Critical Thinking
| Same-Sex Marriage Debates | | | | June 13, 2013 |
Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is a marriage between two people of the same biological sex/gender identity. The recognition of this type of marriage is a civil rights, equality, human rights, political, social, moral, and religious issue in many nations, including the United States, Europe, and multiple others. There are many people who argue for the right of gay marriage, myself included, but there are also opponents. There are many pros to same-sex marriage, the biggest being that same-sex couples should be allowed to publicly celebrate their commitment in the same way as heterosexual couples. Same-sex couples should have access to the same benefits enjoyed by heterosexual married couples, and the concept of “traditional marriage” being defined as one man and one woman is historically inaccurate: given the prevalence of modern and ancient examples of family arrangements based on polygamy, communal child-rearing, the use of concubines and courtesans and the commonality of prostitution, heterosexual monogamy can be considered “unnatural” in evolutionary terms (Procon.org, 2013). Another pro to same-sex marriage is that gay marriages can bring financial gain to state and local governments: revenue from gay marriage comes from marriage licenses, higher income taxes, and decreases in costs for state benefit programs (Procon.org, 2013). Gay marriage would also make it easier for same-sex couples to adopt, providing stable homes for children who would otherwise be left in foster care (Procon.org, 2013). Gay marriage legalization is connected with lower divorce rates, while gay marriage bans are associated with higher divorce rates; Massachusetts, which became the first state to legalize gay marriage in 2004, had the lowest divorce rate in the country in 2008 (Procon.org, 2013). Alaska, which altered its constitution to prohibit gay marriage in 1998, saw a 17.2% increase in its
Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is a marriage between two people of the same biological sex/gender identity. The recognition of this type of marriage is a civil rights, equality, human rights, political, social, moral, and religious issue in many nations, including the United States, Europe, and multiple others. There are many people who argue for the right of gay marriage, myself included, but there are also opponents. There are many pros to same-sex marriage, the biggest being that same-sex couples should be allowed to publicly celebrate their commitment in the same way as heterosexual couples. Same-sex couples should have access to the same benefits enjoyed by heterosexual married couples, and the concept of “traditional marriage” being defined as one man and one woman is historically inaccurate: given the prevalence of modern and ancient examples of family arrangements based on polygamy, communal child-rearing, the use of concubines and courtesans and the commonality of prostitution, heterosexual monogamy can be considered “unnatural” in evolutionary terms (Procon.org, 2013). Another pro to same-sex marriage is that gay marriages can bring financial gain to state and local governments: revenue from gay marriage comes from marriage licenses, higher income taxes, and decreases in costs for state benefit programs (Procon.org, 2013). Gay marriage would also make it easier for same-sex couples to adopt, providing stable homes for children who would otherwise be left in foster care (Procon.org, 2013). Gay marriage legalization is connected with lower divorce rates, while gay marriage bans are associated with higher divorce rates; Massachusetts, which became the first state to legalize gay marriage in 2004, had the lowest divorce rate in the country in 2008 (Procon.org, 2013). Alaska, which altered its constitution to prohibit gay marriage in 1998, saw a 17.2% increase in its
Bibliography: Messerli, J. (2011, November 19). Should same-sex marriages be legalized?. Retrieved from http://www.balancedpolitics.org/same_sex_marriages.htm Procon.org. (2013, June 12). Gay marriage. Retrieved from http://gaymarriage.procon.org/ Stewart, D. (n.d.). Gay marriage is sin!. Retrieved from http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils%20in%20America/Sodomy/gay_marriage_is_sin.htm TFP Student Action. (n.d.). 10 reasons why homosexual “marriage” is harmful and must be opposed. Retrieved from http://www.tfpstudentaction.org/politically-incorrect/homosexuality/10-reasons-why-homosexual-marriage-is-harmful-and-must-be-opposed.html