Gay Marriage Should Be Legal Essay -- Gay Marriage, argumentative, per

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. Yet, same-sex marriage continues to be a highly debated issue that leaves our society searching for answers. This has been very apparent during elections when politicians, in order to distract or sway conservative voters, all took a side and had an opinion on the issue of same-sex marriage. The debate has been presented on the left as a civil rights debate, equal rights. And on the right, as a morals debate, a referendum on homosexuality (Rauch, J. 2004). Everyone has an opinion on whether two men or two women should be allowed to get married, and in doing so, have all the same rights granted by the federal government to them as are granted to more â€Å"traditional† couples. It is my belief that gay, lesbian, and transgendered couples should be afforded the same privileges as any other citizens including the choice of marriage. Singling out and disallowing certain r ights to any person based on sexual orientation, just like race, ethnicity, or religious background, is discrimination. Also, religious views on homosexuality should not have an effect on our laws. By conservative estimates, there are probably about ten million gay men and lesbians in the United States. And they're going to be there. They're going to be having relationships and they're going to be having kids no matter what we do in our laws and no matter what courts say. And the question about whether gay and lesbian couples should have an equal right to get married under our state laws--we're talking about state laws here, we're not talking about private religious organizations. (Wolff, 2005) In the past marriage was something everyone was expected to do. ... ...arch 8). Hollywood: World of Wonder. Inalienable Rites? Gay Marriage in the Courts (2005, March 25). Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson [Radio News Program]. http://www.hoover.org/multimedia/uk/2934426.html Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1 (1967) Masci, D. (2009, May 21). A Clash of Rights? Gay Marriage and the Free Exercise of Religion. http://pewforum.org/events/?EventID=216 Masci, D. (2009, July 9). Public Opinion on Gay Marriage: Opponents Consistently Outnumber Supporters. http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=424 Rauch, J. (2004, April 1). Can Gay Marriage Strengthen the American Family? [Brookings Briefing]. http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/events/2004/0401children%20%20%20families/20040401.pdf Strasser, P. M. (1999). The Challenge of Same-Sex marriage: Federalist Principles and Constitutional Protections. Westport: Preager Publisher.