Abstract
The practice of the gay marriage has been in existence for many decades. Recently there have been increases in the level of the gay marriage as the result of change in demographic structure. Many same sex couples have lobbied for legalization of the gay marriage. Some states have amended their constitutions in order to accommodate the grievance of the same-sex couples while other states have prohibited the same-sex marriage. Gay marriages have its pro and cons. The pros of gay marriage outweigh the cons hence constitution should be amended to legalize gay marriage
Introduction
Over the past decades there has been a rise in the gay marriage among the cohort of young individuals. Researches carried out have attributed this shift of the gay marriage to a change in the demographic structure which consists of more youth than the old generation. Researchers indicate that the new generation is more aware of gay right than the previous generations. As a result, there is overwhelming support for the gay marriage. An increase in the gay marriage has led to a controversial debate among political and the religious leaders all over the world. Some of the leaders support the legalization of the gay marriage while other argues that gay marriage should be abolished. The controversies have led to some of the nation abolishing the gay marriage while other nations have legalized such union. Though gay marriage is faced with a lot of pros and cons, it should be legalized since the pros seem to outweigh the cons.
The gay marriage controversial debate can be traced back in Hawaii’s Supreme Court ruling that took place in 1993. The Hawaii case began when two lesbians and one gay applied to be issued with a marriage license by the department of health. Although the couples were acting on their own initiative, other states were experiencing similar cases where same sex couples were demanding to be issued with marriage licenses. When Hawaii attorney general denied the couples the marriage license on the ground of protecting the traditional marriage, it led to an overwhelming demand among for same sex marriage among different couples in different states. The increase in demand for legalization of the same sex marriage led to amendment of the many state’s constitution in order to accommodate the right of the same sex marriage.
The major pros of legalizing same sex –marriage are that it will enable same sex couples to access marriage benefits and public acceptances just as the heterosexual couples enjoy. The couple will not be discriminated upon by the public; they will be treated and viewed as normal couples in the society as a result, they will not feel as second citizen of a country. Over the past same sex marriage has faced a lot of prejudice from a different culture, gay men and lesbian are assumed to be promiscuous who are incapable of sustaining and committing themselves into a health relationship. Gay couples are denied a lot of benefit which heterosexual couples are offered for instance, they are denied medical benefits, insurance support and the right to adopt children. The gay marriage should be legalized to enable same sex marriage to enjoy the same benefits as the heterosexual couples.
Legalizing of the gay marriage will enable the same sex- couple to have the right of adopting children. Many children face a lot of challenges because of a lack of guardians who offer financial and moral support for the children. Some of the children end up missing basic need and education due to lack of support. If gay marriage, is legalized some of the children's plight will be reduced significantly. In the US, it's estimated that 100,000 children do not have guardian to support them. A study carried out have shown that children who have been adopted by lesbian and male gay seem to perform better in their academic than children of heterosexual couples. Marriage grants individuals both physical benefits and psychological benefits. Recent research indicates that denying same- sex right to marriage lead to a harmful effect on the same -sex individual who are willing to marry. The same – sex couples are denied with the social support that heterosexual couples are provided with. Legalizing same-sex marriage will enable such a couple to access social support, which will facilitate and strengthen same –sex marriage.
Some researches carried out have shown that legalizing same-sex marriage lead to a decline in the rate of divorce, therefore, counties should advocate legalization of the same-sex marriage to reduce the level of divorce. Massachusetts, which was among the first state to legalize same-sex, has reported a steady decline in the rate of divorce. The rate of divorce has declined by 21% between 2003 and 2008. Alaska is another example of the state which has been reported to have reduced its divorce rate as a result of legalizing same –sex marriage. Its divorced rate declined by 17.2%. The states with the highest level of divorce are among those who ban the gay marriage. These depict clearly that legalizing gay marriage plays an important role in reducing the rate of divorce.
The government benefits of gay marriage by obtaining finance from the gay couples. In order for marriage, to take place couples is supposed to pay for the marriage license. This contribution leads to a substantial increase in nation income of a country. Legalization of the same sex marriage also leads to a reduction of the cost benefit program. The government can diversify such fund in other income earning activities. It is reported that legalizing gay marriage in New York would result in an increase $142 million in the economy of that city.
The major con of gay marriage is that does not conform to peoples' beliefs, cultures, traditions and religions. The Catholic Church Islam, Presbyterian Church and many other religious affiliations oppose same-sex marriage. As result same-sex marriage should not be advocated for as it will compromise the traditional beliefs and religious beliefs. Some of the scriptures in the holy book do not support same –sex marriage. Advocating for same –sex marriage by the churches will compromise such scripture.
Gay marriages encourage single parenthood and it also undermines the marriage institution. Gay marriage has led to an increase in the number of kids born out of wedlock. It is reported that the majority of firstborns in Denmark, Norway and Sweden are born out of wedlock. This trend is associated with the increase of the number of the same-sex couples as the result of the legalization of gay marriage and provision of the benefits to same –sex couples by the government. Raising children by the same –sex couples does provide an optimum environment for bringing up children. This is because both parents play a significant role in bringing up children. It is reported that those girls who are raised without a father figure has a high tendency of engaging in early sexual activities leading to unwanted pregnancy. On the other hand, children raised without a mother are deprived emotional security that a mother provides. The argument above depicts clearly why the gay marriage should be legalized since the benefits of legalization are more than prohibiting gay marriages.
Work cited
Cahill, Sean. Same Sex Marriage In The United States: Focus On The Facts. Lanham : Lexington Books, 2004.
Goldberg-Hiller, Jonathan. The Limits to Union: Same-sex Marriage and the Politics of Civil Rights. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2002.
Polikoff, Nancy D. Beyond straight and gay marriage : valuing all by Nancy D Polikoff. Boston: Beacon Press, 2008.
Schmidtz, David. A Brief History of Liberty. Chichester,: Malden, MA : Wiley-Blackwell, 2010.
Snyder, Claire R. Gay Marriage And Democracy: Equality for All. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers,, 2006.
