Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the argument for and against legalizing same-sex marriages in the United States. It compares the situation in the US with that in Canada with regard to government policy on same-sex marriages. The paper argues that same-sex marriage should be legalized in the whole of the US. Its primary argument is that failure to do so would be contrary to many of the most fundamental rights of many American citizens and will also serve to perpetuate prejudice against same-sex couples.

From the Paper:

"Perhaps the most important argument in favour of legalizing same-sex marriage is the simple fact that by not doing so, we harm innocent children. This is because many same-sex couples have children. The 2000 US Census revealed that nationwide some 34% of female same-sex households, and some 22% of male same-sex households, have children. These rates do not lag far behind the national rate for married opposite-sex couples, which is 45.6%, or the national rate for unmarried opposite-sex couples, which is 43.1 percent. From this, we can deduce that there are at least 400,000 children who are currently being raised by same-sex couples nationwide - and this number continues to grow rapidly. (Weiser) These children may come from previous heterosexual relationships, or from adoption, or same-sex couples may choose to have children through one route or another. The point is that these are innocent children who must not be punished for the sexual orientation of their parents, or because of society's prejudices against same-sex couples. These children deserve to have the legal and emotional security of having parents who are married to one another, just as much as the children of heterosexual couples deserve this. Therefore, same-sex marriage should be legalized to protect these children."

Sample of Sources Used:

• CBC News. "Same-sex marriage law passes 158-133." June 29, 2005. Retrieved from: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/06/28/samesex050628.html
• Hohengarten, William M. "Same-Sex Marriage and the Right of Privacy." Yale Law Journal 103.6 (1994): 1495-1531.
• Religious Tolerance.org. "Same-Sex Marriages & Civil Unions." 2006. http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_marr.htm
• Robertson, David. A Dictionary of Human Rights. London: Europa Publications, 1997.
• Weiser, Jay. "Foreword: The Next Normal-Developments since Marriage Rights for Same-Sex Couples in New York." Columbia Journal of Gender and Law 13.1 (2004): 48+.

More papers on Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage:

• Persuasive Essay # 53479 : "Same-Sex Marriage"
• Argumentative Essay # 4671 : "Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage"
• Persuasive Essay # 120612 : "Same-Sex Marriage"

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