Gay Marriage

Marriage is a personal union of individuals. Yet, gay marriage is illegal because the constitution defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. But marriage is really a union of individuals, period. So why is it that homosexuals are forbidden to be married? The law doesn’t forbid marriage against race, color, or religion. So why does gender matter? I feel that gay marriage should be legalized in all 50 states of America.

The constitution states that, “All men are created equal.” If this is true, why are homosexuals not treated and guaranteed the same rights as heterosexuals? Are they not human like the rest of mankind? A homosexual can love a human being the same way a heterosexual can. Love represents a range of emotions and experiences related to the senses of affection and sexual attraction. Homosexuals are people the same way heterosexuals are. Marriage is an expression of love, but because of the law, homosexuals are prohibited from this expression. I don’t feel that it is very fair to prohibit any couple from expressing their love.

Many people against gay marriage believe it is something that should be shared between a man and a woman, like stated in the constitution. As shown above, the definition of marriage says nothing about whom the union is between. Who’s to say that marriage should be specifically shared between a male and a female? The reason for marriage is the same, so why shouldn’t it apply to all couples in love? The government wouldn’t say that marriage can only be shared between humans of the same race, so why is it suddenly ok to forbid a couple of the same gender?

Most people disagree with homosexual couples raising a family or dislike the fact that they can’t produce any children. People have said that a kid growing up with parents of the same sex is not “suitable.” That is ridiculous; it makes no difference what gender you parents are. The government will allow anyone, except homosexuals, to get married, even known child molesters are allowed to get married and raise a family. Kids growing up in a home where their father might molest them and traumatize them for life is not more suitable then kids growing up with two loving fathers, or two loving mothers. The fact that homosexual couples can’t naturally have a baby is, of course, true. But there are plenty of heterosexual couples in which the man or woman are infertile or just don’t wish to have kids. That is no different than the fact that homosexuals can’t have kids. A homosexual couple can do sere gated pregnancies or adoptions the same way heterosexual couples can. The most important thing in a family is love, and that can be provided by a heterosexual or homosexual couple.

The common argument I hear is that it’s immoral. Though this may be a personal belief for people, it should not be applied to the government because of separation of church and state, which is a law that was derived from the first amendment. People have the right to believe that it’s a sin to be homosexual; they have the freedom to their own religion, but this argument cannot be used to argue that same sex marriage should be illegal. It’s perfectly fine for one to have their own views and opinions, but will agreeing with the ban of same sex marriages really stop homosexuals from being together? Not at all, you will still see homosexual couples together because that’s their right, just like being able to be married should be.

To deny someone the right to marry the person they love goes against every right man is guaranteed to. Homosexual couples can’t help who they love anymore then a heterosexual can help who they love. They shouldn’t be punished or denied the right to love another human being. Gays and lesbians have been fighting for the right to be able to express their love and devotion to each other. Today gay marriage is legal in the state of California and Nevada, and hopefully this will encourage other states to make it legal as well. Love makes a marriage, nothing more, and nothing less; hopefully the law will open their eyes and see that.