Note – this was written by my 13 year old daughter as a persuasive essay assignment for her language arts class. The only help she was given from me was proof-reading and a couple of grammatical corrections. This is her research, her voice, and her opinion. If you choose to leave a comment, please be respectful.

Gay Marriage Legalization

Should gay/lesbian marriage be legal everywhere in the U.S.? In my opinion, it should be. Our Declaration of Independence gives us the freedom to pursue happiness, but homosexuals don’t always have that freedom. As of January 2013, nine states- Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia, legalize same-sex marriage. That is only representing 15.7% of the U.S. population! If gay marriage was legalized, more adoptions would take place, people may feel free to be themselves, and bullying might happen less. Marriage isn’t even that sacred anymore.

“Being gay is unnatural.” “It’s a sin.” “You’re disgusting.” These are all phrases that gay people are exposed to on a regular basis. Some people believe gay marriage imposes its acceptance on all society ^[1], but it doesn’t. We as American citizens, have the right to our own opinions. Just because the state you’re living in legalizes gay marriage, doesn’t in the slightest, mean that you have to agree with it. The government wouldn’t be telling you, “You have to agree with this.” They’re just granting gay couples the same benefits as heterosexual couples.

Secondly in some religions, it offends God. Most religions use their doctrine as a rationale for a reason to detest homosexuals and gay marriage. ^[1] In Genesis 1:28-29 is states,“God created man in His image; in the Divine image he created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them, saying: ‘Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.’”Nowadays, not everyone is getting married or having children even if they are straight. By this logic, even some straight people are offending God.

America the Brave still fears what we don’t know ^[2]. It’s almost like we can’t accept this because it’s new; just now coming into play. And because it’s new, we don’t know how to handle it. We don’t know if we should accept it. So are you really going to hate someone just because they’re different?

A survey was conducted with a group of 36 seventh grade students. The question, “Do you think gay/lesbian marriage is okay?” was asked in which the student would respond with “Yes,” “No,” or “Undecided.” As you can see, most students in Washington State think that gay marriage is okay.

In the Declaration of Independence, it states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienableRights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”. Homosexuals aren’treally earning these rights and it’s not fair. America is supposed to be the land of the free, and yet gays are treated poorly and can’t be married or raise a family together in most states.

The whole controversial matter about gay and lesbian marriage is almost like the civil rights movement in the ‘60s. Blacks weren’t allowed to eat, drink, learn, and even use the restroom in the same places as Whites! But now, a black woman can marry a white man without it being “strange” or “weird” or “wrong.” There will come a point when gay and lesbian marriage won’t be viewed as unacceptable and the matter won’t be such a big deal.

Also, about half of the marriages that take place in the U.S. end in divorce, second marriages have a 60% chance of divorce and the third, a 73% chance ^[3]. Marriage really isn’t high in values these days. So it certainly shouldn’t be a problem that gays and lesbians are getting married. If we’re losing the will to try and work out problems in a “straight” marriage, why not at least let gays have a chance at it?

Also, studies show that if same-sex marriage was allowed in more states, more adoptions would take place. If more adoptions were taking place, more kids around the whole world would be cared for and loved by a couple that might not be able to have a child of their own. Other studies also show that kids that grow up with gay parents don’t necessarily become gay too.

Lastly, if society was more accepting of gay/lesbian marriages, less bullying would take place. People could let out their true personalities and not have to hide who they really are. Words like “faggot” or “fag” wouldn’t be tossed around so nonchalantly. Kids and teens that are gay or lesbian are 2 to 3 times more likely to be bullied at school ^[4]. Kids all over are dealing with bullying, physically and mentally, because of their sexuality, and suicide rates all overAmerica are jumping way up. It can be really hurtful to others struggling to find out who they really are.

If people were just more accepting in general and were willing to allow people in their own states to be who they really are, people could be happy, homosexuals could get married, more adoptions would take place, and bullying could have a chance of going back down. When you vote, check “yes” to gay marriage in your state and think about your actions. Let gays try.

Websites

^[1] 10 Reasons Why Homosexual “Marriage” is Harmful and Must be Apposed. ©2013 TFP Student Action, n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2013. http://www.tfpstudentaction.org/politically-incorrect/homosexuality/10-reasons-why-homosexual-marriage-is-harmful-and-must-be-opposed.html.

^[2] “Same Love”. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/macklemore/samelove.html.

^[3]  Divorce Rate. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. http://www.divorcerate.org.

^[4] Gay Bullying Statistics. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2013.http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/gay-bullying-statistics.html