Same-sex marriage will probably be a controversial issue for some time to come. Within the already controversial realm of gay rights, no area is more controversial than gay marriage. The traditional and still dominant view in the United States is that marriage is a legally recognized union of one man and one woman. This view is deeply embedded in moral and religious beliefs. Same-sex marriage would start us down a "slippery slope" towards legalized incest, bestial marriage, polygamy and all manner of other horrible consequences. It is, of course, absolutely without any merit based on experience. If the argument were true, would not that have already happened in countries where forms of legalized gay marriage already exist? Would not they have 'slid' towards legalized incest and bestial marriage? The reality is that a form of gay marriage has been legal in Scandinavian countries for many years, and no such legalization has happened. It is a classic scare tactic - making the end scenario so scary and so horrible that some people are afraid to even consider any other option. A general definition of marriage is that it is a social contract between two individuals that unites their lives legally, economically and emotionally. If this is a true statement then why are people so afraid of same sex marriage? Gay marriage does not hurt society or individuals; it also encourages strong family values, boosts the economy, and would provide equal rights under the law. Any change or threat of change, to the culture is distressing to many people. Then when this change would affect “the family” it is even more upsetting. Change happens. Society has evolved over the years. We no longer hold slaves. Women are treated as equal to men. People of different races can wed. The list goes on. The attitudes about marriage have changed. The real question is what does “marriage” really mean? For most Americans, marriage is a religious sacrament or ceremony between one man and one woman. This is how most people were raised and what they accepted as the normal way of life. Go to school, go to college, fall in love, get married and start a family. Many believe that if the definition of marriage is changed to allow same sex marriage, some religious individuals and groups feel that they will become at risk of having to violate their beliefs by being forced to marry same-sex couples. Many religious figures view homosexuality as a sin and therefore any union based on such a relationship is also deemed sinful. Some religious leaders believe that allowing same sex marriages or unions will somehow undermine the traditional family unit, the foundation for many religious communities. Others believe that the gay community can not be allowed to redefine marriage and the family unit to suit their own needs. Some opponents of gay marriage fear that by allowing same-sex couples to marry, it will lessen the validity of heterosexual marriage. They say marriage is union with the purpose of creating and raising children. They argue that children fare better in-household headed by a man and a woman. Marriage is a union of the lives of two people who love and respect each other resulting in a lifelong union, strengthening both through each other's ideas, aspirations and commitment. Marriage as everyone knows is a stabilizing influence on relationships and a platform for greater prosperity. Marriages benefit society by building and strengthen human relationships within the home and community. Marriage is the social educator of children. Marriage teaches honesty, loyalty, trust, self sacrifice, personal responsibility, and respect for others. Marriage is the basis for the family and human society. A healthy marriage and family life helps to ensure social stability. Communities and government act in their own best interest when they support marriage and family. Gay marriage does not hurt society or individuals. Gay marriage will reduce the number of divorces caused by false marriages, ensure that more children grow up in stable homes, raise the standard of living for children with gay parents, make neighborhoods safer for families, and boost the economies of struggling communities. Gay marriage promotes strong family values just the same as a heterosexual marriage promotes strong family values. What are good family values? Strong family values start with a family who has a feeling of being loved, structured, belonging and nurtured. A “happy marriage” sets the tone for the family and spills over to the community. Many believe gay marriage would further weaken the traditional family values essential to our society. Many religiously conservative researchers have found that children thrive best when reared in a home with a married mother and father. Boys and girls have needs that are uniquely met by parents of the opposite gender. Gay fathers and lesbian mothers are no different from their counter parts in a heterosexual marriage. Children raised in same sex families show no differences in the basic skills and social development. When differences do arise they tend to favor children raised in lesbian families. Children seem to adjust better when there is more equal division of labor as there is at home with same sex parents. Gay couples value and participate in family life, are committed to making their neighborhoods and communities safer and better places to live, and honor and abide by the law. Many make valuable contributions to their communities, serving on school boards, volunteering in community charities, and trying to be good citizens. In doing so, they take full advantage of their relationship to make not only their own lives better, but those of their neighbors as well. Same Sex Marriage will boost the economy. Allowing Same Sex Marriage stimulates business revenue and provides each of the states seven states that allow same sex marriage with needed tax revenue in a time of economic uncertainty. Every time a state legalizes gay marriage, it gets a multi-million dollar boost to its economy, but if we let gay marriage be legal everywhere that benefit will get spread out over all 50 states. The states that allowed gay marriage early, will have built an economy on gay marriage that is unsustainable and once the "gay marriage bubble" bursts, the fed will have to step in and help prop up the states who have transformed their economy selling "his & his" wedding cakes. Each state estimates that it's would get a boost of approximately $160 to $250 million from monies spent planning, holding and traveling to same sex marriages. Florist, wedding planners, hotels, banquet halls, photographers, limousine services and many others would benefit financially. Gay couples have more spendable money than heterosexual couples. Many gay couples benefit from greater savings power since they do not incur the cost of raising children. Gay couples are often able to retire earlier than heterosexual couples which in turn boost the economy by opening up more jobs and cause the retirees to spend for enjoyment. Most gay couples own homes, pay taxes, contribute to the community they live in and are willing to spend money when the economy is down. Personal contact with homosexuality is also a key factor in shaping people's views. Americans who have a friend, colleague or family member who is gay are roughly twice as likely to favor gay marriage as those who do not. This gap exists across all age groups, but does not override the importance of age in shaping peoples' views. Among both the youngest and oldest cohorts, those who know someone who is gay are about twice as likely to favor gay marriage as those who do not. Among those under age 30, about half of those who know a gay person are supportive of gay marriage compared with 27% of those who do not have a gay acquaintance, or relative. But among those age 65 and older, just 20% of those who know a homosexual favor gay marriage, compared with 10% who are not acquainted with a gay person. Same sex marriage would provide equal rights for the couples under the law. Opponents disagree with equating gay rights with the fight for racial equality. They say that homosexuality is not an inborn trait, but a chosen behavior that does not deserve special protection under the law. Marriage is a civil right. The government bestows over $1,000 federal tax advantages to married couples. Inheritance and estate laws favor married couples. Denying a segment of our population in similar loving committed relationships those benefits is discrimination. Homosexuality is an inborn trait. Why would anyone choose to be different, be talked about, be ridiculed their entire life. No one would choose to live that way or raise children that way. The same rights that heterosexual couples share would now extend to the same sex couple. What happens if your spouse is in a car accident and taken to the hospital? Once at the hospital the doctor's beings explaining what is going on with the spouse. That simple right is not there for same sex couples. Same sex couples would no longer be unable to attend to each other's medical care. Gay couples would benefit from the same tax advantages that their counter parts have. Same sex couples would also be able to adopt a child if they choose to. Same sex couples would now be able to financially provide for the other without the worry of others taking a stand against them. Same sex or gay marriage is no different from the marriage of heterosexual couples. All couples get married for the same reason, they love each other. They want to spend the rest of their lives together and raise a family. This love that brings them together also forms a family that unites into one. The leaders of this family then teach values such as; honesty, love, compassion, and other strong family values. This family becomes part of the neighbor that makes the community grow stronger. As the family grows together and becomes more involved in the community they contributed economically. This makes the community, town, city, state and the world a better place to live in. A family who loves each other working together to make the world a better place, what could be wrong with that? Why should we not allow same sex marriages if they contribute to make the world a better place to live? Why should we not allow equal rights under the law? I ask these questions to give other ideas to think about, if a gay family is no different from a traditional family why should gays and lesbians not have the same rights as everyone else. Gays and lesbians are not asking for special rights they are just asking for equal rights under the law. A gay family that has two Moms', three children, and three grandchildren, has been together for over 14 years wonders why they cannot get the same benefits as heterosexual couples. This family pays taxes, contributes to society, has raised children and is now helping to raise grandchildren should not have to pay double the taxes, double the health insurance and have no rights to each other's estates should something happen to one of them. Same sex marriage would correct all of this. This family is no different from your family why this family should not receive the same benefits as everyone else. Society needs to come together and move forward on this issue to benefit society as a whole.

Tags: Same Sex Marriage Pride Gay Marriage