Gay Marriage: A Worn Out Yet Critical Debate

I think of myself as a person who stands up for the well being of others, including family, friends, peers, and strangers. When the worn out debate ove gay marriage surfaces in any conversation, I can't help but become strongly defensive because I am proud to stand in strong favor of gay marriage. I wouldn't call this attitude stubborn because in high school I engaged in formal debate over the issue in a Speech and Debate class and in Government class, so I've done the research and formulated opinions based off of more than just personal values. This is my stance:

As one of the most powerful countries in the world, America is constantly setting the precedent for other nations to meet. However, there is one glaring omission from the progressive attitude of America: the lack of a nationwide law permitting same sex marriage. Same sex marriage is a controversial issue in the United States that has fueled many conflicts in the past. There have been court cases, overturned laws, and passionate protests in the past decades. Although same sex marriage debates were not as prevalent prior to the 1990’s, the history of the issue traces all the way back to the traditional definition of marriage. In its simplest form, the issue is concerned with human rights. Same sex marriage should be legalized in every state because, in forbidding it, the government is denying a basic human right, discriminating against a minority, and resisting change to a modern age.

The issue of gay marriage appeared in the United States courts in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Court rulings were inconsistent and had little impact on the general population. In the 1990’s, it seemed support for gay marriage was possible. However, the Defense of Marriage Act seriously undermined the success of the 1990’s. In the past five years, more states have passed legislation granting gay rights than ever. The next step that remains for every state, and hopefully at last the national level, is redefining marriage to mean ‘the permanent relationship with a significant other’. 

I could go on. And on. And on. I take pride in this passion of favoring gay marriage. I think the importance of holding strong beliefs is underestimated and ignored by young adults, causing a lack of awareness about societal issues.