Gay Marriage & Politics

Group Project #3
Gay Marriage & Politics
 Are Democrats more accepting of same-sex marriage compared to Republicans?

Gay marriage has been an international debate over the past few years. Not only have religious groups made their opinions known, but the politicians have also joined in, in either support for or in protest against. Is their confirmation of gay marriage just a political strategy to gain votes? Do they believe homosexual relationships in fact deserve the same benefits as a heterosexual union? Do they see this equality as a moral issue or something that is truly unconstitutional? In this paper we will analyze whether democrats are more pro “gay marriage” than their republican counter. Any subject in politics will always be a competitive debate between the democrats and the republics. There are subjects such as abortion, gun control, and same sex marriage. In today’s society it seems that the Democrats and Republicans are more divided than ever before. It seems that the Democrats focus more on the needs of the citizens; whereas, the Republicans are more focused on what is sacred to their voters and make the nation more abundant in their religious views. Besides the main economic crisis, another bipartisan debate today is same sex marriage. Democrats are more accepting of same sex marriage compared to Republicans. According to (Forman M., 2004) he explains that the Democrats are majority voted in the house by the people or citizens of this great nation. Therefore, the majority of this nation trusts the decisions of the Democrats. Some of those voters are part of the gay community and this community expects to get results for the party they voted into office. Remembering what (Rajczi, A., 2008) argues that this situation is a moral issue. Most of the Republicans believe that same-sex marriage is against moral standards. Whereas, the Democrats believe that it is a way to treat everyone equally no matter of race, religion, or sexual orientation. Both parties have an important point when it comes to this issue, but the Republicans seem to forget about the foundation of the constitution, which is the separation of church and state. The republicans believe that this is against religious views of the sacred commitment of marriage. Marriage is the formal union of a man and a woman, typically recognized by law, by which they become husband and wife. The most recent development in the deinstitutionalization of marriage is the movement to legalize same-sex marriage. (Worthen, 2005) points out (Baehr vs. Lewin, 1993) holds the state constitution’s equal protection clauses required that a statute restricting marriages to heterosexual couples be subjected to strict scrutiny, ultimately led to stated constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to reserve marriage to opposite sex couples. Large majorities of Democrats and Independents favor same-sex marriage compared to Republicans. Marriage always has been, and always should be the unity of a man and a woman; so what society, social media and the Bible states. Centuries have proved that the commitment of marriage promotes the overall stability of a strong society. Same- sex marriage have been the heated public debate for over a decade. The Democratic Party, adopted in 2012, supports same-sex marriage vs. Republican does not supports the same-sex marriage. Democrats generally are in support of gay marriage as it promotes equality. Democrats feel their productive output belongs to the state, but their personal life is their own. When it comes to representing a group of American ideals and voters, the influence on what one can hold sacred, motivates any political party to have their stand on any debatable issue. Same-sex marriage obliviously has a liberal outreach to the public, however, when comparing the acceptance of gay marriage to conservative Americans the argument of not accepting same-sex marriage can be linked to what can be found sacred to conservatives Americans and their political support. According to (Camp, 2008) Gay rights organizations found that conservative Evangelical Christians are being mobilized by the Republican Party to oppose marriage, civil rights , and domestic partnerships to gays and lesbians. This can be perceived, by some, that the Republican Party's agenda has stigma against homosexuals. Furthermore, as the conservative Evangelical Christians and other religious groups has the backing or political connection from the Republican Party, one might think that the groups has no intention on seeing marriage equality and that they must have a valid reason for such a stigma against homosexuals. Although when it comes to what one hold sacred, Edwards brings up the notion of profane and ontology. The question posed by (Edwards, 2007) why must the ontology and privilege of heterosexual marriage be protected when it has no threat? Edwards explains from (Durkheim, 1965) that marriage is sacred because the interdictions preventing contact with profane things, and that to put gay marriage on the same level as heterosexual marriage is a pollutant. In conclusion, research points out that Democrats being more liberal are more in support for same-sex marriage than their Republican counterparts. Same sex marriage has been and will continue to be an issue if both parties cannot come together to really discuss on what should happen and what needs to be approved. The way the Democrats feel about same-sex marriage will never change how the Republicans feel or vote on the issue. Both of the parties will not get the nation anywhere with the bipartisan disagreement. It appears that conservative voters of the United States constrict the Republican Party to find out the wants and needs of others. The Democratic Party seems to have the liberal take due to nature of how they serve the voters while in office, rather than letting their conservative religious beliefs constrict them in seeing what the future for the nation is.

 Are Democrats more accepting of same-sex marriage compared to Republicans?
Camp, Bayliss J. 2008. "Mobilizing the Bas and Embarrassing the Opposition: Defense of Marriage Referenda and Cross-Cutting Electoral Cleavages." Sociological Perspectives Vol.51, No.4: 717.

Durkheim, David E. 1965. Elementary Forms of the Religious Life (New York: The Free Press)

Edwards Jane. 2007. " 'Marriage is Sacred': The Religious Right's Arguments against 'Gay Marriage' in Australia." Culture, Health & Sexuality Vol. 9, No.3: 254 Foreman, M. 2004. Democrats waffling on marriage amendment. The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide, XI(4), 5-5

Rajczi, A. 2008. A populist argument for legalizing same-sex marriage. The Monist, 91(3), 475-505
Worthen, Kevin J.2005. Who Decided and what Difference Does it Make? :Defining Marriage in “ Our Democratic, Federal Republic. BYU Journal of Public Law Vol. 18 :273-307