Living in a Country with So-Called Rights: Gay Marriage Controversy

In a world where society is said to be free and just, we as individuals know that that aspect is far from being completely true. I firmly agree with Thomas B. Stoddard and his stand for legal marriage of the gay and lesbian society. We are all born into this world with the same rights, therefore the marriage aspect and issue of society should be no different.

Stoddard makes a very strong and valid point when he states, “The decision whether or not to marry belongs properly to individuals-not the government”. In the end, it is us as individuals that lives our lives and suffers the consequences of our mistakes within society, not the government. I firmly believe that if one wishes to go against the rules of the bible, than that is their decision that they are choosing to make, knowing full well the consequences and wrongness of their actions.

I come from a family where the bible and Christian living is an important and vital part of our lifestyle. No we are not bible huggers by any means, but we do try to follow God’s word as much as possible, but knowing full well that we will sin and we are all sinners. My mom and I take very different stances when it comes to gay marriage and even just acceptance of the homosexual aspect all-together. My mom therefore would agree with Lisa Schiffren and he her stance against gay marriage. What it all comes down to is making those who are opposed to gay marriage comfortable, while at the same time violating the rights of the homosexual society.

Schiffren makes the statement in her essay, “’Same-sex marriage’ is inherently incompatible with our culture’s understanding of the institution”. This comment is strictly opinionated and I don’t agree with her at all. If homosexual marriage was legalized society wouldn’t have much of a problem with cultural understanding later on down the line. How fair is it for parent’s to marry their daughters at the age of 13 to a man in his 20’s? We have had to learn to accept that culturally so why can’t we just accept homosexual union as well?

Schiffren also goes on to bring up the subject of children and how those in a gay relationship end up sharing responsibility of children. I theorize that if gay marriage was legalized their would be more children adopted. Think about it realistically. They obviously can’t have children of their own unless they have children previously from the opposite sex. Therefore, their only other option would be to adopt in-order-to create a family of their own.
All-in-all I strongly take the stance of legalizing gay marriage. For the first time in my life I have come to get to know a man from the work that is gay. I look at him no different than I do anyone else. He’s funny, outgoing, and always knows how to make me life. He looks no different than any other human being and therefore should be given the right to live his life to the fullest and be as happy as anyone else. After all, that is what it means to live in a free country, right?