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Alli Ward
Adam Padgett
English 102
16 February 2016
Is Same-Sex Marriage Okay?
As of June 26, 2015, a federal law was passed allowing same-sex couples to be married.
Still, same-sex marriage is a very controversial topic. I am interested in this topic because it is an
issue that has been discussed in my family sense I was little. There are both scientific and
religious reasons for this controversy. The act of same-sex marriage is against my religion. The
Bible tells us that God made man for woman and woman for man which makes me wonder if
there is more than just biblical reasons for the opposition of same-sex couples and marraiges. So,
my research is seeking information that supports my values in more than a religious way. I
personally am heterosexual, but I am surrounded by others that are homosexual. My cousin, my
best friends brother, and my moms brother are all gay. Jorden, my cousin, was quoted in a
national news paper the day after the law was passed, allowing gay marriage, announcing that he
could finally marry the man of his dreams. What makes me qualified to write about this is that
although I have an obvious bias, I am also well-rounded, aware, and accepting of ways of life I
do not necessarily agree with. In my research, I utilize suitable sources that are factual, but also
utilize sources that are credible but display a bias.
Family Research Council wrote an article that lists 10 reasons against same-sex marriage.
It expresses the concerns for children born into a family of a same-sex marriage. The need for
both a father and a mother is crucial for children. Also, it tells how men are more domestic when
a woman is present. Not only would men be less domestic, but relationships would not thrive

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because there are no gender specific roles. This articles main value is the effects of same-sex
marriages. One of the most discussed topics in the article is the effect that same-sex marriages
have on children. It claims that children have a hunger for their biological parents. Theyll
wonder if they were wanted and if they can meet them. Along with the need for a biological
connection, fathers are crucial to the development of their daughters self-esteem. Also, children
raised by same-sex couples are more likely to experience gender disorders. Family Research
council has been an organization since 1983. Throughout the article it sites outside sources such
as The Moral and Spiritual Lives of Children of Divorce, Life Without Father, and (How) Does
the Sexual Orientation of Parents Matter?. All are credible sources.
The National Council on Family Relations wrote an article titled Attitude toward Gay
Marriage Law Transformation, which examines attitudes towards gay marriage as heterosexual
marriages decline. It expresses that women, whites, and younger people are more accepting of
gay marriages then blacks, men, and the elderly. It also discusses how gay marriage conflicts the
fundamental values of marriage. The article focuses on the fact that many Americans find gay
marriage morally wrong. The desire to restrict gay marriage only grew, and only one-third of
people thought it should be legalized. It also says that gay marriage was a threat to meaningful
heterosexual marriage. This journal is credible because it was found on the librarys research data
base. The author does not show a clear bias. Throughout the piece it shows how the information
transforms through time.
The University of Chicago Press published Gay Marriage as a Religious Right:
Reframing the Legal Debate over Gay Marriage in the United States. This article defines
marriage as a union between a man and a woman. It talks about same-sex couples missing out on
the fundamental rights of marriage. It argues that gay marriage could be considered a religious

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right. This is a credible source because it was found on the librarys research data base. One of
the authors, Debra Delaet, is a professor of politics and international relations at Drake
University focusing on international human rights. The second credited author, Rachel Paine
Caufield, is an associate professor in the department of politics and international relations at
Drake University focusing on American political institution.
This question is arguable because although same-sex marriage is legal in the United
States, it is still very controversial as to whether or not it is morally, ethically, or scientifically
okay. Religion plays a big role in the moral and ethical views of same sex marriage. Aside from
religion research shows that there is evidence that same-marriages can be unhealthy and risky if
children become involved. One source strictly lists reasons against same-sex marriage, where as
another source lists statistics viewing both sides. Seeing each source makes me realize that there
are more ways to see things than from my own point of view. It is not only religious views that
need to be taken into account, but also the feelings of the person engaging in the same-sex
relationship. I may need to revise my research question by changing it to do morals change as
time change, making same sex marriage okay?

Alli,
You clearly have chosen a topic you are interested in and also have a good deal of investment in
the topic. I think the personal experience you include brings a good deal of exigency to your
discussion and really draws readers in. Good work there. I have some issues with your logic, but
Ive mentioned some of them in the margins, so Ill leave those comments there. This is one of
those off limits topics I mentioned in the assignment sheet for this paper. The reason was
precisely for one of the issues I have with this paper, which is: people who write on these topics

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usually already have their mind made up on the topic rather than being genuinely attempting to
discover the answer to a research question. I get the sense that you, for the most part, already
have your mind made up. Now, Im not opposed to you writing on this, but if you continue to, I
would be interested in reading a nuanced approach to the issue rather than assuming a binary
kind of paradigm, which is to say: the answer is either for or against gay marriage. So, try to
reframe your research question to one where you really dont know the answer, and you want to
discover the answer to it. And yes, readers will be able to tell the difference.

Works Cited
Brumbaugh, Stacey M. et al.. Attitudes Toward Gay Marriage in States Undergoing Marriage
Law Transformation. Journal of Marriage and Family 70.2 (2008): 345359. Web...
Family Research Council. Family Research Council, n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2016.
DeLaet, Debra L., and Rachel Paine Caufield. Gay Marriage as a Religious Right: Reframing
the Legal Debate over Gay Marriage in the United States. Polity 40.3 (2008): 297320. Web...