Gay Marriage: Not a Simple Yes Or No Question

If asked if I support same-sex marriage I would answer yes. Although for some the practice might be seen as foreign or strange in comparison to a conventional marriage between a man and a woman; In a twenty-first world of constant development and change that society should re-evaluate the long standing norms of society.As with Heterosexual marriage, Gay marriage is set simply with goal of joining to persons in love with each other and share the benefits of long-term partnership.

Despite this seemingly pure intention of Gay Marriage many in the United States actively oppose the union through protest and Anti-Gay Marriage legislation making it harder for gay couples to express there love through the civil union of marriage

For those who are against the concept of Gay Marriage there are many point of conflict and concerns about enacting the practice.Some anti-marriage individuals state the implementation of same-sex marriage is pointless due to beliefs that most of theses homosexual relations cannot last as long compared heterosexual relations; However, there is evidence in a Danish study composed in 1990’s that argues differently.

In Denmark, Homosexual Marriage has been a reality since 1989 with he countries level of gay marriages inc erasing every year.In a comparison of Homosexual and Heterosexual divorces rates in mid ninetieth nighties it was found that “ the divorce rate among Danish homosexuals is only 17 percent, compared to 46 percent for heterosexuals.”(Jones).

This disparity is said to be caused by a variety of factors including “Many of the gays and lesbians who've married had been in their relationships for years beforehand” (Jones) in comparison to heterosexual couple.”Another likely reason Danish gays and lesbians rarely divorce is that only those who are strongly motivated to marry do so, given society's disapproval of overt homosexuality. ‘It takes courage to marry and then live with information about your sexual orientation mentioned in your official documents,’says Danish psychologist Vibeke Nissen, herself a married lesbian.”(Jones). Together, these statistics show that despite beliefs of most in Untied States that long-term gay marriage is possible.

Another argument made against gay marriage is that if a gay couple was able to be married they could start a family(through the means of adoption or other routes)and that this child would be negatively effected by having gay parents. American Psychiatric Association published an article the journal in 2000 contradicts this belief by stating "a growing body of scientific literature demonstrates that children who grow up with 1 or 2 gay and/or lesbian parents fare as well in emotional, cognitive, social, and sexual functioning as do children whose parents are heterosexual."(Hulbert)

This statement by the A.P.A. Shows that having a child under the parentage of 1 or more homosexual parents does create a environment that is not harmful, but instead healthy to the child development. Other studies conducted through out the past twenty to thirty years have also supported the A.P.A. findings of The gay family’s positive effects. ”Kids of gays and lesbians are now judged to fare as well as or better than children of heterosexuals—especially, advocates note, when you factor in the prejudice and other pressures that such kids may face. The fact that they hold their own with children from more conventional families is read as an augury of unusual resilience (and some studies even report finding them more emotionally expressive).”(Hulbert)

Overall, the summation of these various analyses and study of child development in homosexual parented environment have shown generally positive findings and debunk the idea that having homosexual parents negatively impacts a child.

The Gay family and the longevity of Gay relationships are just two of the many oppositions that many have towards the practice of Gay Marriage.Whether based in religious background, political standing, or a personal morality some might never comfortable with the idea of Gay Marriage; still, it seems to be important to remember that Gay people have the same rights any citizen of untied states and such deserve respect as such. Not every gay person is the annoying fashion designer on cable television with a heavy lisp or the rough biker with spiked hair and tattoos stereotypes of what it means to be gay.

We as a society, live in a world where old barriers are being broken down every day, forcing us to maybe reconsider things that we have decided in the past and decide if they the should be changed.

If you are a person you hates gays, the LGBTQ community, or Gay Marriage, maybe it might be time to reevaluate why you hate those things. Through maybe one day deciding to talking to a person with a different sexual orientation that yourself one day or to experience the LGBTQ culture, if you don’t change your stance them at least you know for sure why, and if you even slightly change your attitudes, you will able to to grow from the experience.

This is not a demand or even a request from me the author to you the reader, as everyone has the right to their own options and beliefs, but it is simply a thought, a suggestion of what you could do.

Links:

Lessons from a Gay Marriage: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/199705/lessons-gay-marriage

TheGayScience:What do we know about the effects of same-sex parenting?:

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/sandbox/2004/03/the_gay_science.singl...