Introduction
The end of the XX century and the beginning of the XXI one were truly a breakthrough. The rights of a number of people previously considered social outcasts were finally acknowledged, and the U.S. seemed to have proven its right to be called the land of democracy once again.
However, over the past few years, the issue regarding same-sex marriage has appeared several times. Gaining their indefeasible rights and freedoms, gay people want to live their normal lives and create families. However, in most cases, the law turns into a stumbling block for gay marriages.
A Brief history of the LGBT community in the USA
Given the controversy of the subject, it is easy to understand why allowing homosexuals to marry has raised so many discussions and protests. Even in the USA, the place considered the epitome of democracy, marriages between homosexual people have been allowed only in thirteen states so far – according to the 2013 records.
Only New York, Rhode Island, California, Iowa, Minnesota, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Delaware, Connecticut, Washington, Vermont, Maine and Maryland legally support marriage between gays and lesbians. Despite the fact that the movement supporting the rights of gay people started in the distant 1970s, six states still disapprove of gay marriage and keep it officially banned ().
Current issues and the attitudes towards same-sex marriage
As it has been stated above, only thirteen states of America approve of same-ex marriage legally. However, there is often a big gap between what has been approved of officially and what people think is right. Therefore, it will be a good idea to take a closer look at the attitudes towards the idea of legalizing same-sex marriage as an average American citizen sees it.
Of course, the statistical data as an ultimate proof for either banning or allowing gay marriage provided above should be taken with a grain of salt, since this information incorporates people’s personal vision of the situation and, therefore, contains the furthest extremes. However, this statistical data still shows whether the nation is ready for such a great change as the approval of gay marriages.
At present, it seems that people have adopted a more tolerant attitude towards the idea of gay people marrying. Moreover, the very concept of gay culture seems to be accepted more widely. Of course, it would be wrong to deny that narrow-minded people exist; however, more and more people have started to realize that sexual orientation is only another dimension to one’s personality and that there is nothing wrong about being homosexual.
Reasons for the topic choice and the personal relation
The choice of the given topic was predetermined by a number of reasons, yet the personal ones seem to be major for me. There is no secret that the process of realizing one’s own sexuality is very complex and requires considerable time. In my high school years, I was only exploring my own self and, therefore, my own sexuality, which was, probably, why I decided that I was a lesbian.
I would not say that I was shunned somehow or looked down at; however, the people around me were constantly trying to prove me that I was too young and too inexperienced to decide on my own sexual orientation, which was strange enough. Therefore, I feel that I have a strong connection to the given topic and, therefore, must research it.
The significance of the issue
As it has been stated above, increasingly more people are starting to consider homosexual marriages as the phenomenon that has the right to exist. Therefore, the question about the topicality and the significance of the issue might be raised. Seeing how the gay culture is starting to be accepted snot only statewide, but also nationwide, one might think that there are no more issues to be concerned about.
The aforementioned attitude, however, is wrong. Gay marriages are still banned in most of the United States, and, therefore, the rights of homosexual people remain infringed (Williams, 2011). Moreover, a number of people still fear and, thus, tend to ostracize homosexual people, protesting against giving them the same rights as the rest of the U.S. people have, not to mention the right to marry and bring up children.
It can be assumed that with the statewide adoption of the law that will allow gay people to marry, a number of things are going to be changed, starting from the attitude towards gay people. At present, the latter are alienated from the rest of the population.
Though, partially, the gay people have also something to do with the given situation, being unwilling to talk about their orientation or to insist on equal rights, it still must be admitted that it is mostly the ignorance of an average U.S. citizen to blame for the current state of affairs.
To accept the gay culture, people have to see that their families are not that different from the ones of the homosexual people. However, the law banning marriage between people of the same sex stands in the way of gay people finally getting their rights.
Major concepts and sociological factors
When tackling the issue of homosexual marriage, one must mention that it has to deal with a number of related concepts. To start with, the fact that same-sex marriages are prohibited in most states of the USA raises the question concerning tolerance. While the nation seems well past the aggressive outbursts against homosexual people, ripping the latter of their right to have a family can be considered an infringement of people’s indisputable rights.
The legal aspect also needs a proper mentioning when talking about gay marriage. While gay marriage can and, quite honestly, must be seen as an indisputable right of homosexual people, it is still necessary to admit that legally, the procedure in question cannot be considered marriage.
Since by definition, marriage is a bond between a man and a woman, technically, the procedure of two same-sex people becoming legally bond cannot be called marriage until the definition of the latter is changed. Therefore, the problem of definition comes along with the social and political issues (Baskerville, 2006).
Speaking of the political aspect of gay marriage, the phenomenon of family must be considered closer. It is necessary to admit that social approval of the institution of family comes not only from the desire to make people’s lives complete and decent, but from the fact that family as a social institution allows for a better control over the population, stronger social structure and an efficient social hierarchy (Ryan, 2009).
As an institution, a family serves as a perfect way to help people get their priorities straight. Therefore, once shaken, this institution will no longer be as efficient as it is now, which must be the prospect that scares authorities the most. With that being said, it must be admitted that the loss of control over most social processes is the key problem that prevents state authorities approve of gay marriage.
Making such a controversial issue as marriage between homosexual people legitimate, the state authorities are most likely to lose the trust of a considerable number of people, which must be why gay marriage still remains banned in thirty-seven states. Eventually, the concept of religion must be brought up, since it raises the greatest controversy and contributes to fueling the conflict.
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations
With that being said, it must be admitted that gay people are yet to fight for their rights. While legally, allowing marriage between homosexuals follows the principles of democracy, religious and social aspects together with the lack of tolerance and the unwillingness to accept homosexuality as a norm will not let same-sex marriages become a reality.
The given state of affairs is, doubtlessly, deplorable; as the citizens of the USA, American homosexual people have the right to have their own families. Nevertheless, the government of most of the U.S. states tends to avoid solving the use. The hesitation or, in some cases, outright denial of the state authorities to authorize same-sex marriages is quite understandable, though.
Once allowing for a bill as controversial as same-sex marriage to be passed, local authorities are more than likely to lose the support of a number of citizens, not to mention the church. In addition, the reconsideration of the definition of marriage will lead to shaking the basic principles of society, which is far too dangerous to undertake. Anyway, a reasonable compromise must be found, since the current banning of homosexual marriage can be viewed as the infringement of people’s rights and freedom of choice.
Reference List
Baskerville, S. (2006). Politics and same-sex marriage. Society, 44(1), 60–66.
Ryan, P. J. (2009). Here’s your ‘traditional marriage.’ The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide, 16(6), 25.
Williams, R. (2011). Same-sex marriage and equality. Ethical theory and Moral Practice, 14(5), 589–595.