Princess Nicole E.

Sarmiento
BSTM-1A

Should Same-Sex Marriage Be Legalized?

Same-sex marriage has been a highly controversial issue for many years. While some

governments have authorized the practice, others believe it is immoral and treat it otherwise. A

marriage or partnership between two people of the same sex, such as a man and a man, is known

as same-sex marriage. Even though this subject has never been legally recognized for many

years, and some communities consider it taboo, certain countries have widened their perspectives

on it. Some countries that have legalized it include the United Kingdom, Spain, France,

Argentina, the Netherlands, and, the United States (Winter, Forest & Senac, 2017). No matter

what the reasons are, same-sex marriage should be legalized because it is a basic human right.

Initially, if society recognizes same-sex marriage, it serves as protection for same-sex

couples in areas such as taxes, economics, and health care. People in a homosexual relationship

who are not legally married do not have the security to secure what they have worked for and

saved together. Even if they both contributed to the purchase of the property, the surviving

partner would have no claim to it if one of them died (Winter, Forest & Senac, 2017). Same-sex

partnerships would be legalized, which would protect homosexual partners from such tragic

situations. They would be able to inherit from their wives and benefit from tax savings similar to
heterosexual married couples. They would also be able to buy homes together, create joint

accounts, and sign documents as a couple if they were legalized.

Same-sex marriage also enables two individuals in love to unite in marriage and live

happily ever after. Denying homosexual couples the right to marry is effectively denying them

the right to love as heterosexual couples do. Furthermore, the definition of marriage does not

suggest that it should be limited to two persons of opposite sexes. Marriage is a publicly or

legally acknowledged union between two persons in a personal connection, according to

Gerstmann (2017). According to this definition, people should be permitted to marry once they

fall in love with one other, regardless of their gender. Thus, reducing marriage to a man and

woman relationship is a blatant violation of homosexuals' rights.

Furthermore, gay marriages allow homosexual couples to start families. Gay and

lesbian couples, like heterosexual couples, should be permitted to create families and have

children. In essence, a family should have parents and children, and the parents do not have to be

male and female. If their marriage is legalized and acknowledged by the culture in which they

live, same-sex partners can simply adopt and raise children (Gerstmann, 2017). As one might

expect, some heterosexual couples are unable to have their children and must rely on adoption to

raise one or more children. Given that same-sex couples may be unable to give birth on their

own, this is a right that should be granted to them as well.

Moreover, same-sex marriage has no negative impact on the institution of marriage

and maybe more stable. According to a 2009 study, legalizing civil unions or gay marriages did
not affect abortion rates, divorce rates, or marriage rates (Langbein & Yost, 2009). It is therefore

inappropriate to argue against or prohibit gay marriages. Another study found that only 1.1

percent of legally married gay couples divorce, compared to a 2% annual divorce rate for

opposite-sex couples (Badgett & Herman, 2011). This means that heterosexual marriages

disintegrate at a little higher rate than opposite-sex marriages. Gay marriages, it could be said,

are more stable than traditional man-woman marriages. Both sorts of marriages should be given

equal consideration because neither hurts the other. They have roughly equal odds of success if

they are legally recognized and approved.

Opponents of same-sex marriage may argue that having a father and a mother is

crucial for children. They may argue that children should be influenced by both a father and a

mother during their developing years to have a balanced upbringing. According to these reasons,

homosexual couples have only one gender influence over their children's lives, which is less

rewarding (Badgett, 2009). However, the arguments overlook the fact that children raised by

same-sex couples interact with both male and female genders in a variety of social settings.

Children are cared for and mentored by both male and female teachers at school, who perform a

similar function to that of parents.

Those who oppose same-sex marriages may argue that such unions compromise the

concept of marriage. Marriage is a religious and traditional commitment and rite that people hold

in high regard. They argue that everything should be done to protect marriage because it has

been declining over time as an institution. Their concern is that same-sex marriages are
devaluing traditional marriages, leading to people abandoning marriage in favor of living with

same-sex partners (Nagle, 2010). It is apparent that such arguments view marriage solely as a

man-woman partnership and hence are unaware of the full meaning of marriage. They also fail to

comprehend those traditions and faiths should not be used to discriminate against same-sex

couples because some people do not follow any tradition(s) or religion.

Same-sex marriage is a human right that should be celebrated like traditional

heterosexual unions. It ensures the legal rights of lesbian and gay couples and provides them

with the much-deserved opportunity to marry. It also allows people to exercise their right to form

a family and raise children. Arguments against this type of marriage, such as that it weakens

traditional marriages, are based on personal beliefs rather than facts. Furthermore, having a

father and a mother is unimportant for a child because there are other areas where they actively

connect with people of other sexes. All countries should consider legalizing same-sex

marriage. At the end of the day, we are all human beings. Before assigning values to each other

based on our religious beliefs or the people we choose to love. Everyone must be aware of this

fact and behave accordingly. As the world advances, same-sex marriage is becoming

increasingly significant.