What defines marriage? Evan Wolfson writer of Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality, and Gay People’s Right to Marry where the excerpt was drawn from describes marriage in a way familiar to most. “Marriage is what we use to describe a specific relationship of love and dedication to another person. It is how we explain the families that are united because of that love.” (wolfson pg. 90) Wolfson describes the definition of marriage on a personal level rather than the political way, for he believes this is what actually defines marriage. Evan Wolfson is a man named by Time Magazine in 2004 as among the 100 most powerful and influential people in the world. He is now the executive director of an organization called Freedom to Marry, which is for gay and non-gay partnerships fighting for equal marriage rights for everyone in the United States. Wolfson explains that gay and lesbian relationships are in tough situations, because it’s not only the meaning of marriage they are striving for it is everything that comes with marriage economically and politically. Wolfson argues that marriage is based off love for one another and responsibility for that loved one, and that gays and lesbians fit the criteria of marriage and should legally be able to wed.
Evan Wolfson goes into great detail about this subject giving examples of several different families who are either lesbian or gay. In doing so providing evidence to support his ideas making then more evident. The first family introduced in the text is Maureen Kilian and Cindy Meneghin of Butler, New Jersey, a couple for more than twenty-five. They are both working women, Maureen for Christ Church and Cindy a director of web services at a University. They have two kids, and wish that either Cindy or Maureen could stay home full time to help care for the children, but because of they are not married they are not eligible for Family health insurance, so they must both work to keep their family from losing their insurance. Wolfson introduced this family to show how they were hurt on an economic level, and how it also hurts their family not allowing them to spend the time they would like with their children. Another example Woflson provided is of Julie and Hillary Goodridge from Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. This lesbian couple has been in a relationship together years upon years and are raising their young adopted child together. They asked their child of whom she might know that love each other, the child named several
jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws “(Domino). Furthermore, the Equal Protection Clause which marked a huge shift in the Constitution for equal protection for all from the federal government. Marriage is included as an equal protection and right. Prior cases have decided that the government does not have the legal right to decide who a person should marry, but when looking at the sex of that person the government has stepped in and taken a strong stance against same-sex marriages. Thus proposing…
Reagan Steen Dr. Stengel Writing 1320 15 February 2014 Gay Marriage Summary In “Gay Marriage, Liberalism, and Recognition: The Case for Equal Treatment,” published in Public Affairs Quarterly, Jacob M. Held discusses the arguments over gay marriage in today’s society. An amendment was presented and voted on which stated that a marriage is between a man and woman. After this amendment was brought into Congress and butted heads with some states, New Jersey made a decision to consider becoming…
same-sex marriage. It is a common thought that same-sex marriage could harm society, however legalising same-sex marriage will not disadvantage society in any way shape or form. If anything, banning same sex marriage fosters discrimination within society. Not legalising same-sex marriage also allows Australia to be viewed negatively when compared to other countries that have legalised same-sex marriage, also due to Australia depriving same-sex couples from the proven health benefits of marriage. It is…
Gay Marriage Many people are against same sex marriage because they think it will change the world and views on traditional marriage. What people fail to realize is that gay marriage is not at all harmful. Gay marriage should be legalized and accepted because there are no negative effects on children and society, it was historically accepted in the past and gays and lesbians deserve to be treated equally like everyone else. Most people aren’t aware that same-sex marriage was once…
Should Same-Sex Marriages be legalized? Gina Santiago November 19, 2014 Same-sex marriages have been very controversial since becoming an issue in Canada regarding the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Several people state that same-sex marriages should be legal, while others disagree, saying it should not be permitted. There have been many debates and inquiries about this issue for several years; the MP's and Parliament will finally settle the problem within the next…
Kahan P7 3-11-13 Quarter 3 Project Legalizing Gay Marriage O.O. As of November 7, 2012 nine states have legalized gay marriage. These states are: Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Washington. Also the District of Columbia legalized gay marriage. Eleven states allow Civil Unions. Civil Unions are legally recognized union of a same-sex couple, with rights similar to those of marriage. These states are Oregon, Nevada, California, Colorado…
“Gay Marriage Does Not Hurt Traditional Marriage” Currently in the United States there has been much debate over the controversy surrounding the legalization of same-sex marriages. There are many people who are opposed and feel it is morally and ethically wrong and others who feel that same-sex marriages are acceptable. Prior to writing about this topic I had strong feelings against the issue on same-sex marriages. After researching and finding out more information on the topic, I became in favor…
to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” and Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address furthers, “[the] [United States’] fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” But in the United States today, not all are equal. Within the majority of the United States,…
Daniela Gonzalez 4/01/2013 English 2R Pettinato Marriage is a vital social institution. The exclusive commitment of two individuals to each other nurtures love and mutual support; it brings stability to society. Being married to someone you love should be a right and a privelage. Someones sexual orientation, whether heterosexual of homosexual, shouldnt prevent them from having equal human rights. Homosexuality is a sexual or platonic relation of the representatives of the same…