Should Homosexual Couples Be Allowed to Marry?

People, in general, consider marriage as an act of showing strong commitment publicly and legally between two people to be together and devote themselves to each other. It also involves a document called marriage certificate. Jude William L. Downing, a superior court judge in Washington State defined marriage as “To join together in a close and permanent way” (Blankenhorn).  However, there is no exact definition of it because different groups of people, ages and cultures view it differently. There is also a big debate if marriage includes the same sex couples because, as they say, anyone can have the desire of that strong commitment regardless gender status. Also, a heterosexual union does not guarantee a lastingly relationship, and with today’s advanced technology, homosexual couples can adopt their own kids. There are more reasons to support same sex marriage than to forbid it.

Homosexual couples can make a happy and long-lasting family. They can have their own children through a surrogate mother. They can donate their eggs or their sperms. Some people might argue that it is not proper for them to build a family as the children may grow up being confused with genders. However, these couples can explain and make the kids understand that sex is natural, and gender is a choice that they can decide. What is important is to raise the children to be good people to society and humankind.

Today, discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans-genders still exist. Some people view them as mentally ill because of their choices. In terms of reproduction, it is true that only men and women make perfect couples. However, homosexual couples do not love each other less than heterosexual couples, and so, they should have equal rights to marry as human beings. Some people believe that allowing homosexual marriage will have an impact on the human race. Pope Benedict XVI doesn’t agree with allowing gay marriage: “Gay marriage is one of several threats to the traditional family unit that undermines the future of humanity itself.”(qtd. in Smith) Having said that, there is still not a scientific proof or research that shows same sex marriage is a threat to humanity.

Genders cannot measure the value of marriage, but the contribution of that particular marriage to society can. Opposite sex marriage doesn’t have more value since there is nothing that can guarantee that they will stay together forever, and the divorce of straight male and female marriage can have an impact on their children and the family institution. Many couples are divorced in the USA even before their kids turn eighteen, and it is about one million children each year (Clark-Stewart et al). All these children have to go through the divorce of their parents, and it is difficult for them because they lose the sense of the family which is a picture of parents and them being happy together. The divorce loses close relationships with either their fathers or mothers, especially when a parent starts a new family with another person. Several researches by Amato in 2001 can be concluded that the children from divorced family are more aggressive and have trouble in adjusting to the society, and they can also have mental, health and academic problems (Clark-Stewart et al). After the divorce, some parents abandon their children and leave them to their grandparents as they have to work hard to support the family and don’t have time to take care of them. Also, there are some parents who neglect their children after the divorce.

In conclusion, the same sex marriage should be allowed. Gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans-genders should have equal rights to marry anyone they love, just like with straight males and females. Moreover, a heterosexual marriage does not guarantee a happy family. These couples may have kids and then divorce later on, since the main reason for their marriage is about attraction and not deep love. Ultimately, the divorce will affect the kids.

Work Cited

Blankenhorn, David. “What Is Marriage?” The Future of Marriage. New York: Encounter, 2007.11-22. Print.

Clark-Stewart, Alison, and Brentano, Cornelia. “Effects of Divorce on Children.” Divorce Causes and Consequences. New Haven: Yale UP, 2006.106-130. Print.

Smith, Graham. “Gay Marriage is a threat to humanity, claims Pope.” Dailymail.co.uk. Daily Mail. 10 January 2012. Web. 20 July 2015.