Gay Marriage: the Fight for Civil Liberties in America

Gay Marriage: the Fight for Civil Liberties in America

Gay Marriage: The Fight for Civil Liberties in America


Philosophy 103 Informal Logic
Jennifer Hacker
September 30, 2013
“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them” (Leviticus 20:13, King James Version). The greatest challenge in the fight for homosexual rights has been the support of anti-gay legislation and demonstrations by modern Christians, many of whom use the aforementioned Bible verse as proof that homosexuality is a sin. However, what many fail to realize is that men wrote the Bible, and not once did Jesus, Himself, condemn homosexuality. This fact is often overlooked, and this verse is then misconstrued to represent the cause of those who are vehemently against homosexuality. This abhorrence is seen in many instances, but one area is a continual hotbed of arguments by both sides. This area surrounds the question of whether or not homosexuals should be allowed to marry. While many Christians present a moralistic argument as to why homosexuals should not be allowed to marry, gay-rights activists often take a more logical, humanistic approach to the question. It is my belief that anyone who wants to get married, should be allowed to get married, if they so choose. Therefore, homosexuals should be allowed to married due to the changing attitudes towards same-sex marriage, in order to enjoy the same benefits bestowed upon heterosexual couples, and because legal alternatives to marriage stigmatize homosexual relations.
In the 1970s, the focus of gay America was on procuring individual rights, not on breaking into the sacred institutions, such as marriage, protected by their heterosexual counterparts; however, as time progressed, the focus became less individualistic and more familial, recognizing that a shift in American culture had to occur before rights could be gained. This shift in American culture was reflected not only...

Similar Essays