Impact of Same-Sex Marriage and LGBT People in US

Keith O'Brien once said, “Same-sex marriage would eliminate entirely in law the basic idea of a mother and a father for every child. It would create a society which deliberately chooses to deprive a child of either a mother or a father” (O’Brien). O’Brien implies that if there’s same-sex marriage it would eliminate a mother and father for every child. Every child should have a mother and father that way they do not get teased or bullied in their lives. The issue of same sex marriage is people don’t approve and same sex couples could not get legally marry creating a huge problem. In the article, “Background of the Issue Should Gay Marriage Be Legal?' it states, “The current national debate on gay marriage was sparked by the Supreme Court of Hawaii’s 3-1 ruling on May 5, 1993 that the state could not ban same-sex marriages without 'a compelling reason” to do so. The case was sent back to a lower court but voters approved a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage before the courts settled the issue. Although a gay marriage was never performed in Hawaii, the issue gained national attention and prompted over 40 states over the next decade to pass Defense of Marriage Acts (DOMAs) that defined marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman.”

This shows that in 1993, where same sex marriage started to happen was already causing problems to same sex couples. At that time, same sex marriage was ban but as you can see they even prompted the Defense of Marriage Acts. Same sex couples believe that they should be marry legally because they are equal to everyone it is no different than a man and a woman getting marry. The people that do not approve believe that when being in a same-sex marriage, it comes with lots of strings attached. Such as getting steers, bullied or even hate for it. Additionally, they do not want children to be exposed to recognizing same-sex couples demonstrating their love out in public so everyone can see. It is disrespectful and not pleasant to look at.

Same-sex-marriage is when two people of the same gender get married. Many people did not approve of two people of the same sex to be married, and laws to prevent same sex people getting married. Charles P. Kindregan argues that “When the Massachusetts court declared a state constitutional right for same-sex marriage in 2003 and same-sex couples began to marry in 2004, a historic milestone was reached in American family law. This was the historical moment”. This is how same-sex-marriage start to become more serious to the same sex couple. In 2003, where people that are of the same sex and in a relationship, declare they want to get married just like a man and a woman would. Over the years, some states changed their law making same-sex marriage legal but some were banned because of the Supreme Court decision

There are diverse perspectives on same-sex marriage, for example, Jonathan Rauch states that “America’s problem is not too many marriages, it’s too few.” This means that it does not matter if your same sex or not there are few marriages happening. In addition, Rick Santorum states, “What society should be about is encouraging what is best for children.” This means children are going to learn from stuff like same-sex marriage and we need to do our best to set a good example for them. Acknowledging same-sex-marriages would modify the simple meaning of marriage. Marriage is a substantial commitment of a man and a woman who contributed to civilization. Same-sex marriage gets priority adoption, are the victim of hate crimes having a target on their back and are emotional problems as well as mental health issues. Through research, I will discuss my findings on the statistics on this issue, the pros and cons and of course the two acts such as Defense of Marriage Act, Marriage Equality Act, and LGBT protest.

Over the years, U.S. political system has done a lot about same-sex marriage. For example, on “May 17, 2004, Massachusetts is the first U.S. state to enact same-sex marriage succeeding the Supreme Judicial Court's decision in Goodridge area of public health” (CNN.com). At that time, there was only one state that legalized it but over the years more states became legalizing same sex marriage. In “New York pass an act called Marriage Equality Act where basically states same-sex marriage is legal in that state which made New York the six state to legalized same-sex marriage. The movement gain marriage rights for same-sex couples increased gradually from that period until in late 2014 lawsuits had remained brought in all states that quietly rejected marriage certifications to same-sex pairs” (Jesse Solomon, Steve Kastenbaum).

Back then in 1996, the U.S. made a law called the Defense of Marriage act where it means marriage for federal points as the combination of one man and one woman and permitted the states to refuse to accept same-sex marriages arranged under the laws of other states. This law was introduced on May 7, 1996, to the House then it committee on to the Judiciary. After that it passes the house on July 12, 1996, then it passes the Senate on September 10, 1996. The article, “The Institution of Marriage: Terminable or Interminable?” by Karasu, Sylvia states, “It was in 1996 that President Clinton signed into law the Defense of Marriage Act (D.O.M.A.), which declared that marriage is between a man and a woman and, most importantly, determined for the first time, no state had to recognize the marriage laws of another state. Advocates for same-sex married call D.O.M.A. the denial of marriage act” (Sylvia, 2001, p .7-8). The U.S. political system has acted on same-sex marriage by creating laws to avoid them from happening.

The U.S. Supreme Court show action to bring down section three from the Defense of Marriage Act which stopped the federal government from acknowledging any marriages between lesbian or gay couples to federal laws or programs, even if those couples are well-thought-of legally married by their home state. The other important section of DOMA makes it so that single states do not legally have to recognize the relationships of lesbian and gay pairs who were married in another state. In the article, “Background of the Issue Should Gay Marriage Be Legal?' It states, “On Apr. 28, 2015, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Obergefell v. Hodges over whether or not gay marriage is a right guaranteed by the US Constitution, and whether or not gay marriages performed in states where it has been legalized must be recognized in states which ban the practice” (ProCon.Org). After the U.S. Supreme Court heard that argument they ruled same-sex marriage is a right protected by the U.S. constitution in all the United States. The part of the U.S constitution protect rights of same sex marriage was the equal protection clause and the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The same sex marriage issue is both feral level and state level because they both did something for same sex marriage. For example, federal level they have the law of the DOMA and on the state level side they decide on who they can marry. In the article, “Marriage Equality: Is IT a Federal Issue or a State Issue?” By Jacob Combs states, “What’s important to remember is this: It’s up to the states to decide who can and can’t get married. DOMA represented an unprecedented intrusion of the federal government on a matter that has historically been reserved to the states, and it will likely by struck down by the Supreme Court. When that happens, it will be up to the states to decide whether or not same-sex couples can get married, and whether or not they want to recognize out-of-state marriages for same-sex couples. The type of nationwide marriage equality law referred to in the question to President Obama during the MTV interview would be constitutionally suspect for the same reason that DOMA is. It should be in the states, and the states alone, where the debate about marriage equality continues.”

This means that both state level and federal level are involved in same sex marriage they both have something to do with. In the state level, some states could choose to make more rights to same-sex pairs or some states are implied by the legislature. The state of California prolongs laws for the same sex marriage. In other states like New York have equal rights from the legislature.

In the pass election of 2016, gender issues such as same sex marriage would be more noticed because of LGBT and a lot the same sex couples. In the article, “Impact of the same-sex marriage ruling on US elections” by Vidisha Mishra states, “Since Hilary Clinton's nomination and her subsequent campaigns, it has been clear that gender issues will be playing a more significant role in the 2016 Presidential run than ever before. The SCOTUS ruling on same-sex marriage has only exacerbated that possibility, with LGBT rights thrust to the centre of the debate. The ruling has not only divided candidates along partisan lines, but has also generated different reactions within parties. It may not be a determining issue for Democratic candidates in the Presidential Primaries in 2014. But it remains to be seen how the Democrats leverage the ruling in 2016. Further, it remains to be seen how the Republican candidates balance their core conservative vote bank as well as a rapidly changing political landscape.”

This shows how LGBT people are impacting elections for candidates to realize that LGBT is a huge community. Additionally, shows some Democrats and Republicans to change their opinion on the gender issues. As of today, the President Donald Trump can’t do anything about same-sex marriage. He could engage additional moderate justices. Even if he could do, that is very small chance the court would make it happen because same-sex marriage has progressively increased in society approval. One thing that Present Donald Trump could do is setback several Obama executive decisions that privileged same-sex pairs on problems such as federal benefits but lately he has not proposed he would. Although if he acted, his judgments could be disputed in the law court.

One group that is very well known is the LGBT. The LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. The LGBT is a Community that would strongly disagree with my saying because they think there should be fairness between marriages. The LGBT believes, anyone should have the right to marry and love regardless of. As of now they still protest around the states and trying in other countries. In other countries like Australia, England and China have no rights at all. In the article, “LGBT Rights Around The World” states that 45% of LGBT in England has to be harassed about their sexuality and about 48% gay workers haven’t say anything about being gay” (LGBT right around the world). This shows how LGBT are operating around the world and being much more harassed in other countries in here in the United States. Many LGBT people in other states are afraid to say what sexuality they really are. In the article, “Same-Sex Marriage Strengthens the Institution of Marriage” by John Gustav-Wrathall. He states, “Marriage is about love, family, and commitment—for everyone. If we look at the specifics of how marriage strengthens and protects loving commitments and provides a more secure framework for home and family, we'll see how and why extending the social recognition and the legal protections of marriage to same-sex couples strengthens everyone's families.” This shows that same-sex marriage is about love and family, it does not matter if you are of a different sexuality. In the end, all that matters is the love you got from the partner and your family. That’s what the LGBT believe as well to show people everyone should be treated equally.

In our society adopting is very strict with a man and woman relationship, but in same-sex marriage, they get priority to adoption. They get priority adoptions for plausible reasons they are unable to procreate. This causes discomfort to the heterosexual couples who are also trying to adopt a child because people will feel bad about the same-sex couples because they cannot have their own child. The article, “Children in Same-Sex Marriages” by Solodnikov V. V. and A. M. Chkanikova states, “Same-sex parents make use of the same tactics—very likely out of the best of intentions—when they have to arrange their children’s interaction with the outside world. Preference is given to association with children from same-sex families; the parents keep quiet about their propensities in school, when they take their child to a psychologist, and so on” (58-59). This means that a child adopted by a same-sex married couple will most possibly to have it challenging on them. For instance, when going to school, kids will make fun of them or ask where’s your mom or dad? They will also say why do you have two moms or two dads? Making the child feeling uncomfortable and not knowing what to say because some kids will accept and understand but the other kids would not.

Same-sex marriages are more likely to have a big target on their back. Meaning that with them expressing their love or rights they are subject to being targets of criticism, hated, and potential danger. The article, “Are Gay Marriage Opponents Being Bullied” by Tim Holbrook is about people targeting gay marriage by saying horrible stuff and people are getting violent. Holbrook states, “The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community has long had various epithets hurled against its members. There are the well-known 'f' and 'd' words thrown at those perceived as gay or lesbian, respectively. And, of course, the line 'that's so gay,' which is meant to denigrate something or someone.” This shows that people are being disrespectful to same-sex marriage by cursing at them with hurtful words. Many Homophobic people in this world are cruel and cold- hearted. Homophobic people is hatred or fear or homosexuals and sometimes leading acts of violence expression hostility. There are many homophobic people that boycott for saying to the same-sex-marriage, which can lead to an act of violence and get arrested for it.

Marriage is an extremely spread practice within a wider society and has many moral issues attached to it. The article, “Effect of Same-Sex Marriage Laws on Health Care Use and Expenditures in Sexual Minority Men: A Quasi-Natural Experiment” by Mark L. Hatzenbuehler is about a study of same-sex-marriage having increases in metal issues like anxiety. Hatzenbuehler said, “A prospective study that used data from a nationally representative survey of US adults found that lesbian, gay, and bisexual respondents living in states that passed constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage during the 2004 elections had significant increases in mood, anxiety, and substance disorders” (285). This shows the same-sex-marriage suffer from emotional and mental issues. For example, same-sex-marriage couple’s health risk is enormously dangerous to themselves and other also they suffer from depression, anxiety, and anger. They can be happy and calm one minute and next thing you know they are crying and they are sad.

Same-sex-marriage is harmful to society because many people do not approve of it and it would make things much worse like people cussing and creating violence. Same-sex-marriage can get you priority, as in they could get children much faster than a man and woman. Same-sex-marriage could lead to people intimidating them and targeting them with disrespectful words. It could also lead to emotional and mental health problems causing them to suffer from issues like depression, anxiety and anger. Marriage is a great thing that can happen to anyone meaning one man and one woman to join their lives together. This applies to any human race, religion or culture. In today society, we could still many people having problems with same-sex marriage. Many which have so much hate towards it because they do not approve on it. What can we do for people to accept same sex marriage? How can we solve this situation?