Allowing legal unions between same sex couples is not "granting" them permission to have sex, it is allowing them to legally commit to each other and enjoy the social and legal benefits that heterosexual couples enjoy. Many corporations such as American Airlines are extending their employee partner benefits to include same sex couples (Lee pp)
Opposing Opinion Opponents of same sex marriage, argue that the need to "ensure the survival of the state and species is the historical and institutional foundation upon which marriage exists" (Kravets pp). If same sex couples are allowed to marry then instead of a life covenant based on a procreative promise, marriage would become a mere contract between any two individuals (Bastien pp)
Marriage is not necessarily a union between persons of the opposite sex nor is it a union for the primary purpose of reproducing children, but rather a union between two persons for the purpose of partnership in labor and social activities (Marriage pp). Opposing Opinion Opponents of same sex marriage, argue that the need to "ensure the survival of the state and species is the historical and institutional foundation upon which marriage exists" (Kravets pp)
In February 2005, New York Judge Robert Mulvey denied marriage to same sex couple, declaring that it was not up to the court but rather the legislature to grant them permission for matrimony (Xiaowei pp). In March 2005, the Washington State Supreme Court heard arguments concerning the legal issues that will ultimately determine whether same-sex couples can marry within that state (Rowe pp)
In 1989 Denmark legalized same sex relationships by enacting the Registered Domestic Partnerships, which is similar to civil unions in Vermont (Alderman pp). Neither are considered a marriage and requires a divorce to end the relationship, yet create a separate system for same sex couples, yet does grant certain legal rights within the union of the couple (Alderson pp)
To these individuals, the pursuit of same-sex marriage is frivolous, compared to other urgent issues. Other opponents within the lesbian and gay community argue that the extension of marriage to same-sex couples would only benefit certain groups, namely professionals, white, middle-class, able-bodied lesbians and gays whose families look very like the traditional heterosexual ideal (Donovan, 2004, p
Same Sex Marriage The topic of same-sex marriage has created debate between its supporters and opponents as well as within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities. The first, and perhaps the most popular opposition to same-sex marriage came from religious groups (Lahey & Alderson, 2004, p
These opponents seem to be wary of their assimilation into mainstream society via state regulation marriage, arguing that the extension of rights to marry can mask the problem underlying the same-sex marriage debate, e.g., the heteronormative nature of society (Lehr, 1999, p
. A fundamental freedom" that cannot be infringed upon by the state due to "discrimination" (Loving v. Virginia, 1967)
Rev. David Henry, a former host of Christian broadcast, stated that same-sex legislation will transform an institution of marriage that is meant for procreation and nurturing of children into the legal protection of the needs and the desires of adult relationships (White, 2005, p
If there is a natural law in the universe we do not know it yet, and probably should not pretend to. The right moral choice is often defined in terms of prevailing moral norms (Alexander & Moore, 2012)
At the state level, many states are already allowing same sex marriage, some by referendum and others through the work of legislators (Honan, 2013). There are even arguments to protect those who stand opposed to same sex marriage of having their names in public (Canfield, 2013)
In the United States, government is created by the people for the people, and therefore has a democratic system that should reflect the will of the people. Whatever was thought in the past, today the majority of Americans support same sex marriage (Murray, 2013)
From an ethical perspective, the United States can be seen as utilitarian in nature. In this theory of ethics, the right action is that which supports the greatest good in outcomes for the greatest number of people (Sinnott-Armstrong, 2011)
Opponents of same-sex marriage believe that legislation may limit their religious freedom to decide about their own doctrines. Civil union advocates and Separation of Church and State believe that the state infringes upon the constitutional right to freedom of religion by defining marriage as only an opposite sex institution (Glassman, 2005)
Callahan asserts that trying to expand the institution of marriage to homosexuals is a waste of energy because of the inherent problems in marriage. She believes that marriage is an immoral institution in much of its impact because of how marriage has traditionally been used as a means of power and control of minorities or low-power groups, and that the effort spent on the legalization of marriage would be better spent in attempting to accomplish goals that have been linked to marriage, such as insurance access for same-sex partners (Callahan, 2009, p
Therefore, one of the primary arguments that people make when arguing against same-sex marriage is that legalization would violate their religious principles. In fact, according to Margaret Denike, an advocate for civil rights for gays, "god has staged an unprecedented revival, and religions that invest in His word on sex and related matters have a tenacious hold on the politics of certain liberal constitutional democracies" (Denike, 2007, p
This, in turn, leads to questions about the place of masculinity in society. Traditionally, marriage has been a way for men to establish their masculinity, and there is a question about whether men can do that in a homosexual marriage between men, while it is clear that they cannot in a homosexual relationship between two women (Edwards, 2007, p
The issue becomes reform or revolution, but that dichotomy need not exist. One can reject marriage as it has traditionally been envisioned, which has been a way for males to exercise property rights over females, and still seek marital equality for lesbians and gays who, not having the gendered expectations of heterosexual couples, would not come into the marriage with the same norms and expectations (Ferguson, 2007, p
As a result, the civil rights injury articulated by mainstream lesbian/gay activists has shifted from one of misrecognition (that is, the legal regulation and categorization of same-sex sex as criminal) to one of seeking legal redress based on non-recognition. In other words, the harm of legal and social injury is articulated not through terms of criminality or deviance (Lenon, 2011, p