My best friend just wrote this paper for her psych class. In response, your thoughts on gay marriage are welcome.
Should gay marriage be legal? To some people, the mere thought of this possibility makes their bones shake; to others, the idea brings a satisfying smirk to their lips. Due to the great diversity of opinion in America, heated controversy over this issue is not uncommon. In society today, a rapidly growing number of people feel that homosexual couples, in addition to heterosexuals, should enjoy the benefits of marriage. On the other hand, there are also those who feel heterosexual marriage is the only valid form of the institution. To fully understand the effects of the legalization of gay marriage, one must thoroughly evaluate the arguments for each side and come to a conclusion on their own. THIS REPORT WILL FIRST EXAMINE THE VIEWS OF THOSE WHO FEEL THE LEGALIZATION OF GAY MARRIAGE IS WRONG AND THEN LOOK AT THOSE WHO FEEL IT IS RIGHT.
Although it would seem natural to most people that the split between the two opinionated factions on gay marriage would fall between conservative Christians and liberals, this actually proves untrue. In a World Magazine article written in June 2000, Edward Plowman writes about how the Baptist church feels so diversely that they are splitting. For example, he quotes Paul Aita, an American Baptist Church minister, as saying that “the differences on homosexuality cause such tensions that we cannot function as one.” The United Methodist Church also has a great deal of conflict within its denominations. According to Plowman, “Following a report on how the United Methodist Church’s general conference in Cleveland last month stood by its position that homosexual practice is incompatible with Christian teaching, and upheld bans on same-sex union and ordinations of practicing homosexuals, dozens of angry ministers stood.” Even with the commonly held belief among Churches that homosexual practice is incompatible with Christian teaching, a number of ministers disagree and even choose to perform blessings on homosexual unions, risking banishment.
A somewhat different view than those of various Christian denominations is held by people who feel gay marriage should not be legalized for non-Biblical reasons. According to Stanley Kurtz, the growing tolerance for gay marriage is one of the factors contributing to the weakening marriage institution between heterosexual couples. Basically, men and women have an inherently compatible nature that allows them to lead strong married lives. Kurtz summarizes this nature best in exposing that “women approach sex differently than men, and that women, by waiting, help men to yoke together love and sex in a way that leads to and strengthens marriage.” In other words, women help to make men amenable to marriage. Alternately, when two men are in a relationship together, the sexual dynamic is skewed. Even if one man assumes the role of the woman in the relationship, it does not mean he has the characteristics or ability of a woman to tame a man into being prepared for a committed marriage. According to Benjamin Ginsberg, Theodore Lowi, and Margaret Weir in We the People, the reasons for restricting marriage to heterosexual couples involve more than just the basic characteristics of the two sexes. Instead, according to their insights, “every child needs both a strong, loving male role model and a strong, loving female role model, so both genders can understand each other.” While they do allow for someone outside of the parental role to fill the need of either role model, they also state that “since parents are the ones children know best and parents have the best chance of developing a close reciprocal relationship with their kids, the impact of parents is correspondingly greater.”
For a balanced perspective, it is crucial to also examine the beliefs of people who feel gay marriage should be legalized. According to Jonathan Rauch, through legalization of gay marriage, the marriage institute as a whole could actually be strengthened. The issue basically comes down to a person’s definition of marriage, says David Link. If marriage is defined as the union of two people of opposite sexes, it is easy to see why one would feel gay marriage should not be legal. However, if the definition deals strictly with the union and commitment of two people of either sex, the uproar over the issue of gay marriage legalization disappears. The position most commonly held by supporters of gay marriage is that marriage is a commitment intended to encourage the mutual support, care, and affection of one’s partner. According to Link, whether that commitment is made by same-sex couples or not is irrelevant because marriage itself is important to social stability and order. Another opinion on why gay marriage should be legalized comes from Roger Winters, who argues in his article, Freedom to Marry and the Pursuit of Happiness, that “many same-sex couples are involved in long-term relationships, indicating that people are able to be really married though considered legal strangers.” He also points out that marriage is key to the pursuit of happiness that we are granted as American citizens. In other words, it is wrong to deprive people of this fundamental value based on their sexual orientation.
In conclusion, use this information to strengthen your own convictions as to whether or not gay marriage should be legalized. Also keep in mind, however, that the homosexual lifestyle is a distinctively different topic than what has been addressed here and, as such, should not be judged as right or wrong based on the information given.
Edit: Fixed the paragraph breaks.
Should gay marriage be legal? To some people, the mere thought of this possibility makes their bones shake; to others, the idea brings a satisfying smirk to their lips. Due to the great diversity of opinion in America, heated controversy over this issue is not uncommon. In society today, a rapidly growing number of people feel that homosexual couples, in addition to heterosexuals, should enjoy the benefits of marriage. On the other hand, there are also those who feel heterosexual marriage is the only valid form of the institution. To fully understand the effects of the legalization of gay marriage, one must thoroughly evaluate the arguments for each side and come to a conclusion on their own. THIS REPORT WILL FIRST EXAMINE THE VIEWS OF THOSE WHO FEEL THE LEGALIZATION OF GAY MARRIAGE IS WRONG AND THEN LOOK AT THOSE WHO FEEL IT IS RIGHT.
Although it would seem natural to most people that the split between the two opinionated factions on gay marriage would fall between conservative Christians and liberals, this actually proves untrue. In a World Magazine article written in June 2000, Edward Plowman writes about how the Baptist church feels so diversely that they are splitting. For example, he quotes Paul Aita, an American Baptist Church minister, as saying that “the differences on homosexuality cause such tensions that we cannot function as one.” The United Methodist Church also has a great deal of conflict within its denominations. According to Plowman, “Following a report on how the United Methodist Church’s general conference in Cleveland last month stood by its position that homosexual practice is incompatible with Christian teaching, and upheld bans on same-sex union and ordinations of practicing homosexuals, dozens of angry ministers stood.” Even with the commonly held belief among Churches that homosexual practice is incompatible with Christian teaching, a number of ministers disagree and even choose to perform blessings on homosexual unions, risking banishment.
A somewhat different view than those of various Christian denominations is held by people who feel gay marriage should not be legalized for non-Biblical reasons. According to Stanley Kurtz, the growing tolerance for gay marriage is one of the factors contributing to the weakening marriage institution between heterosexual couples. Basically, men and women have an inherently compatible nature that allows them to lead strong married lives. Kurtz summarizes this nature best in exposing that “women approach sex differently than men, and that women, by waiting, help men to yoke together love and sex in a way that leads to and strengthens marriage.” In other words, women help to make men amenable to marriage. Alternately, when two men are in a relationship together, the sexual dynamic is skewed. Even if one man assumes the role of the woman in the relationship, it does not mean he has the characteristics or ability of a woman to tame a man into being prepared for a committed marriage. According to Benjamin Ginsberg, Theodore Lowi, and Margaret Weir in We the People, the reasons for restricting marriage to heterosexual couples involve more than just the basic characteristics of the two sexes. Instead, according to their insights, “every child needs both a strong, loving male role model and a strong, loving female role model, so both genders can understand each other.” While they do allow for someone outside of the parental role to fill the need of either role model, they also state that “since parents are the ones children know best and parents have the best chance of developing a close reciprocal relationship with their kids, the impact of parents is correspondingly greater.”
For a balanced perspective, it is crucial to also examine the beliefs of people who feel gay marriage should be legalized. According to Jonathan Rauch, through legalization of gay marriage, the marriage institute as a whole could actually be strengthened. The issue basically comes down to a person’s definition of marriage, says David Link. If marriage is defined as the union of two people of opposite sexes, it is easy to see why one would feel gay marriage should not be legal. However, if the definition deals strictly with the union and commitment of two people of either sex, the uproar over the issue of gay marriage legalization disappears. The position most commonly held by supporters of gay marriage is that marriage is a commitment intended to encourage the mutual support, care, and affection of one’s partner. According to Link, whether that commitment is made by same-sex couples or not is irrelevant because marriage itself is important to social stability and order. Another opinion on why gay marriage should be legalized comes from Roger Winters, who argues in his article, Freedom to Marry and the Pursuit of Happiness, that “many same-sex couples are involved in long-term relationships, indicating that people are able to be really married though considered legal strangers.” He also points out that marriage is key to the pursuit of happiness that we are granted as American citizens. In other words, it is wrong to deprive people of this fundamental value based on their sexual orientation.
In conclusion, use this information to strengthen your own convictions as to whether or not gay marriage should be legalized. Also keep in mind, however, that the homosexual lifestyle is a distinctively different topic than what has been addressed here and, as such, should not be judged as right or wrong based on the information given.
Edit: Fixed the paragraph breaks.
Last edited:
