are we really created equal?
...ces. In our country’s constitution, the First Amendment, the right to freedom Elmore 2 of speech and religion, amplifies this more than just speaking out in public and the way people choose to worship. The amendment gives us the freedom to express our true feelings towards society and who we worship whether God, Buddha, or cows. This amendment lets us encompass the freedom to express ourselves as who we are, so why then can homosexuals not enjoy the freedom to express their love for one another in a marriage? The negative aspects of a homosexual marriage, far outweighed by the positive side. If a homosexual couple live together, pay bills together, and share love like any ‘normal healthy married couple’ what needs to keep them from being married legally? If a gay couple grows old and one passes away, the partner left will not receive any government funding such as social security, and medi-care like a heterosexual couple would just becuase of a simple marriage license and a certificate. This results is on partner having to fend for themselves, not having the government help in any way. Another thought to consider in this argument; the financial gains for the States and Federal Governments. The United States Labor Department released a study in 2001 that said “the gay and lesbian’s, reported to hold over 45% of all middle and upper management positions in corporate America.” With that in mind, the current U.S. Tax code taxes married couples at a higher rate than single persons. As most gay and lesbian households do not have any children, they hold a more readily disposable income, which when combined for joint tax returns would actually contribute a large amount to the Federal and State coffers. By allowing homosexuals the right to legally marry, the Federal Government could actually create a whole new tax group to help fund our country and its programs. This idea is proven to be a viable and workable issue, just look at the countries of Amsterdam and Quebec, where same sex marriages are legal and see what legalizing gay marriage did for their economy. Elmore 3 The reasons given for anti-gay marriage have very little rationality besides the generic “being gay is just wrong and that’s the way it is.” The Old Testament of the Bible says that homosexuality is immoral, but it also says that “drinking in excess, committing adultery and fornication are immoralities as well.” These all have become a common, everyday affair in today’s society and totally legal, so the Bible can not really give much merit for homosexuality to be banned from the World and to say that it is just wrong. If we do accept this point, then we need to completely re-evaluate our entire society and what is and what is not acceptable for society. If you want to see how bad our society is today, just take 30 minutes out of your day and watch the news. Another way of looking at the Biblical argument is that we are suppose to be a country whose Government was founded on the principal of “ Separation of Church and State”, if this is so, then the religious questioning of the validity of gay marriages should not even be considered. The book “Stranger at the Gate” by Mel White tells of his life story as being a Christian and also having homosexual tendencies, yet not acting upon his feelings. He first realized that he was gay when at a church youth camp at...