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Gay Marriage
Same sex marriage is defined as a marriage between two individuals who share similar social gender or biological sex that is recognized by legal or social entities that govern the institution of marriage. It is also referred to as gay marriage and is actively practiced by homosexuals and lesbians. It is an ideology that has raised various societal and moral concerns with part of the population asserting that it undermines the sacred institution of marriage at the expense particular interests of a part of the society.
In response, social studies increasingly point out that religion is a secular issue and the state should not have any form of influence on the same. Indeed, it should be acknowledged that gay marriage is a normal aspect of societal development that exhibits inherent dynamism. Opposition of this would not only undermine the wellbeing of the affected individuals, but would also hinder vital social development. In this consideration therefore, gay partners should be supported accordingly both by the legal and social spheres of the society.
In his study, Sullivan argues that denial of this would be a violation of the religious freedom that the population is expected to enjoy (57). Basically, most religions view gay marriage as a sin and therefore should be shunned. The federal constitution however provides for the protection of religious perception as well as lack of the same. Sullivan indicates that marriage is considered a secular activity that the government should not meddle with (58). In particular, it is argued that the religious views should not influence making of laws that would undermine other independent social aspects of the society. Proponents of this view argue that undue attention to religion would culminate in to extremist views that undermine the social integration that theorists like Durkhein seek to enhance.
Boswell also cites that the perception of marriage as a union would deprive the participants of important benefits that heterosexual marriages enjoy (63). It is contended that marriage is greatly influenced by critical decisions made by the medical and economic sectors. Thus the participants should be allowed to enjoy the same benefits as their counterparts in heterosexual marriages. In other words, the government as well as the society a large should take practical measures to support this family in all aspects.
In his review, Sullivan also posits that denial of such marriages would be a form of discriminating the views of the minority (61). The federal constitution demands that the views of the minority groups should be protected. Just like the blacks and the Hispanics, homosexuals are part of the minority within the society and therefore their rights should be protected by the state. Failure to enforce this would amount to other forms of discrimination that are likely to infringe upon the basic human rights of individuals that are engaged in such marriages.
Further, Boswell agues that love solely form the basement upon which marriage is anchored (68) In marriage, other legal aspects although playing augmenting roles should not supersede the power of love. In this perspective, the homosexuals should be allowed to marry and supported accordingly, provided they love each other.
Boswell further asserts that gay marriages would enhance adoption and improve the standard of living of orphan children (69). It is because gays do not procreate naturally and in most cases opt for adoption. It would secure the future of the children that are in dire need of adoption and ensure that they do not suffer for lack of adequate resources. Social research ascertains that gay marriage is instrumental in alleviating the sexually related problems that the society is presently experiencing. It has the capacity to enhance desirable family values that are devoid of engagement in high risk sexual practices. In this respect, it is contended that marriage encourages people to commit themselves to a single partner and avoid engagement in frivolous lifestyles. Denial of same sex marriages encourages this behavior because homosexuals would then remain single.
On the contrary, conservatives assert that virtually all religions contend that homosexuality is a sin and therefore unacceptable within the society (Bennet 88). Hence, its legalization is offensive and undermines the general religious values that are upheld by the society. In this respect, Holloway cites that the federal constitution was also devised from religious values and therefore, they should not be undermined at all costs (45). He further indicates that the legalization of gay marriage has considerably weakened the traditional definition of marriage as well as its institutional wellbeing. It is argued that biologically, marriage is important because then, couples can procreate. Notably, gay marriages do not provide for this and therefore the union of two individuals is considered a joke that has ulterior motives such as escaping from paying taxes amongst others.
Additionally it is contended that the erosion of moral values that is presently being witnessed in America is attributable to the legalization of gay marriages. Holloway indicates that the traditional values that are upheld by the family institution are imperative for harmonic co existence (48). They provide resilience for the society that enables it to face adversities with ease. According to Holloway, weakening the family institution explains why the values are no longer upheld (52).
Gay marriages according to him are a starting point for complete erosion of the marriage institution. People would then start marrying objects and animals on the pretext that it is after all a union (Bennet 78). Other societal ills like polygamy are bound to occur if the trend is encouraged. All these have the capacity to redefine the institution of marriage to suit the interests of very few individuals within the society. In this respect, it should be acknowledge that its is these few individuals that initiate social change and they should therefore be given the relevant support.
Conclusion
From the analysis, it is certain that gay marriage is an ideology that as raised various concerns. These stem from the moral and religious domains that play a significant role in shaping the welfare of the society. Gay marriage implies social development and opposition of this would undermine the holistic wellbeing of the affected segment of the society. This would also compromise social development as emergent ideals would not be addressed accordingly. It is in this consideration that this paper concludes that the government and society as a whole should support the practice in order to enhance justice and harmonic co existence within the society.
Annotated Bibliography
Andrew, Sullivan (ed). Advantages and Disadvantages of Gay Marriages. USA: Rowman & Litlefield, 2004.
Sullivan provides an explicit evaluation of the pros and cons of gay marriages. He contends that gay marriage is a contract between two individuals and a secular issue that the state should refrain from meddling in. He cites that it has various advantages that range from enhancing social cohesion to initiating change. The diverse issues that the author explores make this book ideal for evaluating the subject under review.
Carson, Holloway. Controversies of Gay Marriage. Oxford: University Press, 2009.
The author contends that gay marriages threaten the basic unit of the society. According to him, the current social problems can be attributed to the erosion of critical values that can only be upheld by the family. He decries the practice and asserts that it should be shunned. This counter argument was considered imperative in developing the study. The only flaw of this book is that it relies heavily on secondary material and makes minimal objective observations.
John, Boswell. Europe: Gay Marriages. USA: Villard Books, 2004.
Boswell ascertains that gay marriage is an emergent social ideology in Europe and is increasingly gaining prominence. He affirms that it is an indication of social dynamism and that has various advantages to the society. He contends that gays are a part of the society and should be accepted and acknowledged. The study is limited by lack of factual and statistical information. Nonetheless, it provides useful insights regarding the current trends in Europe.
William, Bennet. The Broken Hearth. USA: Doubleday, 2001.
Bennet maintains that gay marriage contravene the religious principles that are fundamental in enhancing social values. He contends that it undermines the effectiveness of critical social values and threatens sustainable development. This contribution was considered vital for this study because of its in depth nature. However, its arguments can be considered prejudiced as they are solely based on religion.
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