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Marriage equality seems to be a huge issue in today's society and causing controversy whenever mentioned. The best solution to this problem is to research and make policies that will be beneficial to the LBG community without compromising the institution of marriage. Every couple deserves financial and emotional security. As it stands today the LBG community is being denied that right.
This issue has raised debate all over the world. Most countries, especially in Africa, are opposed to it because it is a new phenomenon and does not exist in their cultural practices.
They believe the main aim of marriage is procreation; and same sex relationships cannot fulfill that belief. Physiologically a man is supposed to marry a woman for them to be able to procreate. It is believed that same sex relationships are mainly for sexual pleasure and companionship, but they do not bring forth children. Maybe we need to examine out thoughts on procreation. There are many children today who are orphans; in fact statistics show that there are around 143 million orphans in the world.
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Therefore, procreation seems to be very unviable in this argument.
In this paragraph there will be explanations on how same sex marriage is looked upon in most countries in the world. Same sex relationships are not recognized and people who engage in it are said to be doing it illegally. It is a relationship that most churches do not approve of and in countries where it is legalized, the couples have to seek for civil marriage as churches are opposed to confirmation of such marriages.
Civil marriages may not also have amended laws to cater for this hence couples of same sex relationships are forced to stay together without the approval of the government. This in short implies that couples who are in same sex relationships are denied their civil marriage rights
According to Jutta Tobias, marriage is a very important institution and has psychosocial and health benefits. This is because it provides social, economic and moral support to the married individuals. When they are denied their right to marry, their health and well-being is adversely affected, as well as that of their families and friends. Research conducted by various people has established that denial of marriage rights has harmful effects on individuals. Marriage equality seems to be an enormous physiological and health issue for same sex partners. The best solution to this problem is to research and make policy's that will be benefit the LBG community without compromising the institution of marriage.
To be reminded the importance of the last paragraph, I will give examples of how denial of marriage rights affects individuals. Gays, lesbians and bisexual individuals who are aging are highly affected by denial of marriage equality. Research has established that one or more partners in same-sex relationship are likely to be over 55 years old (GMLA, 2008). Just like in other relationships, the same-sex relationships are also faced with the problem of health and finance as they age. Therefore, without marriage equality, gay and lesbians are likely to face a considerable amount of problems that people in heterosexual relationships due to marriage inequality.
According to GMLA (2008), an aging gay or lesbian couple will only receive Social Security at a single person's rate, even though Social Security Support, if Present, is needed to support both partners. When the one partner receiving social support dies it even becomes worse. The Social Security support is stopped and the retirement benefits heavily taxed (GMLA, 2008). This has adverse effects on the health and financial well-being of gay and lesbian couples. Couples who are denied Social Security support often feel discriminated upon by the marriage laws. This can lead to the couples experiencing social disorders, which are characterized by mood disorder, anxiety disorder, alcohol disorder and psychiatric comorbidity.
Studies conducted on gay couples in states where same-sex relationships are banned established that the rates of mood disorder increased by 37%; for increased anxiety disorder, it increased by 248%; alcohol disorder increased by 42% and psychiatric comorbidity increased by 36% (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2010). This was in comparison with other states whose laws on marriage had not been amended.
In this paragraph I will offer a solution to the highly controversial problem of same sex marriage. The solution to the effects of marriage inequality lies in the amendments of the laws discriminating upon same-sex marriages. This will enable all couples, both heterosexual and same-sex relationships, to enjoy the same marriage rights. When same-sex relationships are covered under civil rights, those involved in it will be able to enjoy many legal rights that they do not get as people in heterosexual relationships (Wolfson, 2004). In the United States, marriage privileges individuals in numerous ways, which include allowed the married individuals to be covered under their spouses' health insurance and inherit their spouses' personal benefits (Goldberg and Kavulanka, 2012). Therefore, amendment of laws in states that prohibit same- sex relationships will reduce this form of discrimination and promote social inclusiveness.
In this paragraph we will see how my argument of equal marriage rights comes into play. People have argued that legalizing same-sex relationships will compromise the institution of marriage (Waldman, 2012). This is a hot debate that previously many people had stayed clear from it, but the debate is gaining momentum especially due to involvement of politicians. Many people however still stick to their argument that marriage should be left exclusively to heterosexual relationships. Recent statistics reveal that only six states in the US permit same- sex relationships.
These states include Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont (Goldberg and Kavulanka, 2012). People are arguing that same-sex relationships are intimate purposes unlike heterosexual relationships which give rise to children. This argument is beyond fathomable to me as a human being. Everyone has the right to love whom they wish and it should not be looked upon as only sexual pleasure but the same love that heterosexual married couples share. I am not proposing to compromise the institution of marriage; I am offering a solution that will allow all people the same rights in a relationship.
Apart from changing laws to entrench same-sex marriages into the civil law, there can be funding and evaluation of scientific studies aimed at enlightening the public and making policies that will facilitate developments concerning same sex relationships (Tobias, n.d.). This approach may however be slow as it may be hampered by financial constraints due to a large number of people unwilling to support same sex marriage.
Support should therefore be given to gay, lesbian and same-sex marriages as it will avert the risk of an increase in antisocial behavior. It will also reduce the number of psychological and health problems associated with people who are in same-sex relationships. It also shows that we as a people love one another and support our fellow neighbor.
The Issue of Same Sex Marriage and the Solution to Marriage Equality. (2022, Dec 23). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/the-issue-of-same-sex-marriage-and-the-solution-to-marriage-equality-essay
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