Same sex marriage
The marriage between persons of the same sex, also called gay marriage, is the social, cultural and legal acknowledgment that regulates the relationship of two same sex people living together having the same requirements and effects existent in marriages between people of the opposite sex.
There is documentation of homosexual practices since the very dawn of humanity, in virtually all eras and civilizations, with varying degrees of social recognition. The extension of legal marriage is part of a general trend of recognition of homosexuality in Western postmodern societies.
The marriage between persons of the same sex in countries were it has been approved so far, has been legally established through the extension of the existing institution of marriage to those gay couples. Maintaining the nature of marriage, the requirements and the legal impact, the legal system has been recognizing in marriages for a long time.
Holland first ,Belgium second, then Spain were the first three countries in the world to legalize civil marriage between persons of the same sex, with all the duties and included rights, among them to able to adopt.
It is an important step in the field of human rights and the culture of the freedom that shows, how much and how fast some societies were modernized, for example Spain were just a few centuries ago the homosexuals were burned in the public squares in Franco’s dictatorship , homosexuality was considered to be a crime and suppressed as such.
To allow same-sex marriage is merely an act of justice, that recognizes the right of the citizens to elect its sexual option in exercise of their sovereignty, without being discriminated neither diminished because of it, and that recognizes to the homosexual couples the same right to be united, form a family and to have descent that the laws recognize to heterosexual couples.
Unfortunately this measure regarding this sexual minority, while being a step forward in the right direction, a great advance toward the slow, irreversible acceptance by the great majority of the homosexuality as a legitimate and perfectly natural demonstration of the human diversity it still doesn’t erase the fact that along the history homosexuals have been object of pursuits and marginalization forcing them to live in secrecy and in permanent fear of discredit and scandal, this measure will not suffice to put an immediate end to all the prejudices and fallacies that demonize the homosexual.
The law has had fierce adversaries and opposing arguments and has generated diverse mobilizations, protests and demonstrations, by different catholic associations, supported by the most conservative parties.
In my opinion there shouldn’t t be any possible justification for denying a person who is part of a society just the same as any other, one of their most old and significant rights, which is the right to get married, this is unacceptable and totally hypocritical of western societies that call their self’s democratic and modern, based on the rule of law, fully developed and that exacerbate the virtues of liberty and equality, core values that were at the very base of these states formation .
It is most of all an ethical matter,and nowadays governants and citizens, should open their minds and hearts not allowing such a flagrant case of pure discrimination and prejudice against people that just want to be happy.
And all to stay faithful to the definition of a concept that has already throughout the centuries, been so many times redefined and adjusted to new sets of values and mentalities.
We shouldn't just allow gay marriage. We should insist on gay marriage. We should regard it as scandalous that two people could claim to love each other and not want to sanctify their love with marriage and fidelity.
David Brooks, New York Times, November 22, 2003
Those in favour of allowing same-sex marriages argue that:
-banning same-sex marriage discriminates against gays and lesbians
-legalising same-sex marriage doesn't hurt heterosexuals
-same-sex marriages would benefit societies in the same way that heterosexual marriages do
-same-sex marriages would benefit individuals in the same way that heterosexual marriages do
-same-sex marriage would benefit any children involved
-allowing same-sex marriages could benefit the institution of marriage
-banning same-sex marriage restricts freedom of choice
-banning same-sex marriages labels gays and lesbians as second-class citizens
-banning same-sex marriage mixes Church and State in an illegitimate way
Assisted Suicide - Oral Presentation
16 years ago
