Gay Marriage: Constitutional or Not

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. This is probably one of the most famous quotes involved in the Declaration of Independence. But what happens when our government starts deciding who is qualified for this rights and who isn’t? We are supposed to be one of the most advanced countries in the world, we fight for the rights of people around us, and somehow we cannot seem to find tolerance among ourselves.Why is being different so bad? Nowadays, we start to become a society that experiences a hard time accepting the different thoughts and ways of living of our fellow citizens.
An example of this would be the struggles for the homosexuals across America to find an approval for same sex marriages. Although the Declaration of Independence says that every American has the right for the pursuit of happiness, for some reason neither the government nor the people in the US seem to understand that happiness can and should be different for every individual.As time goes by and news show up, I am more than convinced that same-sex marriages are not harmful for the society and therefore, should be approved right away. Many people see marriage as the culmination of the love for another human being, as finding the person to spend the rest of your life with. So, as Kathy Belge states, “if two people love each other, shouldn’t they be allowed the same rights, privileges and responsibilities, no matter their genders? We have to take into account that most people who can’t get married with their partner have no benefits whatsoever over their partner’s assets, so if they’re together it’s solely for love.Then why is it so hard to just let them be happy by consummating their union under the law? Society sees marriage as a sacred act of commitment and believes that same-sex marriage will end the purity of such union. As Belge delivers, “when someone can compete on a television reality show to “Marry a Millionaire”, the argument about saving a sacred institution seems kind of pointless.
Many people have the same question in mind: why is it a big deal? Why are they making such a commotion out of a situation that doesn’t really concern most of us? Unfortunately, our culture has a hard time, some people find it impossible, to accept the differences between human beings. We want everyone to be on the same economic level, to have the same beliefs, even to wear the same clothes, and we constantly forget about one of the promises of our country: individuality. When the Pilgrims came to this continent, they were seeking for a place where they could be themselves without anyone tormenting them.Under this belief, the founders of our nation set the United States of America, assuring that everyone could have a distinctive life without judgment or fear to be who they are. The inconformity of the rest of us, who can actually understand what individuality means, is shown in The Associated Press article which reports that “same-sex marriage supporters gathered outside a federal building and wait for a judge’s decision overturning California’s same-sex marriage ban in San Francisco. ” These kinds of protests are not exclusive in California.In Madison, WI, a tour called “Summer for Marriage- One Man and One Woman Tour” was planning to appear in the city.

In response, the gay community lead by Katie Belanger decided to “call for the repeal of the state’s constitutional ban on same sex marriage” and to “rally on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, and a march to the state Capitol. ” The article also declares that “hundreds of protesters shouted down same-sex marriage opponents today on the steps of the state Capitol. ” It is no surprise that soon many other states will join them in different protests across the country.The gay community throughout America is not planning to back down. Pro-gay marriage associations gain both strength and numbers as time goes by, so it will be no surprise that eventually the government understands and gives homosexuals their right to be happy. States like Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont already allow same-sex marriage to take place. Hopefully more states will follow their lead and realize that maybe change is what this country needs to stand out from the rest of the world.
Humankind comes in different colors, shapes and beliefs. It’s time to lose our fear and conceive that maybe different is not so bad after all.Belge , Kathy. “Pro Gay Marriage-Why Gay Marriage Should be Legal. ” N. p. , n.
d. Web. 25 Aug. 2010. . Associated Press. “Calif.
Gays Must Wait To Wed During Prop 8 Appeal” NPR. 17 August 2010. 22 Aug. 2010. . Melchert, Randall. “Homosexual activists mob pro-marriage rally in Madison, WI.
” N. p. , 27 July 2010. Web. 25 Aug. 2010. .