Gay Marriage: Social Calamity or Long Overdue? Essay

Abstract in that location is growing attention to the make love of jointure luciferity for alert people in this country. As of the constitution of this paper, 16 of the 50 states in the United States of America have legalized gay marriage, either by legislation or by popular balloting (Wisniewski, 2013). The discourse regarding the issue commences quite contentious largely because of non-secular ideology that has demonized the idea of homosexuality for many years. As a sociological issue, the conflict has run low a divisive force for many, from g everywherenmental powers as far drink to the family level. The constitution guarantees equal objurgates for all in this country freedom of religion, speech, etcetera yet appears to stall when equal rights for the gay comm unit of measurementy be involved. There has been significantly more(prenominal) popular support for the cause recently, but the defacement and prejudice continue to linger. Is this a moral debate or has an out-of-date ideology become so embraced by many that the battle has simply just begun?Are Rights Really Equal?When asked if one believes in equal rights for all citizens, the typical, rote response is a resounding Yes. If the question becomes more specific as to take the right for homosexuals to marry, a hesitation follows. The conceit of gay marriage is far deeper a societal problem for or so because its roots lie in prejudicial perspectives that have permeated us for years. sooner the fight for the right to marry, the gay community has long endured simply the right to exist openly without feeling pariah- exchangeable. The United States is not a theocracy, of this we are certain. However, there are many more religiously affiliated citizens than not. The commencement exercise Amendment gives us freedom of religion, which should also include freedom from religion. The truth of the number meets somewhere in between the two, especially when US currency bears In God We Trust bol dly on its face.There are political leaders who continue to evoke the name of God in their speeches, take down thoughthe fact is that our founding fathers were mostly non-theists and the motto on our bullion did not initiate until 1958 or so. But people continue to plenty homosexuality as a sin, therefore gay marriage is not an option. This issue has created a divide in this country, much like most other civil rights have. When slavery was abolished, it took years to establish anti-segregation laws. civilized change takes time, historically, and gay marriage is no different. Protests continue either in support of or against gay marriage, at times becoming violent. Families become divided when a member openly announces his or her orientation and chiding prevails, sometimes resulting in families disowning or ostracizing that offender from the family.G overnment has been coerce to become involved, due to an outcry for the various rights that are bestowed upon a matrimonial membe r of this society. Rights to inheritance and to personal medical information and decision do are two examples of spousal rights. Monogamous homosexual couples are denied these rights, since without marriage, the rights die to their closest relative. Functional Sociology and alert wedding ceremonySociety has long viewed conventional marriage a fundamental and necessary building block. Marriage is the understructure by which our population is regenerated and offspring are socialized then integrated as functioning members. Functional theorists might argue that if the paradigm is changed to include same sex couples, social decay may follow, as the family unit is unable to function if not in the traditional way. Single kindle households have been faulted with producing children that score lower in school than those from the traditional, two produce family, as well as have higher rates of inconceivable social behavior, such as drug abuse or young pregnancy. Functionalists believ e children benefit from each gender parent in a different way, therefore require both to be whole. (Tischler, 2011)Conflict theory and Gay MarriageConflict theory maintains that society functions when a more powerful or accepted sector exerts its will and exceeds at the cost of less powerful or accepted portions. (Tischler, 2011). Since homosexuality has been regarded taboo by the majority for so long, heterosexuals have maintained their position of acceptance and normalcy in the US. Vocational positions,especially powerful ones such as political leaders, have historically been heterosexual. We have a President and a outset Lady expected heterosexuality. For the stigma to be removed, traditionally expected and tacit ways of life would drastically change. Would traditional, heterosexual marriage decay in the process? The Future of MarriageRegardless of sociological theory, religious belief, and cultural expectation, the movement towards acceptance of gay marriage is gaining momen tum and losing the attached stigma. Gay marriage is legal in 16 states (Wisniewski, 2013), and gay couples right to word sense has increased. Heterosexual divorce rates remain hovering at a 50% mark, and have been for many years prior to homosexual marriage. Society is resilient, proving itself over years of change. The ideal aspiration would be for both homosexual and heterosexual married couples to simply co-exist neither having any real influence over the others success or demise.ReferencesTischler, H.L. (2011) Introduction to Sociology. Retrieved from https//online.vitalsource.com//books/9781285396835/pages/55834839 Wisniewski, M (2013) Update 1-Illinois Governor Signs Same-Sex Marriage Into Law. Retrieved from http//www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/20/usa-gaymarriage-illinois-idUSL2N0J524N20131120.