Gay marriage is a subject that has continued to brew heated arguments, both online and offline. Gay marriage refers to the union between a man and another man. Today, several countries across the globe are considering whether to recognize same-sex marriage legally. As of 2019, about 30 nations and regions, mostly in Europe and the US, had implemented national laws granting same-sex marriage (Masci et al., 2019). According to Kenny and Patel (2017), legalizing homosexuality improves societal attitudes and should be encouraged. They argue that while individual preferences widely vary across countries, research shows that legalizing homosexuality enhances how individuals perceive the tones of their respective communities. Based on the results of their study, the attitudes and laws towards homosexuality have significantly improved worldwide, and policymakers should enact legal reforms to recognize same-sex marriage.
In their book titled, ”What’s Wrong with Same-Sex Marriage,” Kennedy & Newcombe (2004) argue same-sex marriage is a moral issue, and the Bible clearly states marriage is for one man and one woman. Using the scriptures, statistics, and case studies, the authors emphasize homosexuality is a sin. However, they also appeal to the public to make coordinated responses towards same-sex marriage while showing a loving attitude and regarding gays as humans too.
This essay will argue that gay marriage should be legally recognized. It will first discuss the critical arguments for the stand using evidence from the stated material and other credible reports. Further, it will also present a few counter-arguments and issue a conclusion on the subject.
In their paper titled, Norms and Reforms: Homosexuality Improves Attitudes,” Kenny and Patel (2017) examined the disparities between norms and legal rights regarding homosexuality. Their study reviewed studies about the attitudes towards gay rights in both developed and developing countries. They analyzed the evolution of traditional customs and beliefs in many countries across the world with a focus on how they relate to societal attitudes and laws. The researchers tracked down the development of values for homosexuality over time using reliable data from the Gallup World Poll and World Values Survey. One of the results of their study was that the world’s population that does not want to live next to homosexuals has significantly declined by about 10% in the last three decades. That translates into a reduction of at least 700 million people across the world that discriminates against gays. The research also found out that as of May 2017, 72 countries criminalized same-sex activities compared to 142 countries that did not have any legal penalties for homosexual practices. Based on the data from the World Values Survey, countries with more positive beliefs towards homosexuality have higher incomes and legally recognize same-sex marriage. The study also established progress towards the legalization of same-sex marriage around the world over the same period. Those results suggest attitudes impact legal changes and, policymakers can shape public opinions regarding norms via legal reforms. They empower policymakers to use the law as a tool for reducing attitudes and actions against homosexuality and same-sex marriage.
Pope (2004) says the Catholic Church has been the most consistent and outspoken party in condemning proposals by countries and regions around the world to recognize same-sex marriage legally. According to them, marriage in this context refers to the exclusive and consensual union of spouses sanctioned by the state, only terminated through a legal divorce. Their report focussed on a thorough analysis and critique of the Church’s moral arguments against same-sex marriage, as indicated in the documents issued by the pope and Episcopal magisterium. They argue that although the Church actively supports the strengthening of the marriage institution, it must not issue derogatory statements against gay people. The Church’s adamant stand against same-sex marriage demeans the value of those in committed gay partnerships and ignores their needs for social justice as well as the rights for gays and their families. The authors say at the time of their report, about one-fourth of the 600,000 same-sex couples staying together in the US raised children. Gay people often live in the same houses and jointly raise children. As such, they need healthcare insurance just like the rest. Similar to heterosexuals, homosexual partners also have different sexual behaviors and beliefs in the lifelong interpersonal commitment to marriage. As such, they settle in and commit to relationships with diverse practical interdependencies just like heterosexuals. Gay couples contribute to their neighborhoods and, generally aspire to become responsible members of the society. Gay people are a significant and productive part of society and, cohabiting partners merit legal recognition (Lopez, 2015).
In his book titled, ”Is It Wrong to Discriminate on the Basis of Homosexuality?”, Jordan (1995) argue that although heterosexual unions meet the threshold for state recognition in marriage, it is still not clear whether homosexual partners should be granted similar recognition. He discusses two theories to debate the marriage rights for homosexual couples. The theories include the parity thesis and difference thesis, which support and conflict the rights to marriage for same-sex couples, respectively. Regarding the parity thesis, the author says homosexual practices between two consenting adults inflict harm on no one. And, respecting people’s privacy and choices in harmless sexual acts improves individual freedom, which ought to be maximized. As such, discriminating gay people on the basis of their homosexuality denies those personal choices and privacy that curtails individual freedoms. Allowing same-sex marriage does not in way force heterosexuals to engage in homosexual acts. Since homosexual acts brings pleasure to gay people and does not harm anyone, there is no moral credit to denying same-sex unions. Rejecting the proposals to sanction same-sex marriage will not make gays people to vanish. Homosexual people will remain a part of society regardless of whether they are granted legal recognition or not. Thus, rejecting same-sex marriage only blocks that proportion of the society from fulfilling the dream of a lifelong commitment to a loving partner, which is shared by a majority of the society (Wyers, 1987). Sanctioning same-sex marriage will go a long way in disbanding the social stigma that presents same-sex partners as pervasive and immoral. Similar to heterosexuals, homosexual couples have common life goals and strive to be happy and create a better society. Therefore, denying them the rights to marry as heterosexual partners is not only morally wrong but, also contributes to social injustice (Mortensen, 2020).