Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility
120
Dr. Craig Allen
September 10, 2012
Gay marriage
Gay couples should be given the same opportunity as straight couples are given to get married. In the United States gay marriage has become an issue that has caused much controversy. Gay marriage has been in the media and all over the news for many years. Many states have given the voters the right to vote for or against gay marriage. A majority of people who are gay have been challenged by a great deal of obstacles. One of these obstacles is trying to be in a happy and healthy relationship with their partner when there are a lot of people who do not accept gay marriage. Many religious people believe that only a man and a woman are supposed to be together. These people also believe that God created man and women so they could produce children and that is the only way it should be. Another believe people have is that children that are raised in a home with parents, who are gay will end up both getting hurt and being bullied in life and at school. However they say if they were raised in a home by “straight” parents they would not be subjected to those circumstances in life or at school. It does not matter whether a child’s parents are straight, gay, or bi-sexual as long as their children are being loved and nurtured in a safe environment. If these children are receiving all of those things they will live a good home life. There are no “real” reasons why gay marriage should not be allowed in our society, it is only not allowed because of biased opinions and believes. This paper is not just about gay marriage, but it is also about the struggles gay married couples go through just to lead a happy and fulfilling life. One obstacle is we need to stop living in the past and start living in the present. Second, Gays in the military have had to keep their sexuality a secret. Third, the utilitarianism theory best supports gay marriage. Fourth, Relativism is the issue when it comes to gay marriage. Lastly, in my own perspective on how I see gay marriage.
Gay marriage does go against tradition, but tradition and the world are changing and we need to both evolve and adhere to the needs of the present. Back in the day they did not have any TV shows that acknowledged gay, lesbians, transgender or bisexual, such as Will and Grace or Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. If you were gay back in the day, it was something that you kept a secret, because if you did let anyone know then people looked down upon you for it. . “Thousands of men and women were discharged or forced to resign from civilian positions in the federal government because they were suspected of being gay or lesbian” (Chauncey, George 2005). Many people who were gay were also fired from their jobs if people found out they were gay. It has taken many, many years for others to start accepting gay marriage. Even in the twentieth century people have still had a hard time accepting gay marriage, because of their religious beliefs. Just recently in the year 2011 the Military finally lifted the ban on “Don’t Ask, Don’t’ Tell” policy.
America has been fighting war after war over the past few years. It does not affect one’s ability to make a difference in the world, because they are gay. For years there was a policy in the military called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” this law prohibited homosexuals who were open about their orientation from serving in the military. Many people thought that being gay in the military would have a bad impact on serving their country. They thought that military men and women that were gay would “threaten the ''high morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion'' of the American forces” (Frank, N. (2003, Nov 28). Before the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was lifted, many military men and women would get discharged if anyone found out about their sexuality. “It was common practice, however, to give “discharges