Gay Marriage

This paper discusses gay marriage, which is a polarizing issue because it involves arguments based on religion and politics.

1,505 words () | 5 sources | APA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper argues that the debate over whether the state ought to recognize gay marriages has focused on the issue as one of civil rights, but such treatment is erroneous because state recognition of marriage is not a universal right. The author points out that, during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the institution of marriage saw a series of overwhelming changes in societal structure and gender roles, which have forever changed the way matrimony is perceived in the society. The paper concludes that gays should not have the same civil marriage as straight people and should be limited in terms of their freedoms from pursing the sanctification of marriage through religious and governmental institutions.

Table of Contents
Arguments For and Against
Civil Unions and Marriages
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Some say that civil rights are enjoyed by individuals and are in the Constitution, while civil liberties are in the Bill of Rights. Two examples of civil liberties would be, first of all, someone who wanted to practice their own religion, such as if the individual was Amish, without interference from the government, and secondly, if an individual wanted to exercise their freedom of speech. Civil rights are more about equity principles, such as women having the equal right to vote just like men, and generally the issue of gays and lesbians being able to get married is considered by many on both sides of the argument to be a civil rights issue."