Marriage Equality: Why Can’t We All Have Our Cake and Eat it Too?

“The government has to treat all citizens equally. I am a strong supporter not of a weak version of civil unions, but of a strong version, in which the rights that are conferred at the federal level to persons who are part of the same-sex union are compatible. When it comes to federal rights, the over 1,100 rights that right now are not being given to same-sex couples, I think that’s unacceptable."

-President Obama on August 9, 2007

With hopes to renew his presidency, President Obama’s recent statements of his support for marriage equality has created a new wave of controversy and conflict, simultaneously inspiring my latest blog post. As a caucasian, straight, economically privileged female in our current American culture, I have never truly experienced the sting of prejudice, especially in comparison to other classifications of people, like our homosexual population. Presently, same-sex marriages are legal in D.C. and only six states: Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. This social imbalance raises a particularly unsettling question, especially regarding the core values by which the United States conducts itself. 

If, referring to the tenets of our Constitution and Declaration of Independence, we endorse ideals of equality, justice, and honor, how can we possibly deny those basic, fundamental human rights from fellow citizens? To me, this discrepancy is not only unconstitutional, it is purely unethical. Though there is little one can do to improve this social condition immediately, there is certainly much we can do to alter and influence the attitudes of those who are not supportive of marriage equality.

We can probably start by refraining from incorporating derogatory, demeaning language in our everyday speech concerning homosexual people, or even by making an effort to demand that those who use these words explicitly should stop as well. It is only the ignorance of others that causes this type of discourse, representing our culture poorly and shamefully. In addition to this measure, perhaps we could focus on educating ourselves more about the movement of marriage equality, and gain an understanding of same-sex marriage from varying perspectives. Specifically, we should look into the reasons for its necessity in society, like its aid in the improvement of our suffering economy, promotion of adoption, and its contribution to our overall culture. 

These are just a few among the many reasons for its essentiality in the United States, and I hope that individuals who are not willing to support the social and legal recognition of same-sex marriage gain a greater comprehension of its advantages. A marriage is a union of one person with another, it should not discriminate against any human being based on gender, it is for those who are truly in a loving, healthy relationship, regardless of their sex.