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.
