Gay Marriage

It's amazing how ignorant and stubborn people can be in this society. Does Matthew
Shepard ring a bell? Matthew Shepard died on October 12, 1998. He was kidnapped, robbed,
beaten senseless, tied to a fence and left out to die in freezing weather. ("Matthew Shepard")
Now, why did this happen? Not because of his race, not because of his gender or his looks,
but because of his sexual preference. It doesn't make sense how much hate can be in a
human body to go as far as to kill someone, because of one minor thing about them. Take
Fred Phelps for example. Fred Phelps is the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church. He and
the members of this church picketed Shepard's funeral with signs saying "GOD HATES
FAGS." ("Matthew Shepard") What kind of person can stand doing this? In today's society
many people are being shunned and hated by other people just because of their sexual
preference; therefore society must make a change and accept this large amount of people.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that ALL men are created equal." (Jefferson,
"The Declaration of Independence") ALL men, not a few. This includes white people, African
Americans, Asian, British, straight, AND homosexuals. Gays are not any more abnormal, or
different than an average straight person. Not every person is the same, and the differences
are not always wrong. Some people are left-handed, or wear glasses. An article that
supports gay marriage states that it's supposed to be physically impossible for anyone to be
left-handed. Yet there are people who are left-handed, and for centuries people found people
who are left- handed "freaks-of-nature". ("Same Sex Marriage-Why It Should Be Legalized")
However, nowadays in society it's silly to shun left-handed people, and it's accepted. This is
the exact same concept as gay people, and gay marriages. It's not possible to chose to be
left-handed is exactly like you don't really chose what gender you are attracted to. If you
have ever thought when you became straight, gay, bi-sexual, etc., you should come to a
conclusion that it just happened. No one has said "No, I can't love somebody the same
gender as myself because it's not normal." Normal? What IS the definition of 'normal' in
today's society? Gay marriage isn't different then a straight marriage because it's the joining
of two people who love each other.
It is not a SIN to LOVE somebody. These days in the U.S it's kind of hard to know what
'Love' is. Considering that the U.S has a rounded amount of a 50% divorce rate. People can
even get married in Vegas in ten minutes for heavens sake! Yet it's these people who won't
let two men, or two women get married. Two people who love each other and fighting for their
rights just to marry their loved ones. If that's not love, then what is? If it's religious reasons,
then yes, the bible says that "A man shall not love another man", but it also says "Love thy
neighbor as you love thyself"(Levictus 19:18 qtd In "The Holy Bible. New International
Version.") Even if that means the neighbor is boy, or a girl. The bible also states "Why do you
look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your
own eye?"(Matthew 7:3 qtd In "The Holy Bible. New International Version.") This shows that
people who oppose gay marriage and blame it on the bible are hypocritical. Do NOT point at
a gay person and say that it's a sin to be gay. Well in fact every one sins all the time. What
are YOUR sins? Mrs. Winters, a proud lesbian, wrote a letter and one of the lines was "Do
you want to know what a REAL sin is? If you take away someone's rights to marry for no
other good reason then you're afraid, that's a sin." (Winters) So afraid that people had to
make different words that mean the same thing.
Domestic partnership, Unions, and Marriage. They all mean the same thing but
domestic partnerships, and unions don't have the same benefits as marriage. "The couple
doesn't receive social security, or veteran's benefit. Insurance isn't guaranteed to carry, and
it's not guaranteed for equal benefits from employers." (Winters) Are people so ignorant and
intolerant that they have to make up new words for two people of the same gender getting
married? Everyday, a whole bunch of people are getting married, and it usually doesn't affect
anyone but the couples family and friends. So how does two gay people getting married
effect you anymore than a regular straight marriage? They all want the same things that
straight couples want. A house, job, maybe children, and have a happy life with their loved
ones. How exactly does that affect anyone else? Now ask yourself this, "Do I want to be in a
Domestic Partnership or union with my loved one?" The chances are low and you'd probably
say no. The word and meaning of hypocrisy is now in play. Let's view the opposition and their
reasoning why gay marriage shouldn't be legalized. An article founded online had been
caught using a logical fallacy. "It is immoral to legitimize gay unions because it is not in the
best interest of the children who might be adopted by gay couples. These children would be
deprived of either the experience of a motherhood or fatherhood." ('Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith') This is a little bit of both false casality, and overgeneralization. In what
way does being raised by a gay couple not in the best interest for the children? Everyday
straight couples are getting divorced and then the children are deprived of a motherhood or
fatherhood. The qualities a child can have from being raised by a gay couple are: An open
mind/perspective about the world, learning to accept everyone the way they are, and so
many wonderful qualities. Why do the children always have to get involved? Most children
don't understand what's going on when it comes to discrimination. When seeing a child tell
someone that what they're doing or what they are isn't right…you die a little inside.
Not allowing two people to get married just because they're gay is cruel and unfair. Gay
marriage will not destroy society, or make the world end. Maybe gay marriage could make a
great impact on society, maybe life will just go on as it always been. Even if this essay is just
another voice in the crowd, there are other voices chanting the same thing, and they won't
stop until their voices are heard. Looking at the world, it's amazing to see the ignorance and
stubbornness one person in society can have.