The debate on same-sex marriage

The discussion of same-sex unions

The discussion of same-sex unions has spread not only throughout America but also throughout the entire globe. It has been noted that the gay rights movement has been more vocal than any other civil rights campaign in the twenty-first century. As President Obama supported gay marriage and reaffirmed his position that same-sex couples should be permitted by law to get married, the level of activism to advance gay rights reached its apex in 2008. (Perry, et al 49). In the US, the controversy has remained famous for more than ten years. On the same breath the most opposing and outspoken segment against same-sex marriage and gay rights has been and still is the Religious Right, they have applied religious and scriptural reference to further their arguments that homosexuality goes against the moral fabric that holds humanity and thus same-sex marriage should be shunned since it challenges the religious guidelines for humanity. The activism for gay rights has not only gained ground in recognition of homosexuality, they have scored highly in court. On June 26, 2015, the matter was finalized, the Supreme Court held that the constitution guarantees the right for same-sex couples to marry and therefore legalizing same-sex marriages across the states in the US (Chauveron et al 114).

The purpose of this thesis

The purpose of this thesis is to elaborate on the religious, social and moral arguments against same-sex marriage. The fear against same-sex marriages has been furthered by misconceptions, stereotypes, and misunderstanding regarding what homosexuality really is; there is a need to be clear all that up and discuss facts encompassing same-sex marriage.

Define Marriage

Today marriage is commonly characterized as a legitimate union between man and woman that "brings adults together into committed sexual and domestic relationships in order to regulate sexuality and provide for the needs of daily life" (Stanton and Maier, 22). As per the argument of the Religious right, scripture only cites relationships between males and females thus their argument that the text only approves heterosexual unions.

The arguments against same-sex marriage

There are inarguably a lot of reasons for opposing same-sex marriage, there are assumptions, a few well-established arguments and the real reasons as to why people oppose gay marriage. Most of this reasons have been referenced in the Supreme Court and upon deliberation, most if not all did not hold water, here are some of the common reasons for opposing same-sex marriage:

Marriage is meant to be between one man and one woman

Cited as the most common reason and often voiced argument by the religious right, it was codified in a federal law that was passed recently. The Religious right has based their arguments largely on the scripture to rule out same-sex marriage, referencing scripture especially Matthew 19:4-6 that states, God made them male and female that they may leave both their families behind and be made one, the two will become one flesh. That which God has put together let no man put asunder. This scripture has been heavily referenced in most arguments against same-sex marriages to infer that matrimony is the joining of one man and one woman to form a family (Stanton and Maier, 22). The fear is that marriage as the first institution created by God will not be as it is referenced in scripture, or to the religious Right as it is meant to be in religion.

Marriage is for procreation

It is often argued that marriage is meant for two to come together and procreate, the Religious Right again has been notorious with the argument that if same-sex marriage is permitted then this basic principal of marriage will be disrupted. But the argument fails to convince since society allows marriages routinely that do not uphold procreation. Not all heterosexual unions lead to the creation of families, in fact, some straight couples get married with a clause that they will not be having children in the course of their marriage, yet some gay marriages go to the extent of adopting children in order to start a family. The fear of same sex marriages is that procreation will be sidelined since man and man or woman and woman cannot procreate.

Same sex marriage would open doors to other unwanted unions

There is an irrational fear that if same-sex marriage is allowed it will be the beginning of America and the world going down a slippery slope that will see other unwanted unions try to get legitimate recognition: that there will be demands for the legalization of polygamy, incest and bestial marriage thus leading to all manner of unpleasant consequences. This perception a typical illustration of the reduction ad absurdum misconception, one that is meant to instill fear in the minds of those who engage in the argument for or against gay rights. It is a simple scare tactic that is intended to make same-sex marriage look like the genesis of an end scenario that will be so unpleasant thus should be denied.

Same sex marriage leads to promotion of homosexuality in public schools

The fear of same-sex marriage is also as a result of the objection for tolerance of gays, that if tolerance prevails there will be the promotion of homosexuality in public schools. The fear is that if gay marriages have a place in the society it will be pushed for acceptance in schools. The misconception that accepting and passing gay rights will undermine western civilization is rife with most arguments, but most of the Religious Right forget that homosexuality is as old as civilization itself that there are cultures across the world that have had gay relationships as part of them dating back. Thus the fear that same-sex marriage will lead to the collapse of western civilization does not hold water.

Gay marriage is an untried social practice

According to Millet and Kate in the book Sexual Politics, the fact that same-sex marriage has been shunned and outlawed for decades on end has made it seem an untried social experiment in America. Even though a form of same-sex marriage has been lawful in Denmark as early as early as 1989 except for the rights on adoption and a public church wedding for such couples, the practice has been treated as untried by the critics of gay marriage. The church and the clergy at large have greatly opposed the idea even though evidence in the Danish setting has revealed that the results of gay unions are positive, the Danish clergy conquers that the passing of laws to allow gay unions has led to a reduction in sexually transmitted diseases and promiscuity in the society.

Churches would be obliged to marry same-sex couples against their will

The fear of same-sex marriages has been based on the speculation that churches will be forced to legitimize gay marriages against their will. The state grants church the right to perform marriages but that has never been a requirement, the fear for gay marriages comes with the misconception that it will be a requirement for churches to perform gay marriage. Even though there is no existing or proposed basis in law which obliges churches to perform such rites for same-sex marriages, there is the fear that with time it will pass a requirement in the case of gays.

The real reasons for fear of same-sex marriage

So far we have analyzed the assumptive reasons that people present for fear or opposing of same-sex marriages. Here are the real reasons people fear gay marriage:

Uncomfortable with the idea

People are often not comfortable with what they do not understand even if it is not wrong. For many years the idea that union between people of the same sex is unpleasant and ludicrous has been pushed by the church and the self-righteous individuals. Nothing substantial has been presented that should object the enactment of gay rights and the recognition thereof for same-sex marriages. The public has long admitted that granting civil rights to a particular group may as well offend others and in some instances the majority; in the same breath the establishment of the constitutional government was to uphold the rights of the minorities and the powerless even if they are unpopular amongst the domination of majority (Cox and Barbara, 235).

Offensive to everything religion upholds

Most mainstream denominations of Christianity, Orthodox Judaism, most branches of Islam are greatly opposed to same-sex marriage: but outside of this religious majority, there are religions that do not oppose gay unions like the Buddhist sect and the Mormon Church which have a large following and favor gay marriage. These dominating religions have made out gay marriages to be offensive to the teachings they uphold and the scriptures they reference thus making the congregations they reach out to fear gay unions and even treat them with spite. The constitution upholds the freedom of religion but does not grant power to religious institutions to impose private religious sentiment as such would be an insult to those who worship as per the command of their own conscience (Cox and Barbara, 235).

Same-sex marriage violates the sanctity of marriage as a sacred institution

As pushed by the fundamental religious notion, there is an assumption that the state has the obligation to sanctify marriages. The failure to separate the church from the state has promoted this fear for same-sex marriage as religion is applied to imply that gay marriages are immoral and unchristian since God meant marriage to be between one man and one woman (Kusner et al 604). The fact that should be recognized is that marriage in the current world is defined culturally and not biblically, as it is observed cultural values have evolved with time and the institution of marriage has transformed with it. Same-sex marriage is basically part of the transition process of social advancement (Baker and Brittney, 7).

In Conclusion

As it is evident, the fear for same-sex marriages is uncalled for. The arguments that oppose gay marriage do not carry the weight that is thrown at them in the court of law or the public arena. The traditional debate that is raised against this form of marriage fails to hold up to the light of reason. The feelings of the proponents of gay marriage based on their moral or religious statutes only bring out the bigotry in them, they are irrational and tend to push faulty assumption backed up by scripture to portray gay union as unpleasant and one that would make the world uncomfortable to live in. As the constitution continues to recognize the rights of gays and identify them as a minority that needs protection, it goes to show that long after independence there is still need for liberty and justice for all as stated in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Works cited

Baker, Brittney. "Same-Sex Marriage and Religion: An Inappropriate Relationship." e-Research: A Journal of Undergraduate Work 1.3 (2014): 7.

Chauveron, Lisa M., Ariel Alvarez, and Brad van Eeden-Moorefield. "The Co-Evolution of Marriage and Parental Rights of Gays and Lesbians." Journal of GLBT Family Studies 13.2 (2017): 114-136.

Cox, Barbara J. "The Tyranny of the Majority is No Myth: Its Dangers for Same-Sex Couples." Hamline J. Pub. L. & Pol'y 34 (2012): 235.

Kusner, Katherine G., et al. "Sanctification of marriage and spiritual intimacy predicting observed marital interactions across the transition to parenthood." Journal of Family Psychology 28.5 (2014): 604-614.

Perry, Ravi K., and Joseph P. McCormick. "LGBT Politics and Rights through the Obama Era: President Barack Obama’s Evolution on LGBT Issues." Race in the Age of Obama: Part 2. Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2015. 49-75.

Millett, Kate. Sexual politics. Columbia University Press, 2016.