Marriage equality is an idea that is sweeping around the developed nations of the world today. Although traditionally marriage has been exclusive to relationships of different genders, same-gender relationships are unlocking the opportunities of government recognition of their partnership. Making same sex marriage a legal opportunity comes with some distinct advantages to each society, but there may be disadvantages to each situation which must be considered as well. Here are some of the key points to think about as you decide where you stand on the idea of marriage equality.
5 Advantages of Same Sex Marriage
1. It creates real equality from a government perspective.
If two people of opposite genders can be married, then to be equal, a society must offer that ability to people of the same gender as well if their purpose is to form a long-term relationship. That’s how just about every marriage starts. There is a desire to build a foundation for a lifetime of togetherness.
2. It provides more help.
Marriage brings with it certain benefits, like the extension of health care, life insurance benefits, and even inheritance rights. Having same sex marriage within a society allows these rights to extend to partners in a way that civil partnerships don’t always allow. This way, even if a will isn’t necessarily in place, there is still a natural path of secession for that relationship.
3. It offers happiness.
In the US, the founding documents state that people have the right to pursue their own happiness. Same sex marriage being a recognized legal contract allows for this to take place for the population that finds this to be an important part of their lives.
4. It provides business opportunities.
Now that more people can get legally married, it offers more opportunities to the business sectors which provide wedding services. Photographers, bakers, florists, caterers, and many others have a completely new customer segment to target within their industry, giving them the chance to create many new local economic opportunities.
5. It stops needless violence.
In some countries, same gender relationships are punishable by the death penalty or life imprisonment. Many of these nations are in the Middle East. A movement toward marriage equality shows these nations that there is nothing to fear about having a relationship like this.
5 Disadvantages of Same Sex Marriage
1. It creates change.
People don’t like change, but that’s more because they fear the future consequences of it rather than the present decisions that are being made. From a fear of God’s wrath to a fear of losing financial benefits, people who are afraid can make very poor decisions to stop those feelings. That can lead to physical, verbal, and spiritual attacks on the LGBTQI community and their supporters.
2. The government structure may not be supportive of the idea.
Sometimes changes to the law happen so quickly that supportive laws are unable to keep up. For example: some divorce laws may be specifically structured to only support a divorce between different genders. This would mean a same sex couple could get married, but a local court may not recognize the need for a divorce.
3. It imposes acceptance.
It’s true that not everyone may find themselves with same gender attractions. For those that do not, having marriage equality laws in place can seem like an imposition of a choice with society-level consequences on them. It is important to note, however, that those who do have same gender attractions have felt that society has been imposing a standard upon them for several decades. When the tables are reversed, those who benefit from the changes can be just as brutal as those who are fearful of them.
4. Some feel that same sex marriage offends God.
From a spiritual standpoint, many have been taught that God forbids a same gender union. This is not because two people of the same gender are unable to love one another, but because of the sexual relationship involved within the marriage union. When the world assumes that God is on their side, terrible things can happen. Terrorism, for example.
5. It changes societal infrastructure.
Businesses have to take time and endure costs to adjust to the additional rights granted. Hospital rights, insurance rights, and other changes aren’t always subsidized, which means the business is effectively penalized.
Marriage equality is a subject which brings passionate arguments from both sides. Whether you believe it is the right step to take or is something that is potentially harmful to society, it is important to treat each other with respect in all things. Name calling, insults, and other derogatory comments only prove that instead of evaluating key points like these, a decision has been made on emotions. Let the debate begin, but on the facts involved.