Austin Record US Government and Politics 1100 Spring Semester Persuasive Essay 16 April 2015 Family, Division or Union It is a special day. You have all the men in suites all clean and pressed with shoes polished. The women are all dressed in their best with their high heels and necklaces. The children are all happy to see so many people together all dressed in their best. The cake is waiting with all of its many layers and brilliant colors. Flowers line the walls, the benches, and even the posts and buttresses. The whole scene is breathtaking. One young lady is dressed in white and the music cues her progress to the altar. People smile, cry, all glowing towards this lucky couple and their special day. A young man sits there and just ponders. He knows he wants to get married, but how can he? It is not legal where he lives. He knows that the church does not approve of it. What is he going to do? He is gay and cannot get married when he does find the love of his life. Many young men and women, even older men and women are in this exact situation because, nationwide, marriage is not fully legalized for same-‐sex couples. This issue has been going on for a long time. One organization set up to support same-‐sex marriage is the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). HRC was set up in the year 1980 in an effort to support the LGBT community in receiving the opportunity to actually marry. There are only seventeen states and DC that allow same-‐sex couples to get married in an equal position as straight couples. These states are California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington. ("States That Allow Gay Marriage") Illinois took effect on 1 June 2014. There are some states that recognize out of state marriages and/or allow for something called a Civil Union. Civil Union is basically a marriage with a few exceptions that straight marriages receive from the government that those in Civil Unions do not receive. A civil union was created by the state of Vermont in 2000 to allow protection for same-‐sex couples. Some of the main differences pertain to federal protection and also a civil union may only be terminated in a state that respects civil unions. One of the biggest issues is when dealing with paperwork like taxes. It is fraud to misrepresent yourself on legal documents, and since most legal documents only ask if you are single or married, civil union does not fit into either category. (“Civil marriage v. civil unions what’s the difference?”) Now according to 2009 US census there was a national total of 2,077,000 marriages in general, which is about 6.8 marriages for every 1,000 people of a population. (US National Center for Health Statistics, and National Vital Statistics Reports) Now there are several viewpoints to this situation. Also within these viewpoints there are opposing views. Religion is one of the key viewpoints. Most religions are against homosexuality and therefore against same-‐sex marriage. The Abrahamic religions are the most outspoken of the relgions which include Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS Church) is one of the most prominent and highly vocal churches that oppose same-‐sex marriage. There is a document called “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” which details the purpose of the family and “our purpose” on earth in this life. The LDS Church believes that they have a prophet who speaks with god and then tells us what is necessary for us to do in this day and age. Among their official scriptures and writings they have no new verses detailing the “sin” of homosexuality or same-‐sex marriage. These writings do however detail that in order to live with god again a man needs to marry a woman and make a family and both parties must stay faithful to the end of their lives. Now with the lack of scripture detailing god’s denial to homosexuality, leaders within recent years have mentioned the few verses in the Bible that explain this “sin” in homosexuality and same-‐sex marriage as well as using these newer verses as reasons why same-‐sex marriage is wrong. (LDS Church) Another religion among many that denounces same-‐sex marriage and homosexuality is the Catholic Church. An article on the church’s website called Catholic Answers details what they believe and why they are against same-‐sex marriage. ("Gay Marriage”) As many religions also detail and many people argue, the value of marriage will be degraded. The belief is that if the government allows same-‐
sex couples to marry then the divorce rate will increase and family values will drop. Also this article draws out the details of marriage, which can also be applied to same-‐sex marriage. The unknown author of this article mentions that a marriage is not based solely upon feelings, but s/he does not go into detail what else it is based upon. S/he does mention that the institution of marriage impacts the couple, their children, and the community. Politicians view this issue of marriage very differently. Most politicians against same-‐sex marriage use the religion card, or the degradation of family values. The political website Balanced Politics details the reasons why a politician, or anyone, would be against same-‐sex marriage or for it. There are nine reasons to support same-‐sex marriage while there are only six to go against such an institution. Now of the six reasons to go against same-‐sex marriage the three that have already been mentioned include the religious view against same-‐sex marriage, the weakening of the definition of marriage, and the loss of family values. Not previously mentioned is the idea that soon people will have multiple spouses or even marry animals. Also accepting same-‐sex marriage may confuse children in gender-‐roles and also may show acceptance of a life that has been mentioned as being not only sinful but also a health risk. Now one of those nine reasons to support same-‐sex marriage can also be viewed as a reason to go against it, which is the permission of adoption of a child into a family with same-‐sex parents. Reasons posted as to why same-‐sex marriage should be allowed are as follows and stated by Balanced Politics: “it is a violation of religious freedom; marriage benefits should be available to all couples; homosexuality is now more accepted; it is a form of minority discrimination; it doesn’t hurt society; the only thing that should matter in marriage is love; it encourages people to have long-‐lasting relationships; and the financial benefits of a marriage between a man and a woman should also be there for a same-‐sex marriage”. (Messerli) If the society were to only think about the economic boost, same-‐sex marriages would be allowed not only nation-‐wide, but globally. Looking at New York after celebrating its first anniversary of allowing same-‐sex marriage we can see this boost in just a short period. As of July 2011 the state of New York has accepted and allowed same-‐sex marriage as an equal to straight man-‐woman marriage. Within that first year more than 8,000 same-‐sex couples were married just within that state. This economic boost had a gain of an overall amount of $259 million resulting just from same-‐sex marriages. Within that year, of all the marriages performed in New York, same-‐sex marriages only account for 10% of all marriages. There was a direct revenue of $16 million plus the honeymoon stay in a hotel room averaging at about $275 per night with a total of 235,000 hotel rooms booked. (Honan) Now this is just an example from the state of New York. If taken into consideration the other states that allow marriage and the percentage of same-‐sex couples that could be married if all of the states allowed marriage there would be a great increase in the economy and citizens would be able to have better jobs. There are millions who are waiting for the opportunity to marry. On the website It Gets Better there are many videos specifically for young gays that are struggling with bullying. These videos also include several subjects varying from marriage to school all of which depend upon the author. One specific video is about Chris from Calgary, Alberta. (“Chris from Calgary Alberta”) This man was 28 when filming this post, and is now open about being gay. He states that he was raised in an evangelical household and was always taught that homosexuality was wrong. As a result of his upbringing he got married to a nice lady and tried to live a “normal” straight life. After suffering years of internal anguish of knowing his personal likes and feeling guilty of misleading his wife he ended his marriage. He is like so many other young men and women who know who they are and what their likes are but may never get the chance to marry because of a law that forbids it. Also many try and follow the “normal” life-‐style and marry someone that they may care about but they lack the physical attraction and the full formed love needed in a relationship. In conclusion we have the religious view that normally denounces same-‐sex marriage and homosexuality. They base their beliefs on a book that they don’t know who actually wrote it and in fact has been altered through translations and people removing parts that they feel are not necessary. There is the idea that marriage will degrade and destroy the meaning of family and values. Each family has its own way of teaching their children, raising them how they want. There is no reason why that should prevent someone else to form a family with people that they love. Now politically someone could argue that we then have to allow marrying an animal or an inanimate object that cannot decide for itself. These ideas should not be considered as a valid argument. Two adults who consent to marriage should be allowed this opportunity. Politicians do have a say in what goes on and because of religion they tend to choose against same-‐sex marriage and continue on with discrimination. However economically there are many benefits that will help society. There are even benefits in society with the orphanages and even changing some of the statistics with marriage now. Yes the argument is valid that the divorce rate can and most likely will raise, but one of the reasons that the divorce rate is high is because so many people are stuck in the situation of trying to live a life-‐style that is not for them. They marry someone and then realize that they can’t live that life-‐style anymore. Now as a member of society, hoping to get married is just part of the American dream, I wish to get married and everyone should have that dream and be able to live it. Anna Quinlan details this and even connects it with the lawsuit Loving v. Virginia and how interracial marriage is similar. She even quotes Mrs. Loving on her view of marriage and that everyone “no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry.” Anna even states her view of god based upon actions of religions today and she imagines him saying, “Why does all the worst stuff get done in my name?” (Quinlan 404-‐405) Now we have slow progress to marriage equality with same-‐sex marriage. The world only spins forward so someday this issue will be resolved or disappear. Since marriage should only be based on love and because many people are atheist, religion should have no say in this matter. Beliefs from a religion do affect a person’s actions. The government was set up to make decisions separate from the church. The infographic below details this and also explains very clearly some of the points in previous paragraphs. (“How to explain gay rights to idiots”) “Chris from Calgary Alberta.” It Gets Better. 2011. http://www.itgetsbetter.org/video/entry/7153/. Viewed on 5 April 2015. “Civil marriage v. civil unions what’s the difference?” Glad. Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, 2011. http://www.glad.org/uploads/docs/publications/cu-‐vs-‐marriage.pdf. Viewed on 5 April 2015. “Gay Marriage” Catholic answers. Catholic Answers, Inc., 2004. http://www.catholic.com/documents/gay-‐marriage. Viewed on 5 April 2015. Honan, Edith. "Same-‐sex marriage a boost for NYC economy" MSN. Thomson Reuter, 2012. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48308491/ns/us_news-‐life/. Viewed on 25 July 2012. “How to explain gay rights to idiots.” Daily Dawdle. http://www.dailydawdle.com/2011/12/how-‐to-‐
explain-‐gay-‐rights-‐to-‐idiots.html. Viewed on 11 April 2015. HRC. hrc.org http://www.hrc.org/the-‐hrc-‐story/about-‐us. Viewed on 4 April 2015. LDS Church. LDS.org. http://www.lds.org/search?lang=eng&query=Same-‐sex Marriage. Viewed on 7 April 2015. Messerli, J. "Same Sex Marriages." Balancedpolitics.org. Balanced Politics, 2011. http://balancedpolitics.org/same_sex_marriages.htm. Viewed on 7 April 2015. Quinlan, Anna. “The Loving Decision.” Readings for Diversity and Social Justice. Second Edition. New York: Routledge, 2010. 404-‐405. Print. “States That Allow Gay Marriage.” States that allow gay marriage.com. LGBT Art Community, 2011. http://statesthatallowgaymarriage.com/. Viewed on 4 April 2015. US National Center for Health Statistics, and National Vital Statistics Reports. "Marriages and Divorces-‐
Number and Rate by State: 1990 to 2009." U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the UN, 2011. Http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0133.pdf. Viewed on 5 April 2015.