Many Americans do not think it is right for two men or two women to get married. Although most Americans have agreed to allow gays equal rights for housing, jobs, and government benefits, they all are hesitant to let gay couples get married.
Imagine you are at a wedding. While sitting in one of the aisles, you look around at the beautifully decorated room, wondering what the bride will be wearing. The handsome groom is anxiously waiting at the altar, and then the “Here Comes the Bride!” music starts. All eyes shift to the back. However, instead of seeing the traditional astounding white dress that accompanies most brides at their weddings, you see another groom, starting to walk up the altar slowly and joins his groom. Is this some mistake? Are these people for real? It may be hard to believe, but gay marriages are starting to happen all around us.
Many Americans do not think it is right for two men or two women to get married. Although most Americans have agreed to allow gays equal rights for housing, jobs, and government benefits, they all are hesitant to let gay couples get married. There is indeed a giant wall between the supporters and the opposing group. The nation is in the process of segregating itself all over again (much like the blacks vs. whites era). Although America is considered one of the greatest places on earth because of freedom, equality, and education, the country is filled with violence, hate, and divided. It is because there is a misconception of what homosexuality really is. According to a gay essayist named Scott Bidstrup, a large number of people think that gays are “promiscuous, unable to form lasting relationships…” and while the relationships that do form are “shallow and uncommitted”. Although relationships like these do happen, they are also just as common in straight relationships. Gays should not be preyed upon simply because they choose to love someone of the same gender. Gay couples have every capability to perform as a regular straight couple. They can adopt children, and just like any other family, “are loyal to their mates and are monogamous, devoted partners” (Bidstrup). They are opposed by many people simply because they are different, and these people are wrong.
What makes this issue so controversial is that gay couples are not being admitted to spousal benefits such as receiving insurance from a husband or wife, child custody or even signing consent forms in hospitals for special procedures. These and many more benefits are being denied to gay couples because they are prohibited to get married. Although authorities have sanctioned civil unions for gay couples, it is simply not enough. They still do not receive the same benefits as the straight couples who are married do.
Another reason why the gay marriage issue is so controversial is because it is said to violate many religion's beliefs. Many beliefs including my own Catholic beliefs oppose gay marriage. Fred Parrella, an associate professor at Santa Clara University, argues that the Catholic beliefs are strict in what marriage entails as he says, “For the Catholic tradition, marriage is a commitment between a man and a woman that is modeled on the commitment of Christ and his Church…” But I still believe that gay couples should be allowed to get married. Marriage should really be (and is to many people) an unconditional, life-long commitment between two people who promise to share their life and love for one another, their home, their body and soul; “marriage necessarily involves both the fullest of communication, the deepest of understanding, and the strongest of personal loyalty and trust between two people” (Parrella). When two people come together and realize all of these things-that their lives, love, body, soul, trust, understanding and loyalty are meant for each other-then this is the meaning of marriage. It shouldn't matter what sex two people are when they choose to get married, but how much they love each other that they are willing to get married and want to share themselves with the other person for a lifetime. Marriage is a wonderful thing that everyone should be able to have with whomever they want.
If gay couples are going to continually be denied the right to marry, then riots and fighting with the government will start happening more often and get worse. The government will have to Cross the Rubicon and make the choice between allowing gay marriage or banning them altogether and not looking back. It is a lose-lose situation, with danger occurring with each decision. But if the government is supposed to be of our people, by our people and for our people, then they need to include their people's beliefs and accommodate them to America. If gay marriage is banned in America entirely, the nation will not give up. Even people who are not gay will join in the uprising and soon the entire nation will be like charging rhinos toward the government and each other.
In conclusion, gay couples should be allowed to marry in order to stop the illegal marriages happening and given spousal benefits. They should be given equality just like any other American because they are no different then anyone. Gays should be allowed to get married essentially because they are not hurting anyone in the process. They are not ruining the reputations of anyone, or hurting anybody. Gay marriage should ultimately be allowed because equality is what our country is known for. The decision is an easy one. Let's just hope the government chooses the right path.
