Love and Partnership Principle
In the world today, I can truly say that love has transcended beyond the corridors of the limited capacity in which we choose to admonish. What is love? Love is a force of nature in its purest form. It is a deeply connected, dedicated commitment between two people. We cannot command, demand, or take away love, any more than we can command the moon and the stars, the wind and the rain to come and go according to our inclinations. We may have some limited ability to change the weather, but can that be done at the risk of upsetting an ecological balance we don’t fully understand? Love is bigger than any of us. You can invite and you can incite love, but you cannot dictate how, when, and where love expresses itself. On the other hand, marriage is the intimate union and equal partnership between two individuals.
Mutual Rights Component in Marriage
A marriage is considered a permanent social, legal contract and relationship that is based on mutual rights and obligations among the spouses. Consequently, we can see how love and marriage are synonymous as codependent nexuses that exist in many mutual relationships; however, what if the marriage is of the same sex? Do the same values and principles exist? Can one be mutually exclusive? Should same sex marriages be legally binding? Should the government be the weighing decision on a person’s right to marry? This paper will address my support of same sex marriages from a liberal stance, the human right components of the individuals within this marriage, and the family dynamics as a result of this union.
U.S. Supreme Court on Same-Sex Couples
First, on June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling that granted same-sex couples a constitutional right to marry based upon the Declaration of Independence, one can express their unalienable rights in any way they see fit because it is one of the constitutional rights. This country was built on a strong belief that anyone within the United States of America has the right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and freedom of expression. Given these beliefs, they cannot be denied no matter what other people may say, think, or feel about the matter at hand. Same-sex marriage is not only constitutional but protected by the first amendment, which fosters freedom of expression, and the 14th amendment which states that state laws cannot deny the people of their civil liberties. Marriage is an extension of one’s pursuit of happiness. Marriage of the same sex or opposite sex may be the outcome to a good and happy life. Based upon this principle, there is nothing different between heterosexual and homosexual marriages as the result is the same.
Pursuit of Happiness
Additionally, homosexual couples are placed in social hierarchies many heterosexual couples would consider to be unacceptable in their own lives. The same beliefs that are present ordinarily in day-to-day, per say, “normal” relationship dynamics apply to any and every relationship anyone may seem fit to label a relationship. Same-sex couple’s exclusion from marriage has the potential outcome of teaching that gays and lesbians are unequal in the United States of America. This demeaning thought goes against every belief the founding fathers built this country on. Ultimately, deeming same sex marriages illegal would be the same act as discriminating against people of color and discriminating woman’s rights. Again, I reference the Declaration of Independence which states, “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”. The institution of marriage exists for many centuries but varies from year to year. There is no unification greater than marriage, for it symbolizes the highest morals of dependability, sacrifice, commitment, love, and family.
There are numerous ideals and definitions as to what a family is. According to Webster World College Dictionary a family is, “a group of people related by ancestry or marriage (Webster World College Dictionary)”. No matter the gender of the spouses, if there is a legal marriage amongst the two then there is a family dynamic that can be formed. Gary J. Gates at the Williams Institute states that, “Approximately 2,600 same-sex couples are raising an estimated 3,400 foster children in the US. Same-sex couples are six times more likely than their different-sex counterparts to be raising foster children (Gates).” This small yet substantial statistic shows how effective same sex couples can be in America today. Since humans are incapable of homosexual reproduction, foster care systems thrive with same sex couples that are looking for opportunities to extend their love to children who often go neglected and abandoned by their own families. In addition, many foster care children are victims of traumatic experiences that leave them feeling ostracized. Also, many homosexual couples have dealt with similar victimizing thru prejudices or criticisms at certain points in their lives, which can allow them to be more equipped to identify with certain missing voids within these children. When raising a foster child with difficult backgrounds, these couples can emphasize that being different isn’t always a bad thing; differences are what make people special and unique in their own way. One can also teach that the typical mom-and-dad household isn’t so different from a same sex household. After all, children are more influenced by their parents’ relationship with each other rather than the sexual orientation of their parents. Good parenting is not influenced by sexual orientation or traditional marriages, but by the parent’s ability to create a loving and nurturing home.
Some may argue that same sex marriages are against certain religious beliefs and practices. That may be true; however, “legal marriage is a secular institution that should not be limited by religious objections to same-sex marriage (ProCon.org)”. No matter your religion, publicly owned businesses, such as ones that distribute marriage licenses, are confined to federal laws and regulations. Therefore, any government worker must follow the company’s rules and guidelines. No matter one’s beliefs it is still a constitutional right that same sex couples get the same rights as heterosexuals.
United States Constitution
In conclusion, I agree with the law indicating that same sex marriages should be legally binding and contractually honored just like any heterosexual union of marriage. When it comes down to marriages, everyone has the equal rights to obtain an official marriage license as well as a marriage certificate. As stated earlier, these rights are protected by the United States Constitution based upon the first and 14th amendments. Though the government may regulate our everyday lives, they cannot regulate our sexual or religious preferences. Neither can the people of the United States be denied the right to adopt a child due to a same sex marriage. If anyone disagrees with same sex marriage for religious purposes, unfortunately their religious practice is not a factor in this matter in contrast to people’s uniformed rights. As we may share different objectionable views regarding this controversial topic, one must also remember that behind any actionable cause and stance in this world, without passion and without love one could not execute successfully. After all, love is the foundational rubric of any marriage whether same sex or heterosexual.
