Marriage is a sacred event held between two people that are in love. So why should it matter what sex the individuals are in order for them to have to right to get married? Today's society has changed greatly compared to fifty years ago. Tattoos, peircings, clothing, woman in job fields, hair styles and more have all been on a path of being more accepted than they were in earlier generations. Gay marriage is still a heated issue though. Yes, gay marriage was not even an option to consider back in the day, but why is society still at a stand still when it comes to this issue? Most peoples arguments against gay marriage is a result from their religion. In an article by Steve Waldman entitled "A Common Missed Conception" a poll based on gay marriage is discussed and showed that "the opposition to gay marriage and homosexuality is highest among the most religious."
Growing up in an environment where religion was not a part of my everyday life or forced upon me(not saying that it is forced upon everyone), I was able to explore my environment of people around me with an open mind while also gaining an appreciation for others and their lifestyles without judgement. I have learned that not everyone is going to be brought up the same way, with the same views or even have the same morals. This is why I am a firm believer in the legalization of gay marriage.
To me it does not matter if you are black or white, gay or straight, or from two different countries with two different marriage arrangements, if you develop feelings towards someone, you should have every right be married and share your everyday lifestyle with that person, without restrictions. People are not defected if they are gay. They just have a different preference towards whom they are attracted to. It may not even be the physical appearance of a person that attracts them to that person. If someone is attracted to the person's personality, and have an immediate connection towards them, why are they punished when it comes to being able to share their lives with one another?
When couples get married, they receive marriage benefits. They can share a home, shared health insurance, receive sick leave to car for their partner, joint adoption, have tax benefits and many more advantages than just two couples that are "together". With gay marriage not being legal, gay couples are not entitled to these benefits and cannot receive them any other way. This is a discrimination matter. Everyone is suppose to be treated as an equal. Yes, gay couples are different than straight couples, but what makes them "not-normal"? They are no different from you and I. Being gay is not a handicap, they are not stupid or "freaks" or have the inability to take care of themselves, others, run a business, or be a CEO, they still have the ability to make everyday conscious choices, vote for who they believe in, and make mistakes(such as getting a speeding ticket) like everyone . They just happen to have a different lifestyle than others, and that is it.
At one point, it was inter-racial marriage that was illegal and looked at as if the people were insane, or stupid. Society (or a more larger selection of people) has come to terms with inter-racial marriage and has accepted it. How different is that from gay marriage? Whether it is two people from different races or two people of the same sex, it is the same thing. People want to be treated as an equal.
If we as a society can just let go of judgement towards others and their lifestyles and become more accepting towards one another, we become able enough to overcome more obstacles as a whole. Being able to make decisions based on everyone's different lifestyles without exclusions and being able to coexist within a society forms a better relationship within a society and calls for an easier, stress-free living environment when it is known that everyone is and equal, and is treated as one.
Lea,
ReplyDeleteI don’t know how I feel about homosexuality being compared to “tattoos, peircings [sic], clothing, woman in job fields, [and] hair styles.” That is saying that it isn’t all that serious of an issue. It is true that recent polls have come out that it is being more accepted in the mainstream. (http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/10/06/poll.gay.marriage/index.html?hpt=Sbin) I think that one of the biggest contributions to this acceptance is the people who are brave enough to come out of the closet such as Ellen DeGeneras, Lance Bass, and Neil Patrick Harris (http://justjared.buzznet.com/2010/10/02/celebs-speak-out-against-anti-gay-bulling/).
After my husband of twenty-one years died, I knew life is too short not to be what I really am. I am happy to say that I am in a wonderful partnership with a woman. We have been together four years. I have always been a lesbian (which my husband knew as my best friend); however, it has not and still is not accepted.
Unfortunately, the social pressure is strong enough that sometimes it is easier to play the conventional role than not. When gays have full rights, whether it comes from marriage or civil unions, my partner and I will take advantage of the ceremony.
In the blog, I compared homosexuality to tattoos, peircings, etc because all of those topics are on the path of being more accepted. At one point, women covered in tattoos, different styles of pericings like microdermals (http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Microdermal) and other things such as hair styles weren't even thought of as accepted. Generations now, particularly the younger ones, are definitely more accepting towards these. By accepting I don’t mean that everyone is 100% okay with it but they don’t go out protesting that it is wrong, like same sex marriage. Same sex marriage should not be treated any different than those topics. It is how one is looked at as an individual.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that probably one of the biggest contributions to it being somewhat more accepted is because of celebrities that have come out and have fought for gay rights. Celebrities, in my opinion, are sometimes looked at as ideal and when they “come out” , it is a big step for them because so many more people will know about it than just a regular person.
I do agree that the social pressure is also a factor with it too, which in my opinion is sad because I feel that people do not need to look for others approval on how they should be or act a certain way. This is a big fall back if someone plays the more “conventional role” because they are just putting it in their heads that that is how it should be. People need start being able to be them-selves more often and not care what others think. Society is always changing and it is an adaptation that people are going to have to learn how to deal with.
I understand completely what you were trying to express when you compared homosexuality with tattoos and piercing. I can also understand Karen’s discontent with the comparison. Tattoos and piercings are choices that can be covered or altered, but homosexuality is not chosen and cannot be altered in any way. Tattoos and piercings have definitely come a long way within society, but homosexual rights have had a much harder road to travel. Society has confused homosexuals by stating that soldiers can die for our country as long as they do not disclose their homosexuality, or by granting then stealing marriage vows away from the citizens of California, or simply not being a united front, some states allow civil unions, or gay rights and most do not. I would respect the United States of America more if the “rights” were equal across the baord. For example, if the majority of the U.S does not want gays to have rights, then all states should practice that. It’s like the state government and federal government are parents in a custody battle fighting for their children’s love and affection. One parent buys the 16 year old a car, and the other parent says they can’t drive it. The state government is granting civil unions for same-sex couples, but the federal government is banning marriage and any other benefits of marriage. In the end, the state government granting the civil unions does not really make a difference, because it is not recognize across the board.
ReplyDeleteI hate when people say, “I accept homosexuality,” I don’t want to be accepted as a homosexual. With saying that you accept me you are saying that there is something wrong with whom I am. One the other hand, I do somewhat appreciate the acceptance, because acceptance is the first step to simply letting me live my life as if I am just like you, a heterosexual.
Here are two articles showing the inconstancies that California has towards gay rights:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/06/AR2005090602076.html
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/26/california.same.sex.marriage/index.html
Here is a map this shows each state and if they do or do not allow gay rights or civil unions:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112448663
There is a blog on this website about Don’t Ask Don’t Tell that is worth reading. The author is Just.Juzz