This is Love
Those who condemn gay marriage, yet are silent or indifferent to the breakdown of marriage and divorce, are, in my view, missing the real issue. – Malcolm Turnbull, Federal Member for Wentworth Ellen DeGeneres is one of the most famous examples regarding same sex marriage. DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi has had a relationship in 2004.
CBS news article, published on February 11, 2009, stated Degeneres decision to marry de Rossie was after the overturn of the California proposition 8 in May 2008, DeGeneres announced on a May 2008 show that she and de Rossi were engaged. Maura Dolan, LA Times reporter published on May 17, 2008 “Gay marriage ban overturned” about California Supreme Court “4-3 ruling declared that the state Constitution protects a fundamental “right to marry” that extends equally to same-sex couples. (Dolan 2008). Throughout June, there were dozens of ceremonies going on and marriage licenses given to same sex couple. Returning to DeGeneres’ story, she and de Rossi got married in August 16, 2008. In November 4, 2008, California Proposition 8 constitution banned same sex marriage. DeGeneres and de Rossi were able to keep their marriage license because their wedding happened before the election. However, the Supreme Court ruled Prop. 8 ban was unconstitutional.
On February 28th 2013, DeGeneres wrote a brief letter to the Supreme Court unofficially on her blog, Ellentv, writing about her marriage with Portia, “Portia and I have been married for 4 years and they have been the happiest of my life. And in those 4 years, I don’t think we hurt anyone else’s marriage. I asked all of my neighbors and they say they’re fine. ” (2013). DeGeneres may be a celebrity, but she is just like everyone else. She is gay. She chose to be open about her love with Portia and she truly supports gay marriage.
I support same sex marriage as well. Equality In America, every couple should be able to marry legally. That includes same sex couples. Gay marriage is a civil right. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 2: Everyone is entitled to all the right and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any limitation of sovereignty. This means gay couples can also obtain the same rights that heterosexual married couple in order to have equal benefits. Also, UDHR article 16 states “men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family.
They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. ” UN never states about gay marriage. They prohibit any discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation. As of now, same-sex relationships are denied any access to civil rights. Amnesty International of USA believes these rights include housing and social security, hospital visitation, employment-based benefits for partners and children, and inheritance from a deceased partner. As the fight for equality is still going on at the Supreme Court, most can hope gay marriage can happen as a nation.
Choice
People have the choice to marry whoever they want. Why is this hard to understand? Love is a private matter and it should not affect others how love is expressed. Same sex couples want to no longer have the title of domestic partner, but be recognized as married couple. Furthermore, a couple should have the right to marry under a church institution. No church should ever turn away a wedding ceremony because they have gay couples attending their services. According to the 1st Amendment of the U. S.
Constitution
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech …” examining this document about church institution to recognize same sex marriage and must allow a ceremony to happen. Church cannot turn away gay attendance for their choice to celebrate in the institution. Undermines Traditional Marriage? Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defined marriage in the “means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word ‘spouse’ refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife. (1996). That type of information is outdated because marriage has been through so many transformations over the years. Also, this was dated back in 1996. Marriage today has changed the definition now over a decade. Robert Barnes reported on the Washington Post “Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional, federal appeals court declares” in May 31st, 2012, ruled that DOMA “denies equal rights for legally married same-sex couples, making it likely that the Supreme Court will consider the politically divisive issue for the first time in its next term. Tradition is a vague term because there are various types of tradition. For example, there was a ban on interracial marriage. Their marriage was illegal in many US states for a certain period of time. In June 12 1967, the Supreme Court of the United States in the case, “Loving v Virginia”, made a decision to no longer ban interracial marriage. Before the case, Virginia was one of the states who prohibited and punished interracial marriage. In section II U. S Supreme Court case, this act violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (1967).
Supreme Court ruled: …the freedom to marry long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men… Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the state. (1967). Supreme Court recognized marriage as a civil right and vital to a person. Whoever that person declares marriage to their partner that is another race they cannot be denied in their state to wed legally.
Not Natural?
Society believes same sex couples are not natural because they cannot procreate thus are unable to produce and raise children of their own. Therefore, marriage is about procreation according to people who oppose same sex marriage. However, if marriage is about reproduction, then natural infertile couples would not be allowed to marry since they cannot reproduce children either. If marriage is about reproduction, then heterosexual couples with no desire to have children should not be allowed to marry.
In the Supreme Court of the United States “Same-Sex Marriage and The Supreme Court” argument held on March 26, 2013, Justice Kagan pointed out about Charles J Cooper’s “procreation is vital… that same-sex couples and opposite-sex couple are simply not similarly situated” (15) as Kagan asked Cooper if the State’s interest in marriage is to regulate procreation (16). Cooper believes that is in their interest for the State’s position. Further in the argument regarding procreation in marriage, Justice Breyer brought up people who get married, but can’t have children because some are infertile and some are over the age of 55. 23). Justice Kagan gave a scenario about asking couple if they are fertile or not, which is deem unconstitutional since it is an invasion of privacy when giving marriage license to couple. (25). This particular part of the argument discussed about marriage is not about procreation. Marriage itself doesn’t help the serve the government to regulate procreation. In the end of that discussion, there are no differences. Goes Against Biblical Scripture? On CNN’s Pier Morgan interview aired in January 25, 2012, Joel Osteen’s opposition to gay marriage, Osteen says it goes against biblical scripture.
He follows the scripture as it states that homosexuality is a sin. (2012). Osteen says it himself “Yes. I’ve always believed, Piers, the scriptures shows that it’s a sin… So I don’t believe homosexuality is God’s best for a person’s life. ” (2012) According to the Bible, it states inside under Leviticus in the Old Testament, “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination. ” (New American Standard Bible, Lev. 18:22). It clearly states homosexuality is a sin. However, this is a problem.
The scripture is outdated, written out of context, and it is only mentioned in Leviticus which states homosexuality is a sin. Plus, most Christian does not live their life by following the Old Testament Law. However, Osteen admits to Morgan he is not the one to go out and judge people on their sin by saying they are terrible people. He also emphasize “there are other sins in the Bible too” that he believes is said in the scripture. (2012). Let’s compare this statement of Pride. The Bible condemns the act of Pride as a sin because they are a selfish attitude that affects people.
The scripture says from the Bible “for from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man” (Mark 7:21-23). Looking deeply in the scripture, God hate pride and He considers us unclean and impure if proud. He hates it because it comes from inside of the heart. Pride is easily seen everywhere.
It is difficult to resist the temptation to feel proud because it can lead people to be boastful or humble about our accomplishment. Yet, pride is acceptable in society because it is easily woven into anyone’s life. Looking Forward Although Ellen is a famous and wealthy celebrity, she possesses the same mind, body and soul as any other individual. Let’s take this case into a smaller region: Washington State. On November 6, 2013, Washington became the 9th state to legalize same sex marriage. Many of the ceremonies were held on Sunday; as a result, all across the state wedding ceremonies happened simultaneously, publicly, and privately.
One example was a group event at Seattle City Hall simultaneously united many couples. According to the Seattle Times staff reporters Brian M. Rosenthal and Erik Lacitis, Same-Sex weddings usher in new era in Washington State, published on December 9th, 2012, there were 142 couples married at City Hall. Although Eastern Washington voted against same sex marriage, smaller ceremonies were held in a more private celebration such as Kathleen Claymore and Shara Orcutt, the only couple from Walla Walla to marry in the county (Rosenthal and Lacitis 2012).
What type of society do you want to live in? Do you want one with compassion or one with discrimination? Homosexual citizens’ lives in our city, pay their taxes, and have families just like any other heterosexual persons. Every other state should learn from Washington’s example to recognize same sex marriage in their state. In Ellen’s blog on her website, [she] hope the Supreme Court will do the right thing, and let everyone enjoy the same rights. It’s going to help keep families together. It’s going to make kids feel better about who they are.
And it is time. ” (Ellentv 2013). It is time to do what is right as a whole society to understand who deserve equal rights.
Work Cited
- Amnesty International USA. Amnesty International USA. AIUS, N. d. Web. 27 Apr. 2013. < http://www. amnestyusa. org/our-work/issues/lgbt-rights/marriage-equality> Barnes, Robert. “Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional, federal appeals court declares. ” Washingtonpost. com. The Washington Post, 31 May 2012. Web. 05 May 2013. <http://www. washingtonpost. om/politics/defense-of-marriage-act-unconstitutional-federal-appeals-court-declares/2012/05/31/gJQAHDxO4U_story. html> “CNN Official Interview: Joel Osteen ‘Homosexuality is a sin’” Youtube. Youtube, 25 Jan. 2011. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. “Constitutional Topic: The First Amendment. ” USConstitution. net. 24 Jan. 2010. 02 May. 2013. “Ellen’s Brief to the Supreme Court. ” Web log post. EllenTV. WAD Productions, INC, 28 Jan. 2013. Web. 02 May 2013. <http://www. ellentv. com/2013/02/28/ellens-brief-to-the-supreme-court>.
- Dolan, Maura. “Gay marriage ban overturned. ” Latimes. com. Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2008. Web. 05 May 2013. < http://www. latimes. com/news/la-me-gay-marriage17-2008may17,0,7229587. story> Hollingsworth v. Perry. 12-144 US 68. Supreme Court of the US. 2013. Alderson Reporting Company. 26 Mar 2013. Web. 05 May 2013. PDF. <http://www. supremecourt. gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/12-144a. pdf> “H. R. 3396—104th Congress: Defense of Marriage Act. ” www. FovTrack. us. 1996. May 5, 2013 < http://www. gpo. ov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-104hr3396enr/pdf/BILLS-104hr3396enr. pdf> “Inside Ellen And Portia’s Wedding. ” CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 11 Feb. 2009. Web. 03 May 2013. <http://www. cbsnews. com/2100-207_162-4361979. html>. Lacitis, Erik and Rosenthal, Brian M. “Same-sex weddings usher in new era in Washington state” Seattletimes. com. The Seattle Times, 09 Dec. 2012. Web. 02 May 2013. < http://seattletimes. com/html/localnews/2019872414_weddings10m. html> “LOVING v. VIRGINIA, 388 U. S. 1 (1967). ” FindLaw: Cases and Codes. N. p. , n. d. Web. 5 May 2013.
