Term paper on Same Sex Marriage

Free Same Sex Marriage papers

Religion the State and Sovereignty
The influence of religion on humankind can be traced back to the first records of history. Religion has served as a pillar of strength to some and binding chains to others. There are vast amounts of information and anthropological studies revealing the interaction of religion and humankind. However,

Recent Changes to Welfare
When President Bill Clinton reluctantly signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, he had an idea of what the critical responses would be. The hope was to induce a program that would bring significant benefits to the needy and hungery people of our cou

Same-Sex Marriage

“Each individual’s journey through life is unique. Some will make this journey

alone, others in loving relationships- maybe in marriage or other forms of commitment.

We need to ponder our own choices and try to understand the choices of others. Love has

many shapes and colors and is not finite. It can not be measured or defined in terms of

sexual orientation.” (From the Statement of Affirmation and Reconciliation by the

Quaker Meeting in Aotearoa, New Zealand.) Even though is it thought by many that

marriage is mainly a religious agreement, it also creates a legal relationship between the

couple and the state.

Currently there is much debate on homosexuals couples right to legalized

marriage. There is much information available, both for and against. Two articles that

are strongly in support of legalized same sex marriage are Iowa Representative Ed

Fallon’s speech to the House in 1996, and an article from the Partners Task Force for Gay

and Lesbian Couples. One article that is strongly opposed to same sex marriage is an

article written by Dr. Paul Cameron titled “Same Sex Marriage: Till Death Do Us Part?”

In a speech read to the United States House of Representatives on February 20,

1996, Iowa Representative Ed Fallon discussed why he is in support of the legalization of

same sex marriage. He began his speech, by stating of this debate and how their vote

would affect the public’s point of view. He used the example of “red-baiting,” from the

1950’s, which today has become “pink-baiting.” He felt that by creating gay and lesbian

unions, instead of legalizing gay marriage, this would only reinforce homophobia and gay

bashing. He stressed the idea that heterosexuals need only to accept homosexuals. In

order to do this, Representative Fallon, stated that we need to put an end to fear and

stereotypes, and start seeing each other as fellow human beings. He strongly believes

that this is a civil rights issue, and poses no threat to the society. He mentions a lesbian

couple that has children the same as his son. They are being raised no different than how

he is raising his child. His major point is that if same sex marriage continues to be band,

there will be a message sent to the public, which condones homophobia, and does not

give the equal rights to everyone. (Fallon, Ed. “Iowa Representative Ed Fallon on

2/20/96.” efallon@house.legis.state.ia.us. 2/20/96)

A second argument in favor of legalizing same sex marriage was written by the

co-director of the Partners Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Couples. He believes, like

Representative Fallon, that marriage is not only a religious agreement, but also has civil

and legal status. According to his article, “Legal marriage triggers 150-250 laws in every

U.S. state, as well as more than...