Owen 1

Spencer Owen
Professor Morean
English 100.15
4 November 2014
Rhetorical Analysis
Is marriage more about the sexuality between the couple, or the unending commitment of
love that the couple plans on making? Legalizing gay marriage is a highly talked about
controversy in the United States today. Stanley Kurtz states in Point of No Return his concern
for why marriage should stay between a man and a woman, while Jonathan Rauch argues that
homosexuals have the same right to marriage as anyone, in his piece Whoss More Worthy?
After analyzing both of their work, Rauch makes powerful and relatable statements regarding
legalizing gay marriage that can make anyone rethink their stance on the subject. Homosexuals
deserve the chance to prove that they can uphold the standards and expectations of most
traditional heterosexual marriages and that it does not only have to be between a man and a
woman in order to flourish. Everyone is given the right to happiness, and is worthy of loving
who they want to love.
In todays society civil rights are expanding. We are finally starting to consider everyone
as equal. So why is allowing the legalization of gay marriage such a big problem to some
people? Heterosexuals are given the right to marriage, and certainly there are marriages that end
in ugly divorces that do not fulfill the traditional standards of marriage. Kurtz argues that
homosexuals want to get married for the financial benefits that come with marriage, but in reality
most want to spend the rest of their lives with the one they love (Kurtz). He believes that

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experimenting gay marriage in the United States is impossible, but what is wrong with giving
them a chance to prove people like him that they could be wrong (Kurtz). The public is starting
to accept homosexuality more than ever, and people should realize that allowing someone to
marry the person they love, no matter what their sexuality, is the right thing to do.
Everyone is given the right to love and happiness. Love is a wonderful thing, and
marriage is the ultimate fulfillment of that love. Everyone should be able to love who they want
to love without any restraints. Kurtz argues that A wedding embodies and reinforces already
existing public sentiments about a mans responsibilities to a woman; it cannot create such
sentiments out of thin air (Kurtz). But as Rauch argues, a marriage is ultimately about the
commitment you make with your spouse to love and care for them no matter what. Each person
in marriage is equally responsible for loving and taking care of the other, not just a mans
responsibility to care of the woman.
Marriages do not have to be between a man and a woman in order to flourish. A mans
partner is just as much of a companion as a wife is to her husband. Yes, homosexuals cannot
reproduce but this does not mean that their relationships are based on sexual fulfillment as Kurtz
assumes. Kurtz says that 80 percent of gays are monogamous, but just how monogamous do they
have to be in order to satisfy him. There are many heterosexuals that are not faithful but they still
are always given the right to marriage (Rauch). It is inhumane to not allow millions of people the
right to marriage because of their sexual orientation. Homosexuals have the right to marriage as
anyone.
In Kurtz and Rauchs articles they both make excellent statements supporting their
opinion on gay marriage. Kurtz believes that by legalizing gay marriage, it would destroy the
traditional institutions that heterosexual marriages established. While Rauch argues that

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homosexuals can make marriage flourish, if given the chance to prove it. Homosexuals should
not be neglected the opportunity to fulfill the ultimate commitment of love with the one they love
because of their sexuality. Happiness should not be denied to anyone.

Works Cited
Kurtz, Stanley. Point of No Return. Independent Gay Forum: n. pag. Print.
Rauch, Jonathan. Whos More Worthy? Independent Gat Forum: n. pag. Print.