Legalization Of Gay Rights Essay

America’s goal of becoming a society that is a “city upon a hill” is often unachievable for some. The United States prides itself on its many freedoms and opportunities, but these freedoms are often not available for many people. One example of the struggle to attain certain civil liberties and rights can be seen in the gay rights movement. Over time, many people have spoken out against the unjust treatment of the LGBT community. They have been subject to a lot of discrimination and harassment and only in recent years has that begun to change. Recently, gay marriage has been legalized in the United States, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the fight is over. The gay rights movement has had several victories in the past, but the continuous discrimination …show more content…
Gay people are human individuals just like everybody and have the unwritten right to love whoever they please. While many people are against homosexuality because of religious reasons, we live in a secular country, so our laws cannot be dictated by the teachings of a certain religion. Although “some religions don 't support same-sex marriage, others certainly do support it. The most fair and ethical approach—which treats all people equally regardless of religious affiliation—is to factor out religious points of view when crafting marriage laws within a secular context” (Lipp). Not only this, but the legalization of gay marriage would not infringe on a person’s religious right to disagree with it. No church is forced to perform a gay marriage, therefore their rights are not being harmed. As a matter of fact, “opponents of same sex marriage cannot point to a single case where a church or religious institution in America has been forced to conduct or sanction a same sex wedding. In fact, those states that have adopted same-sex marriage have instituted strict protections for the right of churches to refuse to recognize or support such marriages” (Lampo). Legalizing gay marriage embraces diversity, which is one of the many traits America prides itself on. The United states is a place where people come from all over to seek freedom and the American Dream, and legalizing gay marriage helps that ideal become a reality. To get closer to the ideal, America should consider that, “legalizing same-sex marriage communicates to millions of people across the country that gay relationships are of equal value to straight relationships, thereby helping to reduce intergroup prejudice and supporting cultural diversity” (Lipp). By doing so, America will progress further to being “a city upon a