Same Sex Marriages

Essay by ppenny7College, UndergraduateA+, July 2005

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"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...