Gay Marriage Cons

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Gay marriage has been an issue discussed for many years and is a hot topic in the current presidential election, so I chose an article concerning whether gay marriage should be legally recognized. Unfortunately, when I used the CQ Research database to look at topics for this lesson there were the most recent article was from 2013. The article I have chosen by Kenneth Jost, “Should same-sex unions be legally recognized?” was written in 2003 is somewhat of a mute-point since it was federally legalized in a SCOTUS decision in June 2015; however, it remains to be a highly debated political issue. Both authors, Mary Bonauto and Ron Crews, summarizing the pros/cons of the article clearly presented their positions on the argument, but it seems …show more content…
Crews claims legalizing same-sex marriage is based on three myths and they are not true. Crews says the first myth is that people are born homosexual and do not have a choice, the second myth is that heterosexual and homosexual relationships are the same and he says that children will do well regardless if they are raised by heterosexual or homosexual parents is also a myth. Crews believes scientific evidence defines marriage, because all humans are born either male or female based on the chromosomes in ones’ body and this genetic distinction has determined the legal, social, historical and theological definition of marriage since the beginning of time as being between a man and a women. Next, Crews says sexual orientation is a choice based on evidence from a psychiatrist and author who wrote a book on homosexuality. Also he points out same-sex couples lack the essential elements needed for marriage which are the XX and XY chromosomes and a committed relationship in a same-sex couple does not make it a marriage. Crews’ final point uses a social science study as evidence that children will do best when they have a married mom and dad, implying same-sex couples are not equipped to provide the necessary elements to …show more content…
The test for truthfulness of the premise in reference to whether same-sex unions should be recognized passes because same-sex couples are not seeking religious recognition of their unions, therefore it would not destroy the institute of marriage that religious conservatives believe. All the premises made throughout the article present ideological reasoning on both sides; however, Bonauto’s arguments seem to be more based around equality and human rights and Crew’s are focused on his religious ideology. Bonauto seemed to present a stronger argument that pertains to the fundamental principals the nation was founded on in providing equal rights and protection under the law for all Americans. The argument is logically strong on both sides, but despite Crew using social science studies to make his argument that children are better off being raised by a mom and a dad, he does not provide further evidence illustrating the consequences of children being raised by same-sex couples. It is clear from current events, the presidential debates of both parties that this issue has clearly divided pros and cons based on an individuals religious ideology or lack thereof and should be based upon equality for all

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