“Gays”, “homosexuals”, “fags”, “queers”, and “lesbians"; these are all names given to people in same-sex relationships. These suggestive titles have subsided for the most part as more people are becoming comfortable with the idea of homosexuality. In fact, homosexuality has become an area of interest for most Americans, with gay-oriented television programs such as Queer as Folk, The L Word, and Will and Grace viewed by millions of people everyday. Many of these same people believe that homosexuals deserve the same jobs, same privileges, and the same benefits that heterosexuals take for granted. When it comes down to gay marriage however, Americans are split into two groups that say they are for or against same-sex couples.
Those that are for gay marriage believe that the joining of two homosexual people is just as sacred and important as it would be for any heterosexual relationship. How could anyone prove otherwise? Apparently, those against gay marriage believe they are not natural, they violate many religious principles, and they will eventually cause marriages to be seen as legalized incest and a bestial form of love. But this cannot be further from the truth. These “arguments” against gay marriage are really only homophobic fears that have spread from ordinary people to conservative politicians. These people are only uncomfortable with the idea of same-sex relationships. President Bush even tried to amend the U.S. Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriages, stating, “Marriage cannot be severed from its cultural, religious and natural roots without weakening the good influence of society”. These drastic actions against homosexual unions are results of phobias with no basis except for a few false opinions.
One such opinion includes the idea that homosexual unions are not a natural behavior, but a perversion found only in humans. This proves to be false, however, as a study by an evolutionary biologist named J.B.S. Haldane showed that almost 50 percent of the 3,000 animals he studied exhibited homosexual behavior. It has also been documented that creatures such as bison, antelope, and walruses often form “bachelor groups”, in which male individuals form pair bonds that often last for a lifetime. Clearly, the opinion that gay marriage is an act against nature is false, and there are many other controversial topics regarding such a union. For instance, a strong argument concerns religious writings that describe gay marriages as being evil and against the teachings of their deities. Although this is true, one must recall the Bill of Rights in which the first amendment discusses the freedom of religion. Therefore, no laws can be based on religious beliefs, and so same-sex marriage cannot be prohibited on this account. Furthermore, when people say that homosexuals abuse the right of marriage, to whom are they comparing? Do they remember Britney Spears and her few hours of “lifelong love” with Jason Allen Alexander, or Dennis Rodman and his arrival to his wedding in a gown? Wedding chapels in Las Vegas have even adopted the slogan “Getting Married Made Easy”, and so how can people criticize homosexuals when it is straight couples who exploit the sacred right of marriage?
Clearly, the reasons why around half of the U.S. population has issues with gay marriage are not based on fact or truth, but by fears and misplaced opinions. Those against it just cannot get used to the idea of two men or two women walking down the aisle hand in hand. As a result, only a few states have considered passing laws permitting legal unions between homosexual couples including California, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Allowing homosexuals to love each other and join in matrimony is the first step to be taken towards a more equal country, which is populated by homophobic individuals. When this particular group finally wakes up and realizes that homosexuals are people too, this world will be a better place for all.
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