Gay Marriage Issues in Some States, Essay Example

Gay marriage which is also called same-sex marriage involves the union of two people with same gender identity or biological sex (Lee, 89). The legal recognition of gay marriage is an implication of marriage equality also called equal marriage. According to the arguments from the supporters of gay marriages, this union serves the purpose of enhancing the physical, psychological as well as financial well being of the couples (Lee, 92). The children raised in marriage equality are also believed to derive immense benefits because they receive sufficient support from two parents in the context of a marriage union that is legally recognized and supported by the society’s institution.

On the 18^th of May 2013, France made a dramatic move in its legal system by joining other 13 countries in legalization of gay marriage. The other countries that have in the past legalized gay marriages include Canada, Uruguay, Denmark, Sweden, New Zealand, 12 states in the United States including Washington, among others. This legislation was meant to be applicable in the continental France together with overseas departments as well as territories that are allied to France.

The starting point involved the introduction of a bill in the national assembly that gave rights to same sex couples to marry and subsequently adopt children. This was initiated in Novemebr 2012 by the Socialist government that was headed by Jean-Marc Ayrault but even the President,  François Hollande was in support of the bill. It was a very important piece of legislation for the president during the campaign time.

However, an enormous protest was staged by a multitude of people who travelled from many provinces in France to oppose the legislation for legalization of same sex marriage outside the parliament. The people included groups from school children, conservative activists, priests, parents, retirees among others. The security agents were forced by circumstances to use tear gas blast to disperse the cloud in an effort of ending the demonstrations despite the intense resistance from the cloud wearing masks and hoods. Property including cars and presidential palace were damaged during the demonstrations.

However, a very important point of consideration is that, not all gay couples are supposed to abide by this legislation. This was discovered by bi-national couples who have documented that foreign nations are exempted from same sex legislation in France. An extended acrimonious debate ensued that was also accompanied by violent demonstrations in the streets, high profile homophobic attacks as well as violent clashes that opposed the legislation. This however did not deter the National Assembly from enacting the law that made gay marriages legal with some equal unions being more equal while others were made less equal. The Socialist president used the bill as a campaign pledge despite the hot contest that was attempted by the conservatives in the country. Legalization of gay marriages was considered as one of the most significant social reform equivalent to the 1981 death penalty abolition. During the reform for abolition of death penalty, majority of people opposed the move as compared to the current legislation for legalization of gay marriage that was backed by most people. About 7, 000 gay couples married legelly immediately after the bill was passed in the national assembly. The marriages comprised about 3% of all the marriages that took place in France during that period. Out of every five marriages that involved same sex union, three of them involved male couples while only two involved female couples.

The issue of legalization of gay marriages in France galvanized the faltering right of the country that was decimated by loss of a presidential election and infighting. People involved in same sex marriages are believed to be financially stable. This is beneficial to the government since they do not require any support from government assistance programs.  Consequently, such unions save the money that the government uses in welfare funding (Beckwith, 487-509). Additionally, there is likelihood for more weddings involving the gay that is also a boost to the economy of the country.

Legalization of gay marriages has not been linked to any harm to heterosexual marriage but rather it makes marriage to be more appealing in majority of heterosexuals. The institution of marriage has been going through transition from 1960’s before the issue of gay marriage surfaced.

Legalization of gay serves to acknowledge the authenticity in same sex relationships. It is important to accept the fact that gay marriage has become a reality regardless of the acknowledgement of the law in any government. Same sex relationships were illegal from the era of colonialism but later after the gay asked for the recognition of their relationships, after living in celibacy while fearing the law, the laws of sodomy were flouted and consequently removed from books. Banning gay sex became ineffective leading to ineffectiveness of banning gay marriages, weddings, exchange of rings and consequently living together as couples. Consequently, state banning of gay marriages could not deter the gay as well as lesbians from their expression as married (Badgett, 117).

It lacked the power of preventing proposals, tuxedos as well as gowns, honeymoons and anniversaries. In a similar manner as the African-American couples during slavery together with Reconstruction era joyfully “jumped the broom” and involved in married in regions which never acknowledged such unions as being valid, lesbian along with gay couples are continuously entering marriage relationship each day and therefore it is futile for the government to prevent that.

The much that state bans can achieve in prevention is inheritance, hospital visitation and other numerous perks that are associated with ordinary marriage. The measures that can successfully be achieved are petty aimed at punishing committed same sex partners from engagement in monogamy and commitment of their lifetime to each other. Nothing much can be achieved by the state in prevention of same sex unions.

Gay marriages have been associated with stable environment for the children brought up under these relationships. According to the arguments of some critics, same sex relationships the ultimate goal in marriage is provisional of institutional support towards rearing of children. Same sex partners are likened to infertile heterosexual partners who are unable to produce children biologically and therefore these institutions for child support are not functional. However, this is contrary to the belief held by the proponents of same sex marriages. A significant percentage of households are belonging to same sex couples and they have a child and they live a comfortable life. They therefore do not deserve any punishment from the government on the basis of their parents’ sexual orientation (Klarman, 56).

Legalization of same sex marriage is an act that is associated with moral value as well as kindness. Same sex marriage is not merely legalized by virtue of it being benign, inevitable, more conducive to the life of a family or it is inevitable. The most important consideration is the act of kindness and moral value associated with same sex marriage. Same sex partners treat each other and the children under their care with high degree of kindness, warmth as well as generosity. On the other hand, conservatives who deeply criticize same sex partners acknowledge that they have close gay or lesbian relatives and friends whom they dearly care about (Pierceson, 11 – 16).

Any same sex partners looking for the marriage rights have a strong determination of staying together, otherwise they would not attempt marriage. It is therefore wrong for any authority to hinder their aspirations and make their lives difficult. Passing any legislations that hinder these people from filing jointly their income tax, hospital visitation together and inheriting each others’ property is against the spirit of moral value and kindness.

Gay marriage involves luxurious lifestyles`, thus leading to an experience economy whereby a company purposely uses services as the stage, and goods as support to engage such individuals in a way that creates memorable occurrences. Goods are tangible, commodities are fungible, services intangible, and the experiences are memorable. These memorable events make gay partners have pleasure due to the services and products that they receive and thus continue placing demands for them. Therefore, people may not have the same experience, since every experience is derived from the interaction between the staged event and the state of mind of an individual. All experiences impact peoples’ characters and behaviors, accomplishments, and destiny.

Works cited

Badgett, M. V. Lee, When Gay People Get Married: What Happens When Societies Legalize Same-Sex Marriage. New York University Press, 2009.

Lee, Man Yee Karen, Equality, Dignity, and Same-Sex Marriage : a Rights Disagreement in Democratic Societies Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2010.

Klarman, Michæl J., From the Closet to the Altar : Courts, Backlash, and the Struggle for Same-Sex Marriage. Oxford University Press, 2013.

Pierceson, Jason, Same-Sex Marriage in the United States : The Road to the Supreme Court . Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2013.

Beckwith, Francis J., “Justificatory Liberalism and Same-Sex Marriage,” Ratio Juris, 26:487-509, 2013.