'I Can?' Is The New 'I Do'

In November of 2008, Mark Malok married his friend and partner of 35 years, William Whitaker III. They had their ceremony in Stratford, Conn but when they went back to their home in Atlanta, GA, they were still considered strangers.[1] The reason for this is that Georgia not only bans same-sex marriages, but also passed a constitutional amendment against it. In fact, Georgia is one of thirty states that define marriage as a union between a man and a woman and passed a constitutional amendment against gay marriage.[2]

 

Hundreds of couples share the same anniversary as Mark and William because they too live in a state, or even country, that does not recognize gay marriage. And we all read about the same thing happening in California and Massachusetts, but California repealed the right and if you live anywhere else, you might not be recognized as a legally married couple. In their hearts, and the hearts of their friends, these couples, and hundreds of others, have a real marriage. But in the eyes of the law, their marriages are less real than a marriage on Facebook.

 

The reason a lot of people resort to, when they say that gay marriage should be against the law, is that it would redefine marriage. The Family Research Council argues that "Once marriage is no longer confined to a man and a woman, and the sole criterion becomes the presence of 'love' and 'mutual commitment'"[3]. Shouldn’t the criterion for a marriage already be love and commitment? The basis for any marriage, whether it is homosexual or heterosexual, should always be love, commitment, respect, and two people who want to spend the rest of their lives together. George Carlin said, “Gay people should be allowed to marry so they can be as miserable as the rest of us”.

 

The only difference between and gay marriage and a ‘traditional’ marriage is who’s in it. I hope to one day live in a country where my all of my friends can get married and live where they choose, not just the straight ones. It breaks my heart to know that should my uncle fall in love, he can’t get married where he wants. We are the next voting generation. When it comes time for us to decide, how will you vote?

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[1] http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-tc-nw-gay-marriage-1117-1118nov18,0,5810877.story

 

[2] http://www.ncsl.org/IssuesResearch/HumanServices/SameSexMarriage/tabid/16430/Default.aspx

 

[3] http://www.frc.org/content/ten-facts-about-same-sex-marriage

Comments

[Emilie B.]

I find this issue to be really sad that homosexual couples are not allowed to be officially married where they live. It is something that affects almost everyone in the world one way or another. In my opinion gay marriages should defiantly be legal everywhere.

[Kioto A.]

The debate whether gay marriage should be legal or not is an on going debate that I think is kind of ridiculous. There is no difference in the way that two guys have feelings for each other than how a man and a woman have feelings for each other. How does it negatively affect everyone else whether two men or women get married or not? Nothing. And that's why it should be made legal. We are taking away these peoples' rights and we don't have a right to keep any two people from getting married to each other.

[Lucy G.]

I completely agree with this. Marriage is a commitment of love between two people, regardless of gender, and the government should not interfere in the matter. Allowing gay marriage does not infringe on the rights of others, but preventing it excludes homosexuals from a ceremony that may be meaningful to them. It also prevents them from having certain benefits on health care, insurance, etc. that come with marriage.

[Louis A.]

I believe that two men or women should have the right to marry eachother. I personally still can't understand how it is still illegal. The government should not interfere with the relationship between two people in love. Also, who is to say that gay marriage is wrong? We live in a very liberal society(Oak Park) and to us it just makes sense to allow it.

[Zoe R.]

I agree, in that, I think that the government shouldn't interfere in the personal relationships of people and they shouldn't be able to decide who gets to get married and who doesn't. But I also think that gay marriage should be decide by individual churches/religious institutions. Marriage (at least in Christianity) is a commitment before God to love and be with that person forever. So it is the church who should decide who gets to be "married", not the state.