Charles Corcoran English 11 Mr.

Heisler

Persuasive Research Paper ___/10pts- Position Statement ___/10pts- Bibliography ___/15pts- Basic Grammar/Punctuation/spelling ___/20pts- Use of Research ___/25pts- Logical Organization ___/20pts- Emotional Appeal

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Charles Corcoran English 11 Mr. Heisler

According to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, roughly 4% of the United States population identifies as Gay, Bisexual, or Lesbian. This is over 9 million people, more than the number of Redheads currently living in the U.S. However, people who partake in same-sex relationships in the U.S. do not have something most Redheads, or all heterosexuals, have, which is the right to legally bind themselves to one another, through a Civil Union. A Civil Union is an agreement between two individuals and their government, which lets their relationship be publicly acknowledge and gain basic rights to one another, such as access to your partners Health Insurance, Rights in Property, rights to make life choices for your partner when they are no longer able to, and rights pertaining to adoption and parental rights over children. Currently in the U.S., only 15 states and the District of Columbia allow any form of Same-Sex Civil Union. The Federal Government of the U.S.A. should release a mandate requiring all states to offer Civil Unions to same-sex partners and acknowledge the Unions of other states. Though this is purely through the Government and has no significance in the eyes of any Religions, a large percentage of the population (Roughly 47%) opposes any form of Civil Union being offered to homosexuals, for a number of ideological and theological reasons. A common dispute Christians will have with Civil Unions is that Civil Unions will both Promote and Encourage Homosexual Behavior, causing more sinful behavior to occur. By offering Civil Unions to Same-Sex couples, it could drastically reduce the amount of sinful behavior they partake in. While it is true that Civil Unions would give validation to Same-Sex Couples, statistics show it would most like reduce the amount of sexual activity that happens on a yearly basis. Statistically, a single man will have anywhere from one to four sexual partners per year. On the contrary, a man in a committed relationship is much less likely to have more than one partner, and have over all less sexual activity. When people are committed for long periods of time, they are less

Charles Corcoran English 11 Mr. Heisler likely to seek out other partners because they feel a sense of both commitment and a trust.

Additionally, with Civil Unions being offered, it would reduce the amount of diseases that are spread via intercourse, as individuals who have fewer sexual partners and encounters are less likely to contract STDs. Another common argument presented by people who find Homosexuality morally offensive is that it would in some way Offend God, or even anger their God. This statement is both subjective and, of course, a matter of faith and opinion. Man is allowed to believe whatever he wants to believe, whether it is in the Bible, The Koran, The Torah, Tom Cruise, A Piece of Toast that has an image on it, Ancient Aztec Tomes, or any other source of faith. However, none of these things have proven spiritual authenticity; otherwise they would not be matters of faith, but fact. While mass amounts of the population of the world believe whole heartedly that their respective book or Philosophy is true, we have no knowledge or hard evidence that these books, people, or ideas have any merit. Thus, for some Religions to state that their God is somehow offended at homosexual acts and because of this Same-Sex couples should not be allowed to gain Civil Unions is preposterous. Another man could say his interpreted God does love these acts and we should enforce Civil Unions for his God, and yet another could say that God would not care about these acts. While we are all entitled to our own beliefs, we are not entitled to bind others to our beliefs based on only speculation and guesses. Just as we are not all forbidden to eat Pork (Orthodox Jews), or not allowed to get Blood Transfusions (Jehovah Witnesses), we do not, as people, have the right to bind our Government based only on our spiritual beliefs. Man has every right to bind people to these beliefs in their own Church or Society, but no Religion on this planet has the right or the authority to control a Government made up by the people for the people. Because of these reasons, arguing that Civil Unions, purely state matters, would in some way offend God, are not valid reasons to oppose a mandate requiring Same-Sex couples be given the right to acquire Civil Unions.

Charles Corcoran English 11 Mr. Heisler Another common argument against Civil Unions is that it trespassed on Religions and in

some way tests or attacks their definition of Marriage. This is simply not true. A civil union is purely between individuals and their Government, and in no way incorporates any authority higher than the Justice of the Peace, much less any form of God or Deity. Jesus says in Matthew 22:21, Give unto Caesar what is Caesar, and give unto God what is Gods. This line can be interpreted in a number of ways, one interpretation believe Jesus is blatantly saying , Let your Government decide that which has to do with your Government, and let God decide that which has to do with God. Things like Marriages, which are spiritual expression of love, commitment, should be limited or allowed only based on their respective Religions opinion. For example, in the Catholic Church, Marriage is meant to be a way to produce children as well as a symbol of love and trust between one man and one woman. Because of these beliefs, it would be completely reasonable for the Catholic Church to ban Same-Sex marriages, as they are not open to life. That is a spiritual matter, and the Government has no place controlling spiritual matters. But a Civil Union, which is purely a physical union and only has merit in the eyes of your government, should be left to be decided by the Government and the people. Over 51% of the Population Supports some form of Same Sex Civil Unions, and thus a Government, made up by the people for the people, should not be held to a minority of the populations ideas based on something that is a non-spiritual matter. While it is necessary to respect the rights of the minority, it is also necessary to not let a minority suppress the rights of the majority without sufficient reason or proof. Another common argument against Same-Sex Civil Unions is that they will in some way open Pandoras Box, releasing all kinds of strange and unusual types of people who will try to obtain legal rights to each other, such as incest, polygamy, and bestiality. However, each of these three things already has a clause or law addressing them, which would in no way be affected by the legalization of Civil Unions. Firstly would be that this would promote people who partake in an

Charles Corcoran English 11 Mr. Heisler incestuous relationship to seek out legal rights. The fact of the matter is, if you live in one of the

Thirty-Five states that do not offer or recognize Same-Sex Civil Unions, you already have more rights than Same-Sex couples. Due to next of Kin status and the current writing of Health Insurance Policies, it would be incredibly easy to gain benefits from other family members without even needing to acquire any form of Civil Union. Secondly, there are less than four hundred thousand Americans who even support or partake in Polygamy. For it to gain the merit that would be necessary to have nationally legalized Polygamy would require them swaying over 170 million Americans. Additionally, the basic wording of a Civil Union denies Polygamists the right to gain access to one, being as the definition of a Civil Union is an agreement between two people and their Government. Finally, bestiality would not be able to be put in effect for a number of reasons, the least of which being animals are not given any form of rights or legal status in the Bill of Rights. If animals were given enough rights and choices in our Government that they had the ability to marry Humans, that would be the least of societies problem. Bestiality also lacks something that Same-Sex Civil Unions would have, which is consent. It is physically impossible for an animal to have the intelligence necessary to agree to a legally binding partnership with a Human; animals simply do not have the mental capacity to complete make such a choice. Though there are many reasons people can bring up to ban Same-Sex Civil Unions, there are just as many reasons to support it. It creates a more peaceful society without actually damaging or trampling on anyones individual rights, which is a remarkable thing in America. Literally every issue in America is almost perfectly split in the population, and whoever is winning is somehow suppressing the rights of the opposing viewpoint, whether it be Gun Control, Abortion (Right to Life vs. Right to Choose), or Immigration, this is one of the few issues that does not negatively harm or, for that matter, alter or affect the rights of the opposing view point. Additionally, Same-Sex Civil Unions also offer validation on a Psychological level to the individuals partaking in the relationship.

Charles Corcoran English 11 Mr. Heisler The current suicide rate among Homosexual adults is twice as high as the national average for

Heterosexuals, and LGBT Youth (9-18) are five times more likely to commit suicide then their Heterosexual peers. If we, as citizens of this beautiful country, can create a more loving environment for our LGBT Brothers and Sisters, not by condoning or approving of their behavior, or forcing Religions and Churches to give up their rights, but by allowing them the most basic of rights to another person who they have chosen to love, we would be a living in a country I would be proud to call my own.

Charles Corcoran English 11 Mr. Heisler

"Americans May Be More Religious Then They Realize." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 12 Sept. 2006. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.

"Civil Rights." N.p., 4 Oct. 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. <http://www.pollingreport.com/civil.htm>.

"Civil Union." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 03 Dec. 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. "Defining Marriage: Defense of Marriage Acts and Same-Sex Marriage Laws." Defining Marriage: Defense of Marriage Acts and Same-Sex Marriage Laws. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. <http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/human-services/same-sex-marriage-overview.aspx>.

Fields, Sally N. "Matthew 22:21." The Online Bible. Church of Latter Day Saints, n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.

"Gay Population Statistics." About.com Gay Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. <http://gaylife.about.com/od/comingout/a/population.htm>.

"How Many Red Heads Are There?" WikiAnswers. Answers, n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_red_heads_are_there>.

"LifeSiteNews Mobile | Study: Gay Teens Five times More Likely to Attempt Suicide." LifeSiteNews. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.

Charles Corcoran English 11 Mr. Heisler

Charles Corcoran English 11 Mr. Heisler