WHY SAME SEX MARRIAGE? WHY TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE?
Same-Sex Marriage, defined as: The union of two partners of the same gender.
THE HISTORY. Throughout history homosexuality has been a topic that has been difficult to talk about, in all countries around the world. Why is this? Often the taboo of homosexuality is dated back to the beginning of religion. The Bible in Leviticus 18:22 states: "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman. That is detestable." However, this passage is one of many other passages, of which include in Leviticus 20:10 that "If a man commits adultery with another man's wife-with the wife of his neighbor-both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death." This could have led to present-day arguments about whether or not same-sex marriage should be legalized or not. People have generated strong opinions on their side of the argument. People also feel that sex is a way of procreation, and therefore, the way that gay people have sex is "unnatural". Basically, all over the world, from China, to Japan, to Greece, homosexuality has existed for centuries. Judaism and Christianity have made it more taboo, and the influence of religion on western culture as well as the influence of western culture on the rest of the world has made homosexuality more of a no-no. Sodomy laws, and other laws against the practice of homosexuality have been integrated into the government ever since the first recorded anti-sodomy law in 1533 by King Henry VIII which also prohibited masturbation. Adoption laws have slowly become more flexible so that gay couples can adopt. However, the stigma against it is still prevalent. Civil unions in the American state of Massachutsetts only recently became available in 2004. In Europe, the social stigma against gay people does not seem to be as strong considering that there is no prohibition against same-sex marriage in the Netherlands and Belgium. They also are quite accepted in Sweden, the United Kingdom, and France.
For more on the homosexuality and religion.
For more on the current status of same-sex marriage and civil unions throughout the world, from Wikipedia.
For more on the history of homosexuality, A Gay Rights Timeline from Wikipedia.
So why do people oppose same-sex marriage?
It is not a 'human right'. (In other words, it is not right for humans)
To protect the children. A lot of the institutions opposing same-sex marriage concentrate on the importance of the strength of family, and protecting the young children, and future generations from the immoral ways of homosexuals. Some social science research does say that children who have two parents in the home, a male parent and a female parent, do function better later on in life, than if there were two female parents or two male parents.
Libertarianism. They object to any government interference in marriage whether it be for heterosexual marriage or homosexual marriage.
So why do people support same-sex marriage?
Separation of Church and State. Religion and government is separated as interpreted in the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States.
More than 1000 laws that involve marital status. Homosexual couples do not have complete access to all of these rights.
To protect the children. It could make families with gay couples more stable, if there is more of a committment involved.
