Misc

Should homosexuals be allowed to marry?

Stephen Carter

October 17, 2011

The controversial issue over whether or not to allow homosexual marriages has been going on for years and will continue to do so in the future. A homosexual person may be a male or a female who is attracted to the same sex. Civil unions are being allowed in some states, whereas, some states still uphold the law that the joining of homosexuals is not allowed. In this paper I will argue that homosexuals should be allowed to marry.

Marriage is viewed as a way to “settle down”. When most people get engaged or married, they often refer to themselves as settling down out of their old ways. A marriage grounds you, brings you to take more responsibilities for not only yourself but for our husband or wife. Before marriage, people go out to experience things; they go wild with drinking, smoking and even drugs. Finally, they find a partner with whom they wish to spend the rest of their life with. Marriage celebrates this decision with a ceremony joining two families as one. I believe homosexuals should have the same opportunity.

Each individual should be allowed to marry whoever they want whether the partner is of the same or opposite sex.

Ferguson (2007) states,

Refusing the right to any gay marriage because of the so-called sanctity of marriage, a religious concept, would seem to deprive the sexual minority of the freedom to be free to marry if they choose a lifestyle not sanctioned by many religious denominations, and hence imposes the religious view that marriage should be a heterosexual privilege. (p.40)

Homosexual couples should be allowed to receive the same benefits as heterosexual couples. Marriage is beneficial to both parties because of the legal benefits involved. Heterosexual marriages offer benefits involving taxes, pensions, health care, and ownership of property.

According to Ferguson (2007),

One common argument for say marriage is that government denial of the...