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“I do…” is what many gay and lesbian wish they could say. However, in the
United States the closest thing to marriage for gay and lesbian couples is a civil union,
and in which most states they are not offered nor recognized from other states. Same-sex
marriage is deemed one of the most controversial subjects of the civil rights movement
since its beginning with the black civil rights movement of the sixties. Government,
Religion, and personal beliefs of homosexual marriage are often in great debate.
Thousands of gay and lesbian couples have been denied the right of marriage, pondering
the issues of whether homosexuals should be allowed to marry as well as the separation
of church and state.
Government allowance of homosexual marriage would break the stereo type of
gays and lesbians. It would prove that gays and lesbians can be faithful, caring, honest,
and not to mention parents. Homosexuals would receive the benefits of their
heterosexual counter parts. Being allowed to buy a house or car together are just a couple
examples. Adopting a child is something that many homosexual couples wish they could
do as a family. In the State of Ohio it is legal for a gay man or a lesbian to adopt a child;
however his/her partner is not allowed to legally adopt the child as their own. Equality
and proper treatment as human beings would be achieved if the government were to
allow same-sex marriage. Because of the slow progressing natures of the legislation in
State Congresses advocates are turning to the courts just as the abortion activists did in
the 60’s and 70’s. In 1993 same-sex litigation hit the dirt in Hawaii. In the case of Baehr
v. Lewin, the Hawaii Supreme Court became the first court in this country to hold, that
under federal or any state constitution, which a constitutional right could exist for samesex couples to receive a marriage license.
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The Government stance is based on several things. First of which is the
controlling party, whether it be Democrat or Republican. The Democrats are almost
always favored, supported, and usually are endorsed by gay and lesbian activist groups.
Republicans are very rarely, if at all, supported by gay and lesbian groups. The most
recent neutral Republican is Vice President Dick Cheney. His Daughter, Mary is an out
lesbian and during Mr. Cheney’s campaign, he was in Vermont for a campaign stop, and
stated that “People have the right to enter into any relationship they choose. I don’t plan
to get involved in that controversy. States regulate relationships, and that’s how is should
be1.” It is obvious that Cheney’s position doesn’t stem from his daughter’s
homosexuality, but his political strategy to reach the suburban morns, independents, and
the swing voters that will sway the election. In order to do that, you must not go around
attacking gay rights. As you can see homosexual marriage is used as a “toy” to get votes,
but then is forgotten once in office. The difficulties of marriage come along with the
right of marriage. Credit cards, home loans, future expenses for home repairs, all of
these, just as with heterosexual couples would go against both people in the relationship.
There is also the marriage penalty tax when filing your federal taxes every year. Your
economic status can change from good to bad, because of your partner’s bad credit
history. Religious views heavily influence the government’s decision on same-sex
marriage. The “separation of church and state” doesn’t apply to marriage as both the
church and the state need the other’s approval to allow the couple to be wed.
The Religious acceptance of homosexual marriage is based on the “readings from
The Bible.” However, The Bible conflicts itself. It states that “Thou shall not lie with
mankind, as with womenkind: it is abomination” (Lev. 20.13). And it also says that we
1
Baby Steps for the Cheney’s. Advocate Issue 823 (10/24/00): p14
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are to love all of God’s creations. As we move into the future more and more churches
are learning that they are to love all of God’s creations. Most recently the Presbyterian
Church of the United States of America voted down same-sex prohibition. This means
that as states allow same-sex unions or “civil unions” as they are known in the legal
sense, the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America will be allowed to offer
civil union ceremonies. With the churches allowing civil unions it breaks the stereo type
that homosexuals are not monogamous people. It shows that homosexual couples can
carry out day to day activities just as heterosexual couples can.
The church would however expect more from homosexual couples than from
heterosexual couples just for fact they are giving “special rights” to homosexual people
who wish to marry. They would expect to see you at every church function, every
Sunday morning for services. As well as some couples would be of differing religions
and one religion may accept it and another would not. This would cause conflict in the
family and the church. The family would be divided because some would be accepting of
it and other wouldn’t. The church would be involved if a decision was made to convert
from one religion to another.
The personal and religious beliefs that one has within them helps them to choose
who and how to love someone. It teaches them to be able to make a commitment and to
love someone for who they are on the inside not the outside. It again breaks the stereo
type of homosexuals when in a public setting heterosexuals, the government, and the
church can see that homosexual couples are just as normal as straight couples, with the
exception of their intimate lifestyles. Couples who are legally married are able to buy a
house, car, and boat together. They are able to take out joint loans as married. They can
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file their taxes and census information as “married.” Marriage should not be defined as a
state of relations between a man and women, but between two people who love each
other and are ready to make a commitment to one another.
The right of marriage on homosexual and heterosexuals comes with a cost. The
government, when it comes to money, doesn’t care who you are married to. You have
the marriage penalty tax. Which means once you have become a married couple and file
your taxes…the federal government takes more money from you. Also, you have a mix
of religious issues. Some may think its ok, others may not. You will also have issues
with your partner’s religion if you are of different religious backgrounds. Your credit
and reputation can be hurt if you marry the wrong person and not know it. Your personal
reputation could be ruined because of the marriage itself. You could lose your job
because of your marriage; however your employer could say it was because of some
other reasoning.
Same-sex marriage is a topic that will be discussed for sometime. It’s in
discussion in Congress, the church, and in everyday life. Does the idea of homosexual
marriage, the same rights and privileges as heterosexual marriages, sound like a bad idea?
Or is the government and the church afraid that it may prove them wrong on the stance of
homosexuals are “nasty, sinful people?” If heterosexual couples can marry then why
can’t homosexual couples?
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Works Cited
“Baby steps for the Cheney’s"
Advocate Issue 823 (10/24/2000): p14
PCUSA Vote Allows Same-Sex Unions
Christian Century 118 issue 10 (03/21/2001): p11
Sekulow, Jay Allan and Tusky, John “Sex and Sodomy and Apples and Oranges – does
the constitution require states to grant a right to do the impossible?”
BYU Journal of Public Law 12 issue 2 (1998): p309.
The Bible. King James Version. Lev. 20.13