As it stands now, gay marriage is something that is decided on a state-by-state basis, not country-wide. Right now, only seven states allow/recognize same-sex marriage: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Maine, and Vermont. Washington, D.C. also recognizes same-sex marriage as legal. Other states across the country allow civil unions or domestic partnerships, but this is along the lines of the seperate-but-equal segregation prior to the civil rights movement. Those who oppose same-sex marriage often claim that marriage is meant to be a union between one man and one woman. Period. In these arguments, religion is often cited as a driving force behind these views. Yet, people must remember there is a division between church and state. Should another person's personal views impact the lives of others in such a drastic way? Those who stand behind gay marriage argue that marriage is a human right, not merely a privilege for heterosexual couples.
To start, here's a little background info on where each of us stands on the issue:
Lauren: I stand up for gay rights for many reasons. The
most important reason is the equal dignity of homosexual love. I believe that
opposite-sex and same-sex relationships and that the time for stigmatizing or
segregating same-sex relationships is over. Whatever one’s definition of
marriage, legally recognizing gay and lesbian couples and their children is
necessary for us to grow as a community and a country. When people ask me why I
stand up so proudly for gay rights my answer is simple. My best friend Louis is
gay and he is the kindest and most lovable human being I have ever met. He loves
with the entirety of his heart and he invests everything into his relationships,
he is the most loyal friend a girl could ever ask for. I hope that one day Louis
has the same right that I do, to be able to marry the person he wants to spend
the rest of his life with and to be rightly represented. If Kim Kardashian can
marry someone for merely 72 days due to a publicity stunt, why can’t Louis be
able to marry the person he loves? It just isn’t fair. I really hope that
debating gay marriage might help to lead heterosexual STRAIGHT America to a
broader and more positive recommitment to marriage as an institution. Marriage
isn’t something we should take as a joke (hence: Kim Kardashian). Marriage is
about being committed to the person you love, regardless of your
sex.
Abby: As a heterosexual woman living in the 21st century, I will most likely never experience a situation where I am told I cannot marry a person I love. Sadly, this is not true for many people living in the U.S. Some of these people are members of my own family and/or among my closest friends. I know these people - I mean really know them. They are all loving, kind, generous individuals who deserve nothing but happiness. If that ultimate happiness is to be found in a marriage with a member of the same sex, what right does anyone have to take that away? I think that too often people assume the "it doesn't affect me so who cares" attitude when it comes to issues like gay marriage. The truth is, it affects us all. Gay marriage is not simply a gay rights issue - it is a human rights issue. Much in the same way the civil rights movement of the 60's was needed to pave the way for positive change among the races, the gay rights movement is needed to ensure equality for a demographic that makes up a large portion of our country's citizens - the LGBT community. This summer I had the pleasure of joining in my cousin's happiness as she announced her engagement to a woman she met and fell in love with and with whom she has started to build a life. I am grateful to live in Massachusetts - one of the few states that recognizes same-sex marriage - so we can all share in their happiness when they get married in 2014!
No comments:
Post a Comment