Name: Bui Vu Nhat Lam- Class English 3

TOPIC: To what extent does the legalization of same sex marriage change public
perceptions of same sex relations in general?

Same-sex marriage has always been a controversial topic among many people.
Many hold a grudge against relationships of the same genders mainly because they
do not fully understand what it means to be homosexual and how difficult it is to
live a life that is judged by others. Additionally, some have religious bias and are
afraid of the unknown. However, the marriage of the same sex has been legalized
in various countries, thus changing people’s attitudes towards same-sex relations.
This essay aims to discuss how and to what extent has the approval of same-sex
marriage affected the public’s opinions.
Back in 1985, people used to have cruel prejudices against same-sex relations. Gay
people could not serve openly in the military, have sex without having the risk of
being arrested, and identify as transgender without being classified as having a
mental disorder. These were many of the hardships people being a part of the
LGBT society had to face. Nowadays, people are becoming more supportive and
same-sex marriage is authorized widely in the world.
This, has, therefore, had a huge impact on people’s ways of thinking. The public
has gradually accepted same-sex relationships, and monstrous principles have been
banished. For instance, In Pew Research Center polling in 2004, Americans
opposed same-sex marriage by a margin of 60% to 31%. Support for same-sex
marriage has steadily grown over the past 17 years, and reached its highest point in
2021, with a majority of Americans (61%) supporting same-sex marriage, while
31% oppose it. Same-sex relationships become the norm and most people do not
consider them as ridiculous as they used to be.
Furthermore, people have gained more insight into the LGBT society and have
learned to respect every sexuality. Students study same-sex relations, sympathize,
and understand every hardship gay people have been through. Many do not feel
embarrassed and ashamed about their sexualities. Moreover, parents are
encouraging and open to their children's loving partners of the same sex. What’s
more, there have been increases in representations of gay people in news,
television, and movies. To illustrate, portrayals of lesbian and gay men have
continued to become popular over the two decades since they were featured in
popular shows like “Will and Grace” and “Modern Family”. They even have
recently spread to shows for teenage audiences such as “Glee” and “Teen Wolf”.
Beyond entertainment, the news media has also covered gay rights as such issues
have become politicized.
In conclusion, the legalization of same-sex marriage has brought about many
positive changes in the attitudes of people towards LGBT society. It is extremely
heart-warming that the love that the public has given to gay people and how same-
sex relationships become so widely supported. As a result, I strongly believe
authorization of same-sex marriage should be highly approved.