Jongho Park

PHIL 1120-004
November 25, 2014
Individual Work

Gay Marriage

As a human being, we live, love and die. However, we live our lives differently, love
differently, and die in different ways. Everybody in this planet has choices on their lives.
When it comes to loving, the choices were very limited and differentiated from others. It is in
our nature to love someone but that someone was used to be heterosexual. As time goes by,
the boundary keeping love in heterosexuality has faded away and homosexuality has come
out to our society. What is homosexuality? What do we know about homosexuality?
Homosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction or sexual behavior between members
of the same sex or gender. It is basically love between same sexes. Is it normal or is it moral
to love same sex? Our society is still arguing and debating about the moral issue. There has
not been a correct answer when it comes to moral issue with homosexuality. In America,
sexual life between the
same sexes has begun many
years

ago.

Among

the

indigenous peoples of the

Americas prior to European

colonization, a common form of same-sex sexuality centered around the figure of the TwoSpirit individual. Two-Spirit individuals were commonly shamans and were revered as
having powers beyond those of ordinary shamans. Their sexual life was with the ordinary
tribe members of the same sex. Homosexual individuals were also common among other preconquest civilizations in Latin America, such as the Aztecs, Mayans, Quechuas, Moches,
Zapotecs, and the Tupinamba of Brazil. The history was happened around 18th Century. As
the time passes, we begin to realize the seriousness of the matter and to become curious about
the new culture. People started to pay attention to homosexuality. They literally started to
research on the matter. During this process, the community was formed and divided into two
big groups, the one who agrees and the one who does not agree. Before we get to agreement
and opposition of same-sex marriage, we should know how many there are exist in the United
States.
United States is the most powerful country in the world and most diverse culture. Among the
diverse culture, same-sex marriage is one of them. There are at least 71,165 of same-sex
marriage couple, but almost certainly more. With so many people attending in same-sex
marriage, there has been dramatic increase in percentage of who agree on same-sex marriage.
In 1996, only 27% agreed on same-sex marriage, but in 2014, 55% agreed on same-sex
marriage. That is almost doubled in past 18 years. The number tells us that nearly eight in 10
young adults favor same-sex marrige. The world has changed dramatically during 18 years.
In the past, people in the United States were used to discriminate the love between same-sex.
The same-sex couples were discriminated and excluded from society. Various people opposed
same-sex marriages, in the 19th century, who favoured salvery. People in early society just
could not take the idea of love between same genders. They even favoured slavery which was
immoral thing to agree on, but they opposed on same sex marriage based on sex. Through all

discrimination, gay couples made improvement and had that huge increase on percentage of
who favor in United States.
While there were huge change in peoples opinion for same sex marriage, the society also
changed. 35 states in United States approved same sex marriage legal. It actually make the
marriage between same sex possible among those states. 24 states were approved by Court
Decision; Alaska (Oct. 17, 2014), Arizona (Oct. 17, 2014), California (June 28, 2013),
Colorado (Oct. 7, 2014), Connecticut (Nov. 12, 2008), Idaho (Oct. 13, 2014), Indiana (Oct. 6,
2014), Iowa (Apr. 24, 2009),Kansas (Nov. 12, 2014), Massachusetts (May 17, 2004),
Montana (Nov. 19, 2014), Nevada (Oct. 9, 2014), New Jersey (Oct. 21, 2013), New Mexico
(Dec. 19, 2013), North Carolina (Oct. 10, 2014), Oklahoma (Oct. 6, 2014), Oregon (May 19,
2014), Pennsylvania (May 20, 2014), South Carolina (Nov. 20, 2014), Utah (Oct. 6, 2014),
Virginia (Oct. 6, 2014), West Virginia (Oct. 9, 2014), Wisconsin (Oct. 6, 2014), Wyoming
(Oct. 21, 2014). 8 states were approved by State Legislature; Delaware (July 1, 2013), Hawaii
(Dec. 2, 2013), Illinois (June 1, 2014), Minnesota (Aug. 1, 2013), New Hampshire (Jan. 1,
2010), New York (July 24, 2011), Rhode Island (Aug. 1, 2013),
Vermont (Sep. 1, 2009). At last, 3 states by Popular Vote;
Maine (Dec. 29, 2012), Maryland (Jan. 1, 2013), Washington
(Dec. 9, 2012). There are more than half of states approved
same sex marriage legal, but there are still 15 states does not
allow same sex marriage. These 15 states were also approved
by law to make same sex marriage illegal. 14 by
Constitutional Amendment and State Law; Alabama (2006,
1998), Arkansas (2004, 1997), Florida (2008, 1997), Georgia
(2004, 1996), Kentucky (2004, 1998), Louisiana (2004, 1999),

Michigan (2004, 1996), Mississippi (2004, 1997), Missouri (2004, 1996), North Dakota
(2004, 1997), Ohio (2004, 2004), South Dakota (2006, 1996), Tennessee (2006, 1996), Texas
(2005, 1997). 1 by Constitutional Amendment only; Nebraska (2000).

Everything in the world has pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages. So with same sex
marriage has pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages. Community who oppose same sex
marriage listed out the reasons why we should ban gay marriage. Gay marriage will
encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you
tall. They reasoned that legalizing gay marriage would encourage people to be gay. Those
people who are against gay marriage, think that being gay is wrong. How could man love
man? How could woman love woman? They just cannot understand the idea of loving same
sex being homosexual. Therefore, if gay marriage encourages people to be gay, that should be
the reason to ban the gay marriage. Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of
crazy behavior. Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed. It
violates natural law. Marriage is not just any relationship between human beings. It is a
relationship rooted in human nature and thus governed by natural law. Some say God has
planned for sexuality and marriage with heterosexual. So God created man in His own
image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis
1:27. And the LORD God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a
helper comparable to him. Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field
and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And
whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all
cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found
a helper comparable to him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he

slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the
LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And
Adam said: This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be
joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and
his wife, and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:18-25.
There are also advantages in same-sex marriage. Same-sex married couple cannot have
biological child on their own, so they tend to have adoption. The adoptions from same-sex
married couples give great benefit to the children who need family and home to stay. In
United States, about 65,000 children lived with same-sex parents. From the interview I found,
the children living with same sex parents are actually having no problem at all. I found out
that the children loved their parents. It could be quite awkward to call Mom and Mom, or
Dad and Dad to their parents but the condition of their life living with same sex parents are
no different than living with heterosexual parents. More and more same sex parents adopted
children. In 2012, 110,000 live with same sex parents. If we just look at the number, it seems
big but that is less than 1% of the population in United States living with same-sex parents.
What could be the actual benefits or advantages living with same sex parents? What elements
make difference when living with same sex parents instead of living with heterosexual
parents? Many gay couples relationship that is more stable, this giving adopted children a
secure emotional home. During the research, it shows that gay couples are more stable than
other couples. Gay couples are more understanding each other and helping each other. It is
more likely to believe in equality for all when children live with same sex parents. The
situation having two dads or two moms helps children to understand the circumstance and to
believe in equality for all. It takes care of shortage of adoptive parents. Parents with man and

woman are more likely to avoid adoption even if they cannot have child on their own. They
may have different desire in meaning of family. Children could not be a major issue with
them. But with same sex parents, since gay couples cannot produce babies, they desire to
have adoption instead. This desire in gay couples helps taking care of shortage of adoptive
parents. These advantages gay couples have are only a part. They can be more benefits that
gay couples can bring to the society.
I talked about different aspects of same sex marriage; History, legalized states and banned
states, discrimination on gay marriage, advantages and disadvantages of same sex marriage. I
could have missed few major issues we needed to discuss about but these are what I believe
in this matter. I was not comfortable talking about gay marriage and gay couples. I still am
not comfortable but through writing the paper, I may be more understandable than before
about homosexuality.

Reference

PewResearchCenter How many same-sex marriages in the U.S.? At least 71,165, probably
more
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/06/26/how-many-same-sex-marriages-in-the-u-sat-least-71165-probably-more/#
GALLUP Same-sex marriage support reaches new high at 55%
http://www.gallup.com/poll/169640/sex-marriage-support-reaches-new-high.aspx
procon.org Gay marriage pros and cons
http://gaymarriage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004857
WIKIPEDIA Homosexuality
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality
What does the Bible say about same sex marriage?
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-f018.html
Power point presented during the case study