (pp. 61-79). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.

Stambolis-Ruhstorfer, M. (2020). Producing expert capital: How opposing same-sex marriage experts dominate fields in the United States and France. Social Movement Studies , 19 (1), 38-62.

Twenge, J. M., & Blake, A. B. (2020). Increased Support for Same-sex Marriage in the US: Disentangling Age, Period, and Cohort Effects. Journal of homosexuality , 1–11. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2019.1705672

Zheng, Y., & Chan, L. S. (2020). Framing same-sex marriage in US liberal and conservative newspapers from 2004 to 2016: Changes in issue attributes, organizing themes, and story tones. The Social Science Journal , 1-13.

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Essay on Same Sex Marriage

Students are often asked to write an essay on Same Sex Marriage in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

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100 Words Essay on Same Sex Marriage

Introduction.

Same-sex marriage is when two people of the same gender get married. It’s a topic of much debate globally.

Historical Context

Historically, marriage was between a man and a woman. But, societies evolve and views on marriage have changed.

Legal Status

Many countries now legally recognize same-sex marriage. It’s seen as a matter of equality and human rights.

Society’s View

Society’s views are mixed. Some support it as a step towards equality. Others oppose it due to religious or personal beliefs.

Same-sex marriage is a complex, evolving issue. Understanding it requires open-mindedness and empathy.

250 Words Essay on Same Sex Marriage

Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is the marriage between two people of the same sex. This topic has been the epicenter of numerous debates worldwide due to its legal, social, and human rights implications.

Legal Perspective

Legally speaking, same-sex marriage is a civil right that should be accorded to all individuals regardless of their sexual orientation. It is crucial to remember that marriage is not just a religious institution but also a legal one, conferring rights and responsibilities upon the couple. Denying same-sex couples this right is a violation of equal protection under the law.

Social Perspective

From a social standpoint, acceptance of same-sex marriage signifies progress towards a more inclusive society. It challenges traditional norms and paves the way for a broader definition of love and family. It also provides societal recognition and validation to same-sex relationships, thereby reducing stigma and discrimination.

Human Rights Perspective

From a human rights perspective, same-sex marriage is fundamentally about the freedom to love and be loved. It is about the right to form a family, to enjoy companionship, and to partake in the joys and challenges of married life. Denying these rights based on sexual orientation is contrary to the principles of freedom, dignity, and equality.

In conclusion, same-sex marriage is not just about legal rights, but also about social acceptance and human dignity. It is a step towards a more inclusive, diverse, and equal society. As we move forward, it is crucial to continue advocating for the rights of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation.

500 Words Essay on Same Sex Marriage

Same-sex marriage, also referred to as gay marriage, is a socially and politically charged topic that has been the subject of intense debate in many parts of the world. It involves the marriage between two individuals of the same sex, either as a secular civil ceremony or in a religious setting.

Historical Perspective

Historically, same-sex marriage was largely taboo and illegal. However, the late 20th and early 21st centuries saw a shift in societal attitudes. The Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001. Since then, numerous countries including Canada, Spain, South Africa, and the United States have followed suit, reflecting changing societal norms and growing acceptance of diverse sexual orientations.

The Argument for Same-Sex Marriage

Advocates for same-sex marriage argue that it is a matter of civil rights and equality. They posit that denying individuals the right to marry based on their sexual orientation is discriminatory. Moreover, legal recognition of same-sex marriage provides couples with legal protections and benefits, such as inheritance rights and access to healthcare benefits, which heterosexual couples take for granted.

The Counter Argument

Opponents, on the other hand, often cite religious, moral, or societal reasons against same-sex marriage. They argue that marriage, traditionally, has been between a man and a woman and that changing this definition could have negative societal implications. Others believe that children raised in same-sex households may face challenges, despite numerous studies indicating no developmental differences between children raised in same-sex and heterosexual households.

Impact on Society

The legalization of same-sex marriage has had significant societal implications. It has challenged traditional norms and values, leading to a broader discussion about the nature of marriage, family, and love. It has also been a catalyst for increased visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals, although this varies significantly across different cultures and societies.

In conclusion, same-sex marriage represents a significant shift in societal norms and values. As society continues to evolve, it is essential to continue this discourse with respect and understanding, acknowledging the diverse experiences and perspectives that exist. Regardless of personal beliefs, the recognition of same-sex marriage in law is fundamentally about equality and human rights. It is a testament to how far we have come as a society in recognizing and respecting diversity, but it also underscores the ongoing challenges that remain in achieving true equality for all.

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Essay: Essay on Same Sex Marriages | Sociology

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Introduction

For a number of reasons same sex marriages have been a topic of debate for the last twenty years or so. In Western society ideas about the freedom of the individual have led to the development of personal moral codes. Gay rights activists have also brought the issue to the forefront of debate in many countries and the anti-discrimination laws that have been introduced in Europe and many parts of America have made discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual orientation illegal.

In its many different forms marriage has been a central feature of social organisation in most parts of the world. It is thought to be essential to raising children and to perpetuating the norms and values of a given culture (Parsons, 1951).In the West, marriage is generally understood as monogamous i.e. the union of one man with one woman, in some cultures, however, men are allowed to take a number of wives.

Having more than one wife is known as polygamy and in a study of a large number of societies Murdock (1949) found that polygamy was a central feature in the majority of them.

Generally speaking marriage in all societies is part of the patriarchal structure and has served the interests of men and marginalised and oppressed women (Abbott and Wallace, 1997). The rules governing marriage have also been used to exclude those outside the dominant culture in order to subjugate them. In America marriage was forbidden between Black people until after the Civil War and mixed marriages, or marriage between a white and a black person was illegal in many states until the 1960s. This was also the case in South Africa under Apartheid. This paper will begin by looking briefly at the changing nature of marriage and the family structure in order to discuss the concept of marriage between two people of the same sex.

Changing Family Structure

In the last forty years the UK and other Western countries have experienced changes in marriage, household, and family forms that would have been unthinkable before the Second World War (Giddens, 2001). Many people are less likely to marry than was once the case and they do not tend to marry at such a young age. The rise of the women’s movement has (some theorists argue) led to a rise in the divorce rate and the number of single parent families.

There has also been a growth in the rate of women who have children but have not married and in 1997 they made up 42% of all lone parent households (Social Trends, 2000). However, Crow and Hardey (1992) have argued that it is difficult to be clear about this because of the many different reasons that people become lone parents and because of the changing nature of family structures either through the death of a partner, cohabitation or remarriage which leads to reconstituted families. Second marriages however tend to have a higher divorce rate than first time marriages. By 2000 Wilkinson and Mulgan (1995) predicted that 80% of couples would have lived together prior to getting married, but those who live together may be far more likely to split than married couples. The changing nature of relationships and of the family structure tends to contradict Murdock’s (1949) claim that the nuclear family is universal although social attitudes towards families headed by a lone female still see this as a facet of disorganisation in society rather than a viable family unit. Gonzalez (1970) argues against this view stating that matrifocal families (those headed by a lone mother) are often well organised groups and that the harmful effects attributed to such a family are not really proven. It would seem that any relationships that contradict the patriarchal norm are atypical and therefore should be resisted. This is particularly the case with same sex relationships as these have not, historically, been fully sanctioned by any society.

Homosexuality is still viewed by many as a deviant act and a threat to social organisation and the heterosexual norm. It therefore becomes necessary to marginalise those people who do not conform to this norm (Rutherford and Chapman, 1988). The opposite sex of the two partners in a marriage is legally defined and therefore this makes it difficult to say that two people of the same sex could ever be considered to be legally married. Those who argue for same sex marriages do not agree that this is unchangeable, marriage has changed so much that it may just be a case of going that one step further. While single sex marriages may be the norm it does not mean that they are necessarily the only form that such a relationship can take. Redman (1996) has argued that the changing nature of sexual relations has called into question the view of heterosexuality as the norm and has demonstrated that there are other family forms that work as well or better than the traditional nuclear family. Since it has become illegal in many countries to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation

homosexuality has become more normalised, while this is still a way off from same sex marriages the result has been that in some European countries homosexuals who live together may register with the state and claim some of the rights previously reserved for those who are married.

To some extent this has happened in the UK where since 1999 a homosexual couple who live together may be defined as a family.

However, until the law is changed they do not have, for example, the same pension and inheritance rights as heterosexual married couples.

(Giddens, 2001). From December 2005 same sex couples may register with the Government and although they will be entitled (if they wish) to a commitment ceremony this would not have the legal status of a marriage. Much of the resistance to same sex marriage has also been based on the fact that same sex couples cannot have children, although this is increasingly becoming a redundant argument as procreation is no longer regarded by many as the primary reason for marriage. The recent ruling in Britain to recognise same sex households as a family means that this may have further implications for inheritance rights and for parental status. Gay activists continue to argue for same sex marriage because it gives them the same rights and status as everyone else, they can make life or death decisions (medically) with regard to their partners, whereas at present this is not the case (Giddens, 2001).

Sullivan (1995) has argued that there is an increasing recognition that sexual orientation is conferred by nature rather than chosen and to act or legislate against homosexuals and forbid same sex marriage is to turn them into a marginalised and oppressed minority. He contends that if this is not to happen then homosexuals must be given the right to become legally married.

Gay and Lesbian Households

Gay and lesbian households are sometimes called ‘families of choice’ (Giddens, 2001:192) because such relationships are based on personal commitment rather than the sanction of the law. In 1999 the rights of a male gay couple had their parental rights upheld by having both their names on the birth certificate of children who had been born to a surrogate mother. Hartley-Brewer (1999) maintained that this meant the nuclear family was changing and the emphasis was on the fact that a child had loving nurturing parents regardless of their sexual orientation. Calhoun argues (from a lesbian perspective) for the rights of gay families, thus she writes, …artificial insemination, contract pregnancy, and the like undermine cultural understandings of the marital couple as a naturally reproductive unit, introduce non-related others into the reproductive process, and make it possible for women and men to have children without a homosexual partner (Calhoun, 1997:142-143).

Calhoun is of the opinion that same sex households and relationships should be regarded as normal family relationships in the same way that heterosexual families have been views. She does not believe that same sex marriages tend to support the patriarchal familial structure because of the many forms that the family has taken in the contemporary world, same sex marriages and families are just one more variation on a theme (Calhoun, 1997).

Clearly, even in the context of huge cultural changes and of the changing nature of marriage and the family, same sex families and marriage are still a matter of highly contested debate.

Calhoun (1997) argues that many see the changing nature of marriage and the changes in the reproductive process as a threat to the stability of society rather than an enrichment of it. Both gay and lesbian families and the unmarried mothers who live on state benefits have been scape-goated by government and society. In Britain, in the late 1980s it was illegal to teach the acceptability of homosexual relationships as a legitimate form of family structure (although this has now changed) . Calhoun argues that this kind of scape-goating and resistance to same sex marriages is an attempt to disguise the departure from family norms by the majority of heterosexual couples.

Calhoun contends that the ideology of the family has played a distinctive role in the marginalisation of gay people and in social resistance to same sex households and marriages.

Bibliography

Giddens, 2001. 4th ed. Sociology. Cambridge, Polity Press
Haralambos,M. Holborn, M. and Heald, R.2000. 5th ed. Sociology: Themes and Perspectives. London, Harper Collins.
Parsons, T. 1951 The Social System New York, The Free Press
Murdock, G. 1949 Social Structure New York, Macmillan.
Abbott, P. and Wallace, C. 1997. An Introduction to Sociology: Feminist Perspectives. London, Routledge.
British Social Attitudes Survey 2000. National Centre for Social Research Social Trends (2000) 30 p. 41 Crown Copyright Crow, G. and Hardey, M. 1992 “Diversity and ambiguity among lone-parent households in Modern Britain” in Marsh, C. and Arber, S. eds 1992 Families and Households: Divisions and Change. London, Macmillan.
Wilkinson, H. and Mulgan, G. 1995 Freedom’s children: Work Relationships and Politics for 18-34 year olds in Britain Today London, Demos
Rutherford, A. and Chapman, R. 1988 “The forward march of men halted” in Rutherford, A. and Chapman R. eds 1988 Male Order: Unwrapping Masculinity London, Lawrence and Wishart
Redman, P. 1996 “Empowering men to disempower themselves: heterosexual masculinities, HIV and the contradictions of an anti-oppressive education” in Mairti Mac an Ghaill ed. Understanding Masculinities Buckingham, Open University Press
Sullivan, A. 1995 Virtually Normal: An argument about Homosexuality, London, Picador Hartley-Brewer, J. 1999”Gay couple will be legal parents” Guardian 28th October 1999 Calhoun, C. 1997 “Family outlaws and rethinking the connections between feminism, lesbianism and the family” in Nelson, H. ed. 1997 Feminism and Familie, Routledge, New York.

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Same Sex Marriage Essay for Students in English [Easy Words]

January 15, 2021 by Sandeep

Essay on Same Sex Marriage: With changing times, the definition of the institution of marriage has taken an altered meaning. When a person marries another person from the same sex, it is called same-sex marriage. People have all rights to love and marry people irrespective of their gender. It maintains their individuality and creates an open-minded society. It is a big boon to the LGBT community to lead dignified lives. India is yet to accept same-sex marriages.

Essay on Same Sex Marriage 500 Words in English

Below we have provided Same Sex Marriage Essay in English, suitable for class 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10.

Same-sex marriage is the marriage of two people belonging to the same gender. With time, newer forms of relationships have been recognized widely in this world. Same-sex marriage (also known as gay marriage) has always been unconventional. The reason behind it is people have stigmatised this topic. Throughout the history of humankind, homosexuals (gay people) have been treated differently by various communities.

Conventional views and beliefs have made people oppose same-sex marriage. Some people question their authority. Hence, this has always been a much-debated topic amongst the masses. Love comes in many forms. No matter what age, no matter what gender, love is love. You cannot forcibly change someone’s sexual orientation. The term sexual orientation can be defined as the sexual identity of a person in terms of the gender they are attracted to. We live in a new era where people do not hide their sexuality.

Moreover, to restrict a person from marrying someone sharing the same gender is quite wrong. With time, people have started realizing and accepting this. Instead of avoiding this topic, our society needs to appreciate all kinds of people. That way, we will be glad to live in a world where everyone feels content and safe.

Importance of Same Sex Marriage

Prohibiting same-sex marriages is an act of discrimination. We are all humans who are naturally marked with the trait to choose the person we love. There is no denying to this fact. Marriage is important to many families. It gives us the benefits of joint ownership of properties, tax filing status, adopting a child, insurance, and much more. The ability to make critical decisions during medical emergencies also falls into this category.

All of these things are ordinary and accessible to heterosexual couples. However, homosexuals who cannot legally marry each other are deprived of these rights. For example, if a gay couple gets into an accident, and one of them needs surgery, the partner may not be given the visitation rights to stay in the hospital. This happens because he or she is not an immediate family member or the spouse of the patient.

Same-sex marriage is important in many ways. People can finally own their identity and individuality. Being gay and having to live a heterosexual life certainly is torture. People do that due to societal pressure and lead a fake life. Some are even forced to marry their partner belonging to the opposite sex. It makes you wonder if same-sex marriage should be legalised.

When a person starts realizing their sexual orientation, they often feel contradicted. They have to choose between the positive and the negative outlooks of homosexuality. When they disclose their orientation, they often experience an identity crisis. Some can handle it while others are traumatised by the social stigma.

For about a decade, homosexuals have been fighting for their rights. They have already suffered a lot. Same-sex marriage gives them hope to dream about a happy life. They deserve to be able to spend the rest of their lives with the people they love (irrespective of their sexuality).

Debate on Same-Sex Marriage

The concept of same-sex marriage is yet to be accepted in many nations, including India. In India, the laws are strict against this. People also lack a positive outlook on the issue. Our society is not as adaptable as the other nations, and it still needs a lot of time to approve it.

However, we have made some progress. Section 377 of the Indian penal code criminalised homosexuality. In 2018, the Supreme Court of India removed this for good. This was a positive step taken to end the discrimination against the LGBTQ community. People who oppose same-sex marriage believe that it threatens the purity of marriage.

They question its motive fearing it would violate the existing social customs. Further, most religions consider it a sin. The most important thing about a marriage is the consent of the two adults. The biggest threat to the sacredness of marriage is not homosexuality but a divorce. Homosexuals want to get married for the same reason as heterosexuals.

'I wanted to say forever and mean it': 20 years of marriage is a lot to be proud of

Meaghan Shields

The author (left) with her wife at a friend's wedding in 2001. (Courtesy Meaghan Shields)

Twenty years ago this week, the first same-sex marriages took place in Massachusetts thanks to the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) ruling in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health that gave same-sex couples a path to marriage in 2003 .

The court stayed its ruling for 180 days, and as May 17 approached, marriage was all I could think about — and all my friends could talk about. Everyone had an opinion on the SJC case — you couldn’t escape it. There was nothing like it happening in the country and the impact of the ruling felt monumental.

There was no threat to my personal safety. My job and housing were secure, and there were enough legal workarounds that I knew I was already luckier than any other LGBTQ+ person in our country’s history had been. But, I wanted to be married. I wanted to say forever and mean it. And be legally bound to that promise.

My paramedic girlfriend, Chris Rossi, was in nursing school at Simmons University, and I was newly pregnant. Dyke Night at Midway Cafe in Jamaica Plain and dancing at Lava Bar had been replaced by clumsy attempts at sewing curtains for a nursery, looking at condo listings we couldn’t afford and my very real worries about Chris not being able to be in the delivery room with me — much less make decisions for me — in case of a medical emergency just because she wasn't my 'next of kin'.

The author (right), with her wife (left) and their daughter in 2005. (Courtesy Meaghan Shields)

In the days leading up to May 17, there were still no guarantees marriage licenses would be granted. One state representative wanted to impeach the chief justice. And a bill on Beacon Hill targeted the four justices who signed the majority opinion . But at 12:01 a.m., Cambridge City Hall opened its doors to LGBT+ couples applying for marriage licenses. By 1:30 a.m., 263 couples were there to apply for marriage licenses . I still get weepy thinking about how shocked I was — and how tentative it all seemed. Same-sex marriage felt surreal and, like anything else fresh and new in the world, also very fragile. We worried, thinking maybe there would be a reversal, some sort of roll back — or maybe they would stop issuing new licenses altogether.

Still, I wasted hours at my desk at work looking for just the right ring, and ultimately spent more money than I could afford. I picked out a plain and very “Chris-like” titanium band and proposed in a car in front of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital the following week.

For the record, it was a terrible proposal. I just blurted out, “Will you marry me.” I honestly could not stop myself — I was that excited. Chris seemed uncomfortable, not excited. She said yes, but I felt her reluctance. I knew it wasn’t just my approach. It wasn’t just the awkward location and rushed proposal. It was something else. But I was too nervous to press too hard and too excited to dwell on it.

The author (right) with her wife, at the finish line of a recent 5K race. (Courtesy Meaghan Shields)

We were married at the courthouse in Cambridge just a few months later on August 13, 2004. We basically eloped, because Chris and I are fairly private people and didn’t want an invitation to our wedding to feel like a political statement. Besides, we were in a race against the clock as our baby’s due date approached. I was four months pregnant and already enormous. We went to a pricey dinner afterwards and I was up all night with heartburn. This was pre-iPhone and I was too shy to ask a stranger to take a picture, so we don’t have any photos from that day. Last year I ordered a fresh copy of our marriage license as an anniversary gift for Chris since the old one was tattered. It is the only physical evidence the ceremony happened at all.

Charlotte (“Char”) Shields-Rossi was born on Christmas that year, five weeks earlier than we expected. “Who is the ‘real mom’?” hundreds of people have asked us since that day. "Both of us," we respond, from the moment she was born. Both of our names are on Char’s original birth certificate, which was as unprecedented as the marriage itself. Chris’s legal relationship to Charlotte was clear from the beginning, just like mine. No lawyers, or hoping or praying — we were equal parents from day one.

This year, as our 20th anniversary approached, I finally felt brave enough to ask Chris why she looked less than thrilled when I proposed. Listening to us in the kitchen, Char teased Chris. “You didn’t want to marry Mom?!” Poor Chris, we had her cornered.

Marriage, Chris explained, was something she had never even considered before I proposed. I’m wary of telling her story for her, but I can safely say that she never wanted to carry a baby, she couldn’t imagine being someone’s wife, and because she had been given direct and indirect messages that being gay was bad, she had always assumed her life would be lonely. When I blurted out my rushed proposal, she looked uncomfortable because it challenged everything she had been taught to believe about herself and her future.

On the 20th anniversary of the first same-sex marriages in the United States, my wife will practice the guitar, and I will keep knitting a belated birthday gift. We will go for a run and complain about our aches (her back, my feet). We will try to be optimistic in an election year, and talk excitedly about Char being home for the summer after her first year away at college. Everything will be the same, and yet entirely different.

The author(left) with her wife, celebrating their daughter's graduation. (Courtesy Meaghan Shields)

I owe an enormous debt to that SJC decision, and to the seven couples who took a risk and made their lives public to stand up for the rights of an entire community. I am not a leader. I could never have been the first. But I sure was ready to be near the front of the line.

A legal ruling carried us through our wedding ceremony, protecting our medical, financial and parental rights (as well as other rights big and small). But it’s the work my wife and I have put into our relationship that has made our marriage. It’s our commitment to each other that has made us a family. Twenty years is a lot to be proud of — both personally and politically.

Thank you, Massachusetts, for being on the cutting edge of equality. And thank you, Chris, for saying yes.

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Radio Boston: Reflecting on 20 years of marriage equality in Massachusetts
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Meaghan Shields Cognoscenti contributor Meaghan Shields is a writer currently working on a collection of essays and short stories centered on how identity impacts family, work and financial well-being.

Mass. couples reflect on 20 years of same-sex marriage: ‘We don’t have to feel like we’re in the shadows’

C AMBRIDGE — In May 2004, Susan Shepherd and her wife, Marcia Hams, camped out on lawn chairs for a day outside Cambridge City Hall to be the first same-sex couple in Massachusetts to apply for a marriage license.

Thousands of people and throngs of media showed up to celebrate outside the building on Massachusetts Avenue. The next morning, a photograph of the couple graced the front page of the Globe, and their interview with Katie Couric appeared on the “Today” show.

It’s something their son, Peter, then 24, said that still moves Shepherd to tears.

“My son said, ‘There’s some little kid out there, and it’s going to change their lives,’ ” said Shepherd, a 72-year-old retired industrial hygienist who lives in North Cambridge.

Marcia Hams (center) and her partner, Susan Shepherd (right), greeted the crowd after completing application forms for a marriage license at Cambridge City Hall on May 16, 2004.

For couples like Hams and Shepherd, marriage legally formalized what they already knew: They would spend the rest of their lives together. It also guaranteed something completely revolutionary for gay couples: the same rights heterosexual couples had under the law.

“It was wonderful to be legal,” said Hams, a 76-year-old retiree who worked in health care advocacy and organizing.

The case that made their legal marriage possible was Goodridge et al. v. Department of Public Health. GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, known as GLAD, filed the case in April 2001. The state Supreme Judicial Court issued a 4-3 opinion on Nov. 18, 2003, that found that gay and lesbian couples could no longer be excluded from civil marriage.

It was a pivotal decision that grabbed headlines around the world. More states would follow suit through court decisions, legislative votes, and ballot initiatives. Although other states reacted by banning same-sex marriage, in 2015 the US Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples across the nation have the same legal right to marry as different-sex couples.

The SJC stayed its decision for 180 days to allow the Legislature to act, but ultimately it rejected a civil union proposal from the state Senate as inadequate, noting that it did not “meet the mandates of liberty and equality of the state constitution,” according to GLAD. May 17, 2004, marked the first day that couples could apply for marriage licenses. It also marked the first legal same-sex marriages in the state’s, and the nation’s, history.

Mary Bonauto, the senior director of civil rights and legal strategies for GLAD, spearheaded the plaintiffs’ legal team in the Goodrich case.

“They were just people, is really the point,” she said. “They were people who had fallen in love, who had made a very deep and abiding commitment, and to them that commitment meant marriage. And that’s the one thing they couldn’t do.”

Bonauto’s legal argument included the concept that government should not deny equal protection of the laws. Marriage for over 100 years had been recognized as a basic and common right, she said.

To prepare for the case, her legal team studied the state constitution thoroughly. They found plaintiffs who were committed to talking about their relationships in public, ad nauseam. At the time, Bonauto said, at least half of the phone calls GLAD’s legal team fielded would have been moot if gay people had been able to legally marry.

GLAD heard from people trying to navigate major, life-changing situations — trying to receive a deceased partner’s pension, for example — and from couples subjected to smaller indignities, such as trying to register a child for school “and you’re not seen as the family you are.” Bonauto thought her case was strong.

“The question would be whether a court would be willing to say so,” she said. “To be first, I think that pressure is enormous.”

Robert Compton moved to Massachusetts from Michigan because he was fired when he came out — other partners at his company did not want a gay man representing them. At the time, Massachusetts was one of only eight states that had workplace LGBTQ+ protections, he said.

One day in 1998, he woke up in excruciating pain from kidney stones. He and his partner, David Wilson, went to the emergency room, but Wilson was not allowed past the front desk because he wasn’t related to Compton. The couple, both of whom were previously married to women and have children, are now retired with a dozen grandchildren and live in Provincetown.

“I may have had individual rights, but we as a family don’t have those protections and those rights,” said Compton, 74.

Compton and Wilson, who were among the plaintiffs in the Goodridge case, had a commitment ceremony in 2000, but prior to getting legally married, “we were pretty cautious everywhere we went,” said Wilson.

“There would often be questions renting a car, getting a hotel room. Once we were married, we would just say to whoever we were talking to, ‘We’re married,’ ” said Wilson, 80.

“It brought me to a place where I always felt like I was an equal in whatever situation I was in,” he said.

On May 17, 2004, they went to Boston City Hall for the marriage license, then a courthouse for the judge’s waiver so they could get married on the same day. They were married at Arlington Street Church at about 11 a.m. It was the first legalized church wedding for a same-sex couple in Massachusetts.

Marc Solomon, a longtime same-sex marriage advocate who as executive director of Mass Equality ran the campaign to defend the Goodridge decision, recalled the arguments against same-sex marriage as being almost existential in scope. Opponents warned of societal decay if gay people were allowed to legally marry.

Goodridge, he said, “was huge, because seeing is believing. We heard so many warnings from our opposition that if you allowed same-sex couples to marry, it would harm or destroy the institution of marriage and it would harm families.”

Solomon remembers being surprised by the depth of opposition — it came from the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, from then-governor Mitt Romney, and from then-president George W. Bush. But there was also a lack of support from many Democrats, both in the state and nationwide. After legalization, the fight was far from over. There were legislative attempts in Massachusetts to change the state constitution and ban same-sex marriage after Goodridge. Those attempts ultimately failed.

And some same-sex couples still worry about a retrogression of LGBTQ+ rights, particularly given the current makeup of the Supreme Court and the possibility of another Donald Trump presidency.

“I’m totally afraid of what this Supreme Court could do,” said Hams.

Moira Bennett and Johanna Schulman of Cambridge enjoyed a picnic meal on the steps of Cambridge City Hall in 2004.

Like Hams and Shepherd, Johanna Schulman and Moira Barrett are a Cambridge couple who had already been together for many years at the time of Goodridge. They were the 19th couple in line to receive a marriage license at Cambridge City Hall. The atmosphere was festive; they ordered takeout from Central Square institution Mary Chung while they waited and brought light sticks for other families who were waiting. They were married the next day and afterward, at lunch at a cafe outside Harvard Square, the restaurant gave them a slice of chocolate cake with the message “Mrs. and Mrs.”

Legalized marriage wasn’t a priority for either growing up.

“Jo and I had been committed to each other,” said Barrett, a 72-year-old retiree who used to work in the printing and photography industry. “It wasn’t as if I needed some outside force to say, ‘Yes, bless this marriage.’ ”

However now, Schulman said, it’s important that they are able to feel “like our marriage is as legitimate as any others.”

”That we’re able to say ‘wife’ in public places and mean it,” said Schulman, a 66-year-old retired financial planner. “And we don’t have to feel like we’re in the shadows, or second-class, or somehow less legitimate than any other married couple.”

Don Picard (left) and his husband, Robert DeBenedictis, stood at the doorway of Cambridge CIty Hall. They were one of the couples who waited in line for their marriage license in 2004.

Don Picard and Robert DeBenedictis, who are now in their early 60s, were also among those Cambridge couples who waited in line for their marriage license application that day in May 2004. They had already had a wedding, in 1997, on Crane’s Beach in Ipswich. At first, Picard thought of the trip to Cambridge City Hall as an errand for some paperwork.

“I was not prepared for what I saw: thousands of people,” said Picard, a software contractor. He called DeBenedictis and told him he had to get down there.

Thanks to Goodridge, LGBTQ+ children are “freer to be who they are,” said DeBenedictis, who works for a podcast distribution company.

“It was a signal to kids growing up — being gay isn’t some shameful, hide-it kind of thing,” he said.

Jeremiah Manion of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

Danny McDonald can be reached at [email protected] . Follow him @Danny__McDonald .

Same Sex Marriage Argumentative Essay, with Outline

Published by gudwriter on January 4, 2021 January 4, 2021

Example 1: Gay Marriages Argumentative Essay Outline

Introduction.

Same-sex marriage should be legal because it is a fundamental human right. To have experts write for you a quality paper on same sex marriage, seek help from a trusted academic writing service where you can buy research proposals online with ease and one you can be sure of getting the best possible assistance available

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Paragraph 1:

Same-sex marriage provides legal rights protection to same sex couples on such matters as taxes, finances, and health care.

It gives them the right to become heirs to their spouses and enjoy tax breaks just like heterosexual married couples.
It makes it possible for them to purchase properties together, open joint accounts, and sign documents together as couples.

Paragraph 2:

Same sex marriage allows two people in love to happily live together.

Homosexuals deserve to be in love just like heterosexuals.
The definition of marriage does not suggest that it should only be an exclusive union between two people of opposite sexes.

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Paragraph 3:

Same sex marriage gives homosexual couples the right to start families.

Gay and lesbian partners should be allowed to start families and have their own children.
A family should ideally have parents and children.
It is not necessary that the parents be a male and female.

Paragraph 4:

Same sex marriage does not harm the institution of marriage and is potentially more stable.

Legalization of civil unions or gay marriages does not negatively impact abortion rates, divorce, or marriage.
Heterosexual marriages have a slightly higher dissolution rate on average than opposite sex marriages.

Paragraph 5:

Opponents of same sex marriage may argue that it is important for children to have a father and mother for a balanced upbringing.

They hold that homosexual couples only have one gender influence on children.
They forget that that children under the parental care of same sex couples get to mingle with both male and female genders in various social places.

Paragraph 6:

Opponents may also argue that same-sex marriages reduce sanctity of marriage.

To them, marriage is a religious and traditional commitment and ceremony.
Unfortunately, such arguments treat marriage as a man-wife union only.
They fail to recognize that there are people who do not ascribe to any tradition(s) or religions.
Same sex marriage is a human right that should be enjoyed just like traditional heterosexual marriages.
It protects the legal rights of lesbian and gay couples and allows them to actualize their love in matrimony.
It enables them to exercise their right to start families and bring up children.
It is only fair that all governments consider legalizing same sex marriages.

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Argumentative Essay on Same Sex Marriage

For many years now, same-sex marriage has been a controversial topic. While some countries have legalized the practice, others still consider it not right and treat it as illegal. Same-sex marriage is defined as a marriage or union between two people of the same sex, such as a man and a man. Some countries have broadened their perspective on this issue even though for many years, it has never been legally acknowledged, with some societies even considering it a taboo. The United Kingdom, Spain, France, Argentina, the Netherlands, and recently the United States are some of the countries that have legalized it (Winter, Forest & Senac, 2017). Irrespective of any arguments, same-sex marriage should be legal because it is a fundamental human right.

First, same-sex marriage, if recognized by society, provides legal rights protection to same sex couples on such matters as taxes, finances, and health care. If people live together in a homosexual relationship without being legally married, they do not enjoy the security to protect what they have worked for and saved together. In case one of them dies, the surviving partner would have no right over the property under the deceased’s name even if they both funded its acquisition (Winter, Forest & Senac, 2017). Legalizing same-sex unions would cushion homosexual partners from such unfortunate situations. They would have the right to become heirs to their spouses and enjoy tax breaks just like heterosexual married couples. Legalization would also make it possible for them to purchase properties together, open joint accounts, and sign documents together as couples.

Same sex marriage also allows two people in love to become one in a matrimonial union and live happily together. Denying homosexual couples the right to marry is thus denying them the right to be in love just like heterosexuals do. Moreover, the definition of marriage does not suggest that it should only be an exclusive union between two people of opposite sexes. According to Gerstmann (2017), marriage is a formally or legally recognized union between two people in a personal relationship. As per this definition, people should be allowed to marry once they are in love with each other irrespective of their genders. Reducing marriage to a union between a man and woman is thus a direct infringement into the rights of homosexuals.

Additionally, gay marriages give homosexual couples the right to start families. Just like heterosexual couples, gay and lesbian partners should be allowed to start families and have their own children. Essentially, a family should ideally have parents and children and it is not necessary that the parents be a male and female. Same sex partners can easily adopt and bring up children if their marriage is legalized and recognized by the society in which they live (Gerstmann, 2017). As one would concur, even some heterosexual couples are not able to sire their own children and resort to adopting one or even more. This is a right that should be extended to same sex couples too given that they may not be able to give birth on their own.

Further, same sex marriage does no harm whatsoever to the institution of marriage, and is potentially more stable. According to a 2009 study, legalization of civil unions or gay marriages does not in any way negatively impact abortion rates, divorce, or marriage (Langbein & Yost, 2009). This makes it quite uncalled for to argue against or prohibit gay marriages. In yet another study, only 1.1 percent of legally married gay couples end their relationships as compared to the 2 percent annual divorce rate among opposite-sex couples (Badgett & Herman, 2011). This implies that heterosexual marriages have a slightly higher dissolution rate on average than opposite sex marriages. It could then be argued that gay marriages are more stable than traditional man-woman marriages. The two types of marriages should thus be given equal chance because neither affects the other negatively. They also have more or less equal chances of succeeding if legally recognized and accepted.

Opponents of same sex marriage may argue that it is important for children to have a father and a mother. They may say that for children to have a good balance in their upbringing, they should be influenced by a father and a mother in their developmental years. Such arguments hold that homosexual couples only have one gender influence over the lives of children and that this is less fulfilling (Badgett, 2009). However, the arguments fail to recognize that children under the parental care of same sex couples get to mingle with both male and female genders in various social places. At school, the children get to be cared for and mentored by both male and female teachers who more or less serve almost the same role as parents.

Those who are opposed to same sex unions may also argue that such marriages reduce sanctity of marriage. To them, marriage is a religious and traditional commitment and ceremony that is held very sacred by people. They contend that there is need to do everything possible to preserve marriage because as an institution, it has been degrading slowly over time. Their concern is that traditional marriages are being devalued by same sex marriages which are swaying people away from being married and instead choosing to live with same sex partners (Nagle, 2010). It is clear here that such arguments treat marriage as a man-woman union only and are thus not cognizant of the true meaning of marriage. Moreover, they fail to recognize that traditions and religions should not be used against same sex couples because there are people who do not ascribe to any tradition(s) or religions.

Same sex marriage is a human right that should be enjoyed just like traditional heterosexual marriages. It protects the legal rights of lesbian and gay couples and allows them the well-deserved opportunity of actualizing their love in matrimony. In addition, it enables them to exercise their right to start families and bring up children. Arguments made against this form of marriage, such as that it undermines traditional marriages, are based on opinions and not facts. Moreover, it is not important for a child to have a father and a mother because there are other places in which they actively interact with people of different sexes. As such, it is only fair that all governments consider legalizing gay marriages.

Badgett, M. V., & Herman, J. L. (2011). Patterns of relationship recognition by same-sex couples in the United States [PDF]. The Williams Institute. Retrieved from https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Marriage-Dissolution-FINAL.pdf .

Badgett, M. V. (2009). When gay people get married: what happens when societies legalize same-sex marriage . New York, NY: NYU Press.

Gerstmann, E. (2017). Same-sex marriage and the constitution . New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Langbein, L., & Yost, M. A. (2009). Same-sex marriage and negative externalities. Social Science Quarterly , 90(2), 292-308.

Nagle, J. (2010). Same-sex marriage: the debate . New York, NY: The Rosen Publishing Group.

Winter, B., Forest, M., & Senac, R. (2017). Global perspectives on same-sex marriage: a neo-institutional approach . New York, NY: Springer.

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Example 2: Sample Essay Outline on Same Sex Marriages

Thesis: Same sex marriage, just like opposite sex marriage, should be legal.

Pros of Same Sex Marriage

Same sex couples are better at parenting.

Children brought up by same sex couples do better in terms of family cohesion and overall health.
Children under the guardianship of lesbian mothers perform better academically and socially.

Same sex marriage reduces divorce rates.

The divorce rates in a state were reduced significantly after the state legalized gay marriages. Higher divorce rates were recorded in states where gay marriages are prohibited.
Divorce is not good for family cohesion.

Same sex marriage increases psychological wellbeing.

Bisexuals, gays, and lesbians feel socially rejected if society views same-sex marriages as illegal or evil.
After some states banned this kind of marriage, bisexuals, gays, and lesbians living there experienced increased anxiety disorders.

Cons of Same Sex Marriage

Same sex marriages may diminish heterosexual marriages.

It could be possible for children in homosexual families to think that same sex unions are more fulfilling.
They might want to become homosexuals upon growing up.

For a holistic development, a child should have both mother and father.

Absence of a father or a mother in a family leaves a gaping hole in the life of a child.
A child needs to learn how to relate with both male and female genders right from when they are born.

Other non-typical unions may be encouraged by same sex unions.

People who get involved in such other acts as bestiality and incest may feel encouraged.
They might start agitating for their “right” to get married to animals for instance.

Why Same Sex Marriage Should Be Legal

Paragraph 7:

Marriage is a fundamental human right.

All individuals should enjoy marriage as a fundamental right.
Denying one the right to marry a same sex partner is akin to denying them their basic right.

Paragraph 8:

Marriage is a concept based on love.

It is inaccurate to confine marriage to be only between a man and woman.
Marriage is a union between two people in love with each other, their gender or sexual orientation notwithstanding.

Paragraph 9:

opponents of same-sex marriage argue that a relationship between same-sex couples cannot be considered marriage since marriage is the union between a man and a woman.

However, this definitional argument is both conclusory and circular.
It is in no way logical to challenge gay marriage based on this archaic marriage definition.

Same sex marriage should be legalized by all countries in the world. In the U.S., the debate surrounding its legalization should die off because it is irrelevant. People have the right to marry whoever they like whether they are of the same sex.

Same Sex Marriage Essay Example

The idea of same sex marriage is one of the topics that have been widely debated in the United States of America. It has often been met with strong opposition since the majority of the country’s citizens are Christians and Christianity views the idea as evil. On the other hand, those who believe it is right and should be legalized have provided a number of arguments to support it, including that it is a fundamental human right. This debate is still ongoing even after a Supreme Court ruling legalized this type of marriage. However, this debate is unnecessary because same sex marriage, just like opposite sex marriage, should be legal.

It has been proven through studies that same sex couples are better at parenting. A University of Melbourne 2014 study indicated that compared to children raised by both mother and father, children brought up by same sex couples do better in terms of family cohesion and overall health. Similarly, the journal Pediatrics published a study in 2010 stating that children under the guardianship of lesbian mothers performed better academically and socially (Gerstmann, 2017). The children also experienced fewer social problems.

Same sex marriages also reduce divorce rates. According to Gerstmann (2017), the divorce rates in a state were reduced significantly after the state legalized gay marriages. This was as per the analysis of the before and after divorce statistics. Likewise, higher divorce rates were recorded in states where gay marriages are prohibited. Generally, divorce is not good for family cohesion especially in terms of caring for children. Children need to grow up under the care of both parents hence the need for their parents to stay together.

In addition, same sex marriage increases psychological wellbeing. This is because bisexuals, gays, and lesbians feel socially rejected if society views same-sex marriages as illegal or evil. A study report released in 2010 showed that after some states banned this kind of marriage, bisexuals, gays, and lesbians living there experienced a 248% rise in generalized anxiety disorders, a 42% increase in alcohol-use disorders, and a 37% rise in mood disorders (Winter, Forest & Senac, 2017). In this respect, allowing such marriages would make them feel normal and accepted by society.

Same sex marriages may diminish heterosexual marriages and the longstanding marriage culture in society. Perhaps, it could be possible for children in homosexual families to think that same sex unions are more fulfilling and enjoyable than opposite-sex relationships. As a result, they might want to become homosexuals upon growing up. This would mean that standardized marriages between opposite sexes face a bleak future (Nagle, 2010). Such a trend might threaten to throw the human race to extinction because there would be no procreation in future generations.

Same sex unions also fall short because for a holistic development, a child should have both a mother and a father. Absence of a father or a mother in a family leaves a gaping hole in the life of a child. The two major genders in the world are male and female and a child needs to learn how to relate with both of them right from when they are born (Nagle, 2010). A father teaches them how to live alongside males while a mother teaches them how to do the same with females.

Further, other non-typical unions may be encouraged by same sex unions. If the marriages are accepted worldwide, people who get involved in such other acts as bestiality and incest may feel encouraged (Winter, Forest & Senac, 2017). They might even start agitating for their “right” to get married to animals, for instance. This possibility would water down and deinstitutionalize the whole concept of consummation and marriage. This would further diminish the existence of heterosexual marriages as people would continue to find less and less importance in them.

Same sex unions should be legal because marriage is a fundamental human right. It has been stated by the United States Supreme Court fourteen times since 1888 that all individuals should enjoy marriage as a fundamental right (Hertz & Doskow, 2016). In making these judgments, the Supreme Court has repeatedly stated that the Due Process Clause protects as one of the liberties the freedom to make personal choice in matters of marriage. The Court has maintained that this free choice is important as it allows free men to pursue happiness in an orderly manner. Thus, denying one the right to marry a same sex partner is akin to denying them their basic right.

People should also be legally allowed to get into same sex unions since marriage is a concept based on love. It is traditionally inaccurate to confine marriage to be only between a man and a woman. The working definition of marriage should be that it is a union between two people in love with each other, their gender or sexual orientation notwithstanding (Hertz & Doskow, 2016). Making it an exclusively man-woman affair trashes the essence of love in romantic relationships. If a man loves a fellow man, they should be allowed to marry just like a man and a woman in love may do.

As already alluded to, opponents of same-sex marriage argue that a relationship between same-sex couples cannot be considered marriage since marriage is the union between a man and a woman. Based on this traditional definition of marriage, they contend that gay and lesbian couples should not marry. However, as noted by Carpenter (2005), this definitional argument is both conclusory and circular and is thus seriously flawed and fallacious. It is in no way logical to challenge gay marriage based on this archaic marriage definition. That marriage only happens when one man and one woman come together in a matrimony is a constricted view of the institution of marriage. Moreover, there are no reasons accompanying the definition showing that it is the right one or should be the only one (Carpenter, 2005). Therefore, it should be expanded to include same-sex couples. The lack of reasons to support it makes it defenseless thus weak.

Same sex marriages should be legalized by all countries in the world. In the U.S., the debate surrounding its legalization should die off because it is irrelevant. People have the right to marry whoever they like whether they are of the same sex or not. Just like love can sprout between a man and a woman, so can it between a man and a fellow man or a woman and a fellow woman. There is absolutely no need to subject gays, lesbians, and bisexuals to unnecessary psychological torture by illegalizing same sex marriage.

Carpenter, D. (2005). Bad arguments against gay marriage. Florida Coastal Law Review , VII , 181-220.

Gerstmann, E. (2017). Same-sex marriage and the constitution . New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Hertz, F., & Doskow, E. (2016). Making it legal: a guide to same-sex marriage, domestic partnerships & civil unions . Berkeley, CA: Nolo.

Nagle, J. (2010). Same-sex marriage: the debate . New York, NY: The Rosen Publishing Group.

Winter, B., Forest, M., & Senac, R. (2017). Global perspectives on same-sex marriage: a neo-institutional approach . New York, NY: Springer.

Example 3: Same Sex Marriage Essay

Same Sex Marriage Essay- Changing Attitudes on Gay Marriage. Discuss how the idea of gay marriage has changed over the last decade and show the progression of the movement.

Changing Attitudes on Same Sex Marriage Essay Outline

Introduction

Thesis: Gay marriage was regarded as an abomination in the early years, but in recent times the attitude of the society towards same-sex marriage is gradually changing.

In 1965, 70% of Americans were opposed to same-sex marriage.

They cited its harmfulness to the American life.
Prevalence of AIDS among gay people further increased this opposition.

Social gay movements contributed to change in the attitude of the society towards gay marriage.

Gay movements increased the exposure of members of the society to gay marriage while showing their sufferings.
Through social movements, the society saw the need for equality and fair treatment of gay persons.

Political movements in support of gay marriage have as well contributed to change in the attitude of the society towards gay marriage.

Political bodies and politicians pushed for equality of gay people in efforts to garner political mileage.
The influence of politicians changed the attitude of the society towards gay marriage.

The incidence of gay people, particularly in the United States has contributed to change in the attitude of the society towards gay marriage.

Increase in the number of gay persons pushed people into accepting gay marriage.
The media contributed in gathering compassion from members of the society by evidencing the sufferings of gay people.

The judiciary upheld the legitimacy of same-sex marriage.

In 2014, 42 court rulings were made in favor of gay marriage.
There are more than 30 states today with policies in support of same-sex marriage.

The increased push for the freedom of marriage contributed to changing the attitude on gay marriage.

The Supreme Court ruling in 1987 that stopped governments from restricting the freedom of marriage worked in favor of same-sex marriage.

Paragraph 7:

Supporters of same sex marriage have also increasingly argued that people should be allowed to marry not necessarily based on their gender but on the love between them.

Restricting marriage to a union between heterosexual couples only creates a biased view of human sexuality.
An adult should be allowed the freewill to seek for the fulfillment of love by starting a relationship with a partner of whichever gender of their choosing.

Gay marriage has been the subject of social, political and religious debates for many years but over the past two decades, the attitude of the society towards same-sex marriage has changed. Social gay movements and increased incidence of gay people has compelled the community to accept and tolerate gay marriages. The judiciary has as well contributed to this change in attitude by pushing the freedom and right to marriage.

Changing Attitudes on Same Sex Marriage Sample Essay

In the early years, gay marriage was an abomination and received criticism from many members of society. The principal reason as to why many people in society were objected to gay marriage was that it went against religious and societal values and teachings (Decoo, 2014). However, over the past three decades, the perception of society towards the practice has changed. The degree of its social tolerance and acceptance has gradually improved. In the 2000s, numerous social and political lobby groups pushed for a change in insolences towards gay marriage (Decoo, 2014). Though these lobby groups have tried to advocate for the rights of gay people, their principal focus was to change people’s attitudes towards homosexuality.

According to a study conducted in the year 1965 investigating the attitudes of Americans towards gay marriage, seventy percent of the respondents were opposed to the idea of same-sex marriage citing its harmfulness to the American life. Most Americans felt that the practice went against the social and moral values of the American society. In the years between 1975 and 1977, the number of Americans who were not objected to gay marriage increased (Decoo, 2014). However, this number decreased in the years of 1980, when the prevalence of AIDS among gay people hit alarming levels. In the years that followed, the attitudes of the American society towards gay marriage rapidly changed.

The rise of gay social movements has contributed significantly to a change in attitude of the society towards gay marriage. In the early years, people were not exposed to issues of same-sex marriage, but the gay social movements focused on increasing the exposure of gay marriage, while advocating for their equal treatment (Keleher & Smith, 2018). These movements were able to reveal the injustices and unfair treatment that gays were exposed to, and how such unfair treatment tarnishes the image of the society (Keleher & Smith, 2018). The movements persuaded the society to embark on ways of addressing injustices meted out on gay people. Through highlighting these injustices, members of the society acknowledged the need for reforms to bring about impartiality and non-discrimination in marriage.

Political movements in support of gay marriage have as well contributed to changing the attitude of the society towards the practice. As a matter of fact, one of the strategies that gay social movements employed in their advocacy for gay rights were political maneuvering (Demock, Doherty & Killey, 2013). The lobby groups approached aspiring politicians, who would advocate for equal rights of gays to garner political mileage. With time, politicians would use the subject to attack their competitors who were opposed to the idea of same sex marriage (Demock, Doherty & Killey, 2013). This increased political support for gay marriage influenced members of the society into changing their attitude towards the same.

The ever increasing number of gays, particularly in the United States, has contributed to a change in the attitude of the world society towards gay marriage. As the number of gays increased in the U.S., it became hard for members of the society to continue opposing this form of marriage (Demock, Doherty & Killey, 2013). Many families had at least one or more of their family members who would turn out to be gay. The perception of gay people by such families would therefore change upon learning that their loved ones were also gay (Demock, Doherty & Killey, 2013). The media also played a significant role in gathering compassion from the members of the society by portraying the injustices that gay people experienced (Demock, Doherty & Killey, 2013). The society would as a result be compelled to sympathize with gays and lesbians and thus change their stance on same-sex marriage.

Further, the judiciary has also contributed to the change in the attitude of the society towards gay marriage. There were states in the U.S. that initially illegalized same sex marriages, prompting gay people to file discrimination lawsuits (Coontz, 2014). Reports indicate that in the year 2014, there were more than 42 court rulings that ruled in favor of same-sex couples (Coontz, 2014). Some critics of same-sex marriage termed these rulings as judicial activism. They argued that the judiciary was frustrating the will of the American society, which was opposed to same-sex marriage (Coontz, 2014). Following these rulings and the increased advocacy for equality and fair treatment of gay people, some states implemented policies is support of same-sex marriage (Coontz, 2014). Today, the entire United States treats the practice as legal, as was determined by the Supreme Court back in 2015.

The increased push for the freedom of marriage has also contributed to changing the attitude on gay marriage. In the early years, there were states, especially in the United States, that opposed interracial marriages, so that a white could not marry an African-American, for instance (Coontz, 2014). In the years before 1967, there were states that restricted people with tuberculosis or prisoners from getting married. Other states also discouraged employers from hiring married women. However, in 1987 the Supreme Court ruled that state governments had no right to deny people of their freedom of marriage (Coontz, 2014). When such laws were regarded as violations of human rights, gay people also termed the restriction of same-sex marriage as a violation of their liberty and freedom to marry.

Supporters of same sex marriage have also increasingly argued that people should be allowed to marry not necessarily based on their gender but on the love between them and their decision as two adults. According to such people, restricting marriage to a union between heterosexual couples only creates a biased view of human sexuality. For example, they point out that this extreme view fails to acknowledge that gay couples also derive fulfilment from their romantic relationships (Steorts, 2015). They additionally contend that an adult should be allowed the freewill to seek for this fulfillment by starting a relationship with a partner of whichever gender of their choosing. Whether they love a man or a woman should not be anybody’s concern. The argument also notes that gay couples who have come out clearly demonstrate that they are happy in their relationships.

Gay marriage has been the subject of social, political, and religious debates for many years but over the past two decades, the attitude of the society towards it has significantly changed. Social gay movements and increased numbers of gay people has compelled the community to accept and tolerate the practice. The judiciary has as well contributed to this change in attitude by pushing the freedom and right to marriage, thereby finally making the practice legal in the United States.

Coontz, S. (2014). “Why America changed its mind on gay marriageable”. CNN . Retrieved June 23, 2020 from http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/13/opinion/coontz-same-sex-marriage/index.html

Decoo, E. (2014). Changing attitudes toward homosexuality in the United States from 1977 to 2012 . Provo, UT: Brigham Young University.

Demock, M., Doherty, C., & Kiley, J. (2013). Growing support for gay marriage: changed minds and changing demographics. Gen , 10 , 1965-1980.

Keleher, A. G., & Smith, E. (2008). Explaining the growing support for gay and lesbian equality since 1990. In Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Boston, MA .

Steorts, J. L. (2015). “An equal chance at love: why we should recognize same-sex marriage”. National Review . Retrieved June 23, 2020 from https://www.nationalreview.com/2015/05/yes-same-sex-marriage-about-equality-courts-should-not-decide/

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Norman Kansfield, 83, Dies; Defrocked for His Daughter’s Same-Sex Wedding

His decision to officiate at the ceremony prompted a debate within the Reformed Church in America that led ultimately to a schism.

A white-haired and white-bearded man wearing a priest’s collar smiles. He wears semi-rimless glasses.

By Alex Traub

For most of his life, the Rev. Dr. Norman Kansfield seemed to personify the Reformed Church in America.

To an extraordinary extent, he had grown up in the world of his church’s 17th-century Dutch founders. His hometown, South Holland, Ill., consisted largely of descendants of Dutch immigrants who still spoke the language and farmed onion seedlings. Social distinctions did not rest on who kept the Sabbath — pretty much everybody did that — so much as on who peeled their potatoes on Saturdays, in order to more fully avoid labor on Sundays. (His family would not so much as mow the lawn.)

Dr. Kansfield grew up to be a professor of theology, the denomination’s most esteemed rank, and president of the school that trains its ministers, the New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Jersey, which is the oldest seminary in the United States. On special occasions, he gave sermons in Dutch.

So when his daughter, Ann Kansfield, was considering coming out of the closet to him, she was nervous. After she did, Dr. Kansfield went beyond responding with warm acceptance. Years later, in June 2004, he insisted that he officiate at her wedding, held in Massachusetts weeks after the state legalized same-sex marriage.

“Clad in his church vestments, he read with emotion from the Book of Isaiah about a God who extends his kingdom of love beyond Israel to cover foreigners and eunuchs,” The Star-Ledger of Newark reported .

There had been no other known instance of a Reformed minister officiating at a same-sex wedding. Earlier the same year, the General Synod, the church’s annual meeting, had voted to affirm the definition of marriage “as the union of one man and one woman.”

Dr. Kansfield told The Bergen Record that he realized his choice might provoke a “dust-up.” It led to much more: his termination as seminary president, the first trial of a Reformed minister in 100 years, his defrocking, and the start of an existential debate among church members, which helped to produce a major schism nearly 20 years later.

“People presume I have been on a crusade,” he told The Associated Press in 2005. “In point of fact, I’m a conservative theologian. I would not do anything that goes against the church.”

Conservative, perhaps — but not conventional.

“He would say his orthodox theology is what assured he became a social liberal,” his daughter, who is herself a graduate of the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, said in a phone interview.

Dr. Kansfield died on Jan. 27 at a hospital in Manhattan. The cause was complications of a series of infections, including pneumonia, his daughter said. He was 83. His death was not widely reported, and The New York Times was only recently informed of it.

Within days, news of Ann’s wedding spread among members of the Reformed church. In January 2005, the seminary’s board fired him. At the General Synod in June, he went on trial.

“I support marriage — marriage in its broadest possible context so that it can do the most good for our whole society,” Dr. Kansfield said in his testimony. He added that ministers were not asked “to pledge ourselves to the unity, purity and peace of the church, but to the things that make for unity, purity and peace.”

The Synod found otherwise. It pronounced him guilty of failing to keep his ordination vows, to heed the admonitions of the General Synod and to keep the faith of the denomination. He lost his status as a professor of theology and was defrocked as a minister. He prepared to move out of the 139-year-old president’s home on the seminary grounds.

“I’ve never lived apart from the Reformed Church,” he told The Record.

Norman Jay Kansfield was born on March 24, 1940, in East Chicago, Ind. His father, Orval, was a truck driver, and his mother, Margaret (Norman) Kansfield, was a secretary at the local office of the Reformed Church in South Holland, where the family moved shortly after Norm’s birth.

As a young man, he earned five academic degrees, studying two subjects, library science and religion (mainly the Old Testament).

He took pre-seminary coursework at Hope College in Michigan, where he developed a crush on a young woman named Mary Klein when he saw her playing a hymn on a piano inside a sorority house. He graduated in 1962, and they married in 1965.

Dr. Kansfield was a pastor and librarian at a number of institutions in the Midwest and the Northeast. He extolled the past of the Reformed Church — believing that, centuries ago, theology had been a matter of everyday conversation for the common man — yet his model minister of recent times was a progressive figure: the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Kansfield’s traditionalism and egalitarianism found dual expression in the unusual syntax he used to describe the mission of the church in a 1993 interview with The Central Jersey Home News Tribune: to present “a new vision of what society was intended to be.”

After he was defrocked, he taught theology at Drew University in New Jersey and served as theologian in residence at Zion United Church of Christ in Stroudsburg, Pa., where he and his wife moved. He remained there even after the Rockland-Westchester governing body of the Reformed Church voted to restore him to the office of minister in 2011.

Ann Kansfield was ordained as a minister around the same time. She works as a chaplain with the New York City Fire Department and as a minister at Greenpoint Church in Brooklyn , along with her wife, the church’s co-pastor, the Rev. Jennifer Aull.

In 2022, theological debates within the Reformed Church about gay rights led more than 40 congregations to split from the main organization, which ultimately went in a less restrictive direction, Christianity Today reported .

In addition to his daughter, Dr. Kansfield is survived by his wife; their son, John; and three grandchildren.

There were non-theologial issues with Ann and Jennifer’s wedding — drinks were not served to guests upon arrival at the party venue, and the people who were supposed to pass around slices of cake failed to show up. Dr. Kansfield was too happy to care. He gave the place an enormous tip.

He had felt proud of getting through the whole service without tearing up, he told NPR in 2012. When it ended, two women approached him. They said it was the first church service they had felt genuinely part of in years. They were a lesbian couple. At that point, Dr. Kansfield could contain himself no longer: He wept.

Alex Traub works on the Obituaries desk and occasionally reports on New York City for other sections of the paper. More about Alex Traub

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Introduction

Essay No - 1

Equality in Marriage

Importance of Same-Sex Marriage

Essay No - 2

How Does the World Perceive?

What is the Scope in the Future?

Essay No – 3

The History of Same-Sex Marriage

An Accepting Society

The Economic Boost

FAQs on Same Sex Marriage Essay for Students

Religious, Governmental and Social Views on Same-Sex Marriage Essay

Essay on Same-Sex Marriage

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Essay on Same Sex Marriage

100 Words Essay on Same Sex Marriage

Historical Context

Legal Status

Society’s View

250 Words Essay on Same Sex Marriage

Legal Perspective

Social Perspective

Human Rights Perspective

500 Words Essay on Same Sex Marriage

Historical Perspective

The Argument for Same-Sex Marriage

The Counter Argument

Impact on Society

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Essay: Essay on Same Sex Marriages | Sociology

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Introduction

Changing Family Structure

Gay and Lesbian Households

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Same Sex Marriage Essay for Students in English [Easy Words]

Essay on Same Sex Marriage 500 Words in English

Importance of Same Sex Marriage

Debate on Same-Sex Marriage

'I wanted to say forever and mean it': 20 years of marriage is a lot to be proud of

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