For Gay Marriage

Marriage has historically been the institution where a man and woman join together in the promise of love. These days in the West, however, this traditional notion of marriage has changed over the last century. Complicating this issue even further is the desire by same-sex couples to get married. In his article, “For Gay Marriage” (2005), Andre Sullivan discusses how this modern definition of marriage allows it to be irrespective of sexual orientation and should be granted to everyone who is capable of honoring this commitment, including homosexuals.

Sullivan begins his article by defining marriage as, “not simply a private contract; it is a social and public recognition of private commitment” (Sullivan ###). He argues that regardless of traditional notions of marriage or religious reasons, marriage should be a right granted to any two people, including homosexuals. Sullivan then expands on this new definition of marriage as more than just the union between two heterosexual people. He states that marriage in the West today is irrespective of sexuality as it is “an emotional, financial and psychological bond between two people” (Sullivan ###). Sullivan persists that marriage cannot be denied to anyone on the basis of procreating because marriage licenses aren’t approved based on the fact that the couple will or can have children. Gay people are fully capable of fulfilling the basic commitments of marriage and therefore should be allowed to marry, unlike children and related family members whose judgment may be clouded. Sullivan then compares the issues with recognizing gay marriage to the issues with recognizing gays serving in the military, stating that they are both similar in that they are just as willing to make sacrifices but are not recognized. Sullivan addresses several counter issues brought up by conservatives who are against the legalization of gay marriage, including domestic partnerships and how they undermine traditional marriage and the impact of children brought up by homosexual couples.  Sullivan argues those points by stating that there is no evidence to prove any negative impact on children brought up by gay parents and that the concept of gay marriage is not entirely new. He then discusses the positive impact of legalizing gay marriage on gay youth and their parents, which could lead to more openness and understanding towards their orientation. Sullivan concludes with the idea that as long as people recognize that homosexuals exist and have emotional needs, then there is no reason to oppose gay marriage. The author is trying to persuade the reader of his vision of marriage as a public contract and to convince his audience to support the legalization of gay marriage. Sullivan is well informed of gay issues as he has written on social and political topics and is the former editor of the New Republic magazine, a magazine on political and social policies in the United States.

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Andrew Sullivan’s arguments for Gay Marriage are strong but are lacking in terms of logic. Sullivan could have made an even stronger case for his argument by citing specific studies and expert opinions. For example, when Sullivan brings up the concerns of conservatives with regards to the impact on children adopted and raised by gay parents, he makes broad overgeneralizations without providing any substantial proof of his claims. Sullivan states that ‘there is no evidence that shows any deleterious impact on a child brought up by two homosexual parents, and considerable evidence that such a parental structure is clearly preferable ...

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