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Meaning and purpose of marriage
Should same sex marriage be made legal
Studies of children in the homes of same sex marriages
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Are same-sex marriages different from heterosexual marriages? In the formal definition marriage "is a faithful everlasting union between one man and one woman, joined as husband and wife in a partnership to become one." Due to this definition "same-sex marriage" is not even a real marriage. In fact, it denies the primary purpose of marriage, which is the procreation of a child. In same-sex marriage, it is not possible for two men or two women to reproduce without a third party. Due to the fact that man needs woman and woman needs man. Homosexuality is a mental illness that needs to be treated. Instead of finding treatment for it, the government allows the illness of homosexuality to spread by promoting same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage is harmful to society and it must be opposed. Same-sex marriage will always deny a child either a mother or a father, it validates and promotes the homosexual lifestyle, it turns a moral wrong into a civil right, and it is a major offense to God.
Same-sex marriages should not be given the privilege to get married because they are incapable of producing a child together. However, if same-sex couples decide to use a third party, such as adoption or artificial insemination to obtain a child, they are putting the child at risk. According to the book “Life Without Father” by David Popenoe states that “Fathers excel in reducing antisocial behavior and delinquency in boys”(1999). It also states that “girls who grow up apart from their biological father are much likely to experience early puberty and a teen pregnancy than girls who grows up with their biological father”(1999). In a lesbian household a female child is very vulnerable to experience sexual activities at a young age. As for male children t...
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... Top Ten Harms of Same-sex Marriage” by Peter Sprigg “religious freedom not only applies to formal houses of worship of worship, but at home, in their neighborhoods, and in the workplace”(2). With same-sex marriage being legalized there is no more religious freedom. Catholic schools that are completely against welcoming same-sex couples in their schools will no longer have a choice. Churches where same-sex couples are not welcome, no longer have a choice but to welcome them. Employers that are religiously against same-sex couples can no longer discriminate them for their sexual orientation but instead for their work ethics. Same-sex marriage being legalized is unconstitutional, it completely conflicts with the first amendment which gives people the right to exercise their religion freely. But with same-sex marriage being legalize their religious freedom is limited.
In today’s society, family structure has changed dramatically from the traditional nuclear family to the unconventional, such as single parenting or same sex families. Over the years, many individuals questioned whether or not a parent’s sexual orientation affected their child’s sexual preference. There is significant research that has shown that children with lesbian parents do not differ from children with heterosexual parents. Many individuals stated that it is the value of the parent’s relationship with the child and not the parent’s sexual orientation that affects the child’s development. Contrary to the popular belief, children raised by lesbian parents are not more likely to become gay than children who are raised by heterosexual parents. A parent’s sexual orientation has said to have little importance to children other than the family togetherness. In other words, the relationship of the parent and child is far greater important than the sexual orientation of one’s parents. To be a good parent to a child has nothing to do with one’s sexual preference, but how well one takes care of that child emotionally, physically, financially, and mentally. Before the 20th, century children were often seen as miniature versions of adults so there was little consideration to children development in cognitive and physical development. The interest of child development did not peak until the early 20th century. Conscientious parenting happens not only within traditional nuclear families, but also within homosexual families. Both traditional nuclear and homosexual families can have positive and negative effects on children’s cognitive, psychological or behavioral development due to their rearing.
In recent years, same-sex relationships have become more encompassing in US society. State legislation is changing such as accepting gay marriages, enforcing anti-discrimination laws, and legal gay adoptions; the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community is becoming public. Gay-headed families, like heterosexuals, are diverse and varying in different forms. Whether a created family is from previous heterosexual relationships, artificial insemination, or adoption, it deserves the same legal rights heterosexual families enjoy. Full adoption rights needs to be legalized in all states to provide a stable family life for children because sexual orientation does not determine parenting skills, children placed with homosexual parents have better well-being than those in foster care, and there are thousands of children waiting for good homes.
Homosexuality is becoming more and more accepted and integrated into today’s society, however, when it comes to homosexuals establishing families, a problem is posed. In most states, homosexuals can adopt children like any other married or single adult. There are many arguments to this controversial topic; some people believe that it should be legal nationally, while others would prefer that is was banned everywhere, or at least in their individual states. There are logical reasons to allow gays to adopt children, but for some, these reasons are not enough. The main issue really is, what is in the best interest of the child? This type of problem isn’t really one with causes, effects, and solutions, but one with pros and cons. Like any other adoption situation, a parent prove themselves to be responsible and capable enough to raise a child on their own, or with a spouse.
Since the 1970s, studies on the effect of same-sex parenting on children have been conducted in the United States. Sociological debates have occurred from the idea of allowing same-sex couples to parent. Some groups feel that allowing this would undermine the traditional ideology of marriage and skew the perception of gender roles for their children. Sociologists continue to produce empirical research that studies samples of the approximately 125,000 same-sex couples raising nearly 220,000 children and comparing their roles as parents and the adult personalities of their children to children raised by heterosexual couples. Current scientific research comparing the outcomes of children raised by gay or lesbian parents with children of heterosexual parents consistently shows that same-sex parents are just as capable of raising “psychologically healthy and well-adjusted” children as heterosexual parents. Research comparing children raised by same-sex couples and heterosexual couples found no differences in the adjustment or mental health of these children as adults.
There are a number of false assumptions the straight community has regarding same sex marriages. Marriage is a basic human right and an individual personal choice. The government should not interfere with same-sex couples who choose to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities, and commitment of the institution of marriage. The real nature of marriage is not a relationship between a man and a woman but rather a binding commitment between two adults. Another false assumption regarding same sex marriages is that the institution of marriage is for procreation. If so, why are infertile individuals allowed to marry? Why are childless couples allowed to remain married? The false assumption that the institution of marriage ensures the continuation of the species is hard to visualize with the current population of the world. The notion of institution of marriage being threatened by same-sex marriages is an additional false assumption by the straight community. In the 1950?s miscegenation laws prevented interracial marriages between whites and blacks. A 1967 United States Supreme Court decision finally legalized mixed race marriages. Interracial marriages have not irreparably harmed the institution of marriage. The false assumption of marriage being between a man and a woman, for procreation, continuation of the species, and that the institution of marriage will be threatened by same sex marriages is unfounded.
There indicators of child developmental outcomes were categorized into parent and child relationship quality, children’s cognitive development, children’s gender role behavior, children’s gender identity, children’s sexual preference, and children’s social and emotional development. There analysis showed that children with same-sex parents fared equally to children raised by heterosexual parents when comparing developmental outcomes. Same-sex parents also reported a significantly better relationship with their children than heterosexual parents, which was measured by the parent or child perception of the quality of their relationship. This goes back to the argument that parent sexuality has no impact on the child but rather the relationship between the parent and the child has is the most impactful. In Crowl, Ahn and Baker (2008) meta-analysis study also found that the parent sexual orientation had no effect on gender identity, cognitive development, psychological adjustment, and sexual
Hence, denying same-sex couples the right to be married is unconstitutional. Many homosexual marriages will in fact last longer than marriages between heterosexual couples because it is so much more difficult for them to be married in the first place. In fact, a recent study was completed in Vermont over a three year period of time that proved marriages to be very well grounded for same-sex couples. Homosexual participants were compared with heterosexual participants and the homosexual couples actually reported greater relationship quality, compatibility, intimacy, and lower levels of conflict after being unionized (“Sexual Orientation Across The Lifespan”). Marriage actually made these couples stronger and even stronger than the heterosexual couples in the study....
Gay marriage is now legal in seventeen states, while the other thirty-three states are still completely banning gay marriage. Same-sex couples must be given the right to celebrate their happiness publicly, just like other couples. Same sex couples look at being denied the right to legally marry each other as their freedom of speech being taken away, but in actuality they are only expressing their love. Legalizing gay marriage will not damage society. If same sex marriage were legal everywhere in the United States, society would still function normally and no family values would be lost.
To come straight to the point, I believe that there is no difference between same sex and traditional marriages regarding validity or moral implications. One could argue that the bond between man and woman is valid, since biologically they are able to have a child. This would go along with scientific theories such as evolution. Yet, man is not an animal. Mankind has elevated himself to a point where we do not rely on instincts, but use our brains in order to survive.
In conclusion I argue that banning same-sex marriage is discriminatory. It is discriminatory because it denies homosexuals the many benefits received by heterosexual couples. The right to marriage in the United States has little to do with the religious and spiritual meaning of marriage. It has a lot to do with social justice, extending a civil right to a minority group. This is why I argue for same-sex marriage. The freedom to marry regardless of gender preference should be allowed.
LGBT adoption is the adoption of children by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Adoption is always encouraged among heterosexual couples and single mothers but when it comes to LGBT adoption it is mostly looked down upon by law and society. “Not until 2011 was adoption by a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individual legalized in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and adoption by same-gender couples is still illegal in many states” (Montero, 2014, p. 2). Even after being legalized in many states of US as well as countries it has been an issue of active debate. A large section of the society feels same sex adoption doesn’t serve “the best interests of the children”.
Gay and lesbian unions have been for a long time a subject that no one liked to discuss. For the last few decades, gays and lesbians have come out and expressed their sexuality preferences. Many believe that same sex marriage should not be legalized because it's against the moral. It's against the definition of marriage, which is considered as the union of a man and a woman as a husband and wife. Same sex marriage should be legalized because the way society views the union of lesbian and gays can a change. Another reason why same sex marriage should be legalized is that children that are issued from a gay or lesbian couple will be loved and raised in a family that is legally recognized under the law. Lesbians and gays also deserve to have the same rights as heterosexuals.
How does a same sex marriage threaten soul human being sexual marriages? Well you might ask, would this cause more divorces? Opposite sex marriages spouses are gay, but cover it with legal marriage. Once they find out marriage is authorized, they could subdivision off from their husband and wife to get the pleasure they really want. The threats to marriage as a body will harm civilization especially children. We’re not just talking about one marriage. Those who argue against the same sex marriages insist that marriage is ordered towards the reproduction of children and that the legal provisions given to marriage are given with that end in view. Marriages needs to protection of laws because society must be anxious about its own preservation and continuousness into the next generation. Defending the rights of gay citizens to marry also dream of promoting equality and preventing discrimination. Gay marriage was avowed legal by some courts because the constitution forbids the creatio...
Many people believe in a traditional marriage between a man and a woman. God created man and woman to be faithful and produce children. Same-sex marriage is contrary to the word of God and the laws of nature; therefore, it is incompatible with the beliefs, sacred texts, and traditions of many religious groups. Many biblical scriptures talk about how immoral same-sex marriage is.
America is a country known for its freedom, yet people are told who they can and cannot marry. According to Kim Richards a case in Hawaii in 1993 where judges said the state’s constitution required a good reason not to give gay’s equal marriage rights. Congress was pushed to pass the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prevented homosexuals who were allowed to marry from receiving the usual benefits of marriage, like taxes and retirement. In response states have made their stand on domestic partnerships and civil unions. DOMA was passed out of fear that a lawsuit filed in Hawaii would make them allow same sex marriage. The congress did not want to allow same sex couples the same benefits heterosexual couples receive while legally married (4-6). Opponents of DOMA claims it violates the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment and the Full Faith and Credit Clause. By 2002, thirty-six states banned same-sex marriage or recognizing of same-sex marriage formed in other states (Richards 4-6). Benjamin Wittes says the uproar began in 1991 when Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act, and liberals became upset claiming it was a contradiction to our free country (46-48). Dayton says Massachusetts was the first state to sign the bill to allow marriage equality in their state. While republican opponents win the legislative fight with twenty-one states denying marriage equality while just ten have granted the rights to homosexual couples. Polls have shown the majority of America, even including one of our most liberal states, California, remains against gay marriage. After the bill passing in Massachusetts in 2003, thirteen states passed anti-gay-marriage initiatives. Gay right activists are in hopes that states will not follow (...