Henry David Thoreau's Impact On Society

Same sex marriage, also referred to as marriage equality or gay marriage, is a very charged topic in our world currently. While people have their own personal beliefs and religious views on the subject, is there an absence of freedom for those of the LGBQT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender) community? So where would Henry David Thoreau stand when it comes to this topic if he were still with us today? Would he be appalled, intrigued or simply indifferent? Thoreau was a man of peace. He dealt with problems in manners of peaceful protest. This means of protest is still extremely popular today and amongst those many Americans idolize. Those such as Tolstoy, Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. along with others, have used Thoreau’s methods of peaceful protest and have shown the power of civil disobedience and how it has rippled across the planet. Through civil disobedience, people are able to live their
“Follow-the-leader is not the game we’re playing here! Young lady, BE YOUR OWN MAN!” (28), this quote alone shows Thoreau pushes people to be themselves and to do what feels best for them. Thoreau is not one to condone pleasing others by changing one’s own thoughts. “I want you to be yourself-not your idea of what you think is somebody else’s idea of yourself.” (29), this reiterates Thoreau’s strong feelings against conformity for the benefits of others. Therefore, Thoreau would be for marriage equality. Thoreau would not want people to feel as if they cannot be them full selves or as if they are depriving themselves of the love they need to be complete. Thoreau himself states, “We love without knowing it. A man- or a woman- can’t love on schedule...yes it is accidental” (76 & 77). This demonstrates Thoreau’s thoughts on one’s ability to choose to love. He thinks it is out of one’s own hands and love just happens. Therefore, Thoreau would be empathetic towards LGBQT couples and their choice to love