The definition of marriage is the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (Merriam-Webster). This dignified act is under constant threat by lesbian and gay couples protesting for equal rights in marriage. Same sex marriage should be prohibited in the United States because the act will evoke multitudes of problems that will be impossible to manage. The plentiful list of arguments against same sex marriage outweighs its opposite in all areas.
For example, the case is commonly viewed as that if the couple is in love, they should be allowed to marry. Love is not the only deciding factor people analyze on why to get married. A few other reasons would be people rationalize that they want children, their family’s opinions of their lover, religious reasons and marriage tax breaks. Same sex marriage has an alarming increase in multiple topics that cannot be simply overlooked.
As for one realistic fear, an increase in polygamy would occur if same sex marriage were to be legalized. (Dailey) Polygamy causes a higher spread of STDs, a corrupt moral attitude towards marriage and what marriage represents and a deflation of the meanings of the words such as true love, soul mate and etc. An increase of divorces would follow up. “In the United States, researchers estimate that 40%–50% of all first marriages, and 60% of second marriages, will end in divorce.” (Divorce PDF) The more people that get married the higher this statistic will rise. Furthermore, an increase in debt to all of the United States in is store strictly due to the byproducts of legalizing same sex marriage.
When couples get married there are special bonuses that the government grants them. Spouses receive marriage tax breaks and other perks the general single pubic is denied. The increase in newlyweds will throw off the balance and people will have to pay for what could have avoidable in the first place. Another obstacle that presents itself is the consideration of religion. Most religious morals and standings frown upon the idea of same sex marriage and believe it to be unnatural. For the majority of religious people, their religion is the most important to them and following its rules and regulations is a systematic daily task. If religions are intended to surround one’s life and even explain the person’s reason of sheer existence, going against its marriage rules is senseless, an outright sin and negative to a person’s religious growth. The argument is expressed well in Joe Messerli’s words:
“Most religions consider homosexuality a sin. Virtually every religion in the world, including the major ones in this country, consider homosexuality unacceptable. It is offensive and a swipe to the religious freedom of the majority to have to recognize a relationship they consider sinful. The legal system in the United States evolved out of the laws contained in the Bible. We shouldn’t go even farther to tear down those laws.” The destruction of marriage institution is very likely in the event that same sex marriage is legalized. “Everyone has a right to love who they choose,” says an ad now running in Minnesota, “but nobody has a right to redefine marriage” (Eckholm). This statement is not an attack on gays or lesbians, but a righteous stand up for people’s religious beliefs.
Marriage is initially intended for males and females since they that the ability to create life. It is a sacred practice preformed all over the world. Same sex marriage cannot physically result in child bearing; therefore it is not equal to marriage. “A law allowing gay marriage would increase the number of joke or non-serious marriages” (Messerli). Other farfetched ideas are being brought up because of the thought of same sex marriage. “Gay rights activists claim that these marriages should be allowed because it does not hurt anyone, but it could start a chain reaction that destroys the whole idea of marriage. If someone wants to marry his dog, why shouldn’t he be able to? What if someone wants to marry their brother or parent? What if someone wants to marry their blow-up doll or have 10 wives?” (Messerli)
The legalization of same sex marriage plays a huge role in the future outlook of the world and more changes to be made in the ways the United States conducts itself. The children of the United States stand as a large issue in the decision of legalization (‘Proposition 8’). Children need a healthy home lifestyle in order to be successful and prosper in the real world. A mother and a father can provide that healthy lifestyle for their child. This process is the norm and it portrays a positive exposure to loving care of the couple’s child/children in union, religious faithfulness, and sets a good example that in the future the child is more likely to follow than a same sex marriage household would show (Dailey).
This type of normal behavior is extremely beneficial in the long and short run for the child/children, commonly taken for granted and much needed in today’s society. On the topic of admitting same sex marriage, “It confuses children about gender roles and expectations of society” (Messerli). To aid that confusion, “For-Same-Sex-Marriage” people might think to teach some form of tolerance in school curriculums. This act would make the matter impersonal, set up more bullying situations for innocent children to deal with, and cost more money that the United States does not have to fund the lessons.
In addition to the United States having problems, if the law was passed for the legalization of same sex marriage it could influence other countries to jump on the bandwagon. This would open up so many dangerous realms onto the United States that no one could ever dream of. Possible and current alliances with other nations and America’s strong reputation would fold at the drop of the hat because of Americans acknowledging same sex marriage. In order to avoid the ominous future of unnecessary problems, the United States should just stick to its historical form of marriage.
The method of regular woman-and-man marriage has yet ceased to fail as a whole. The additional problems of same sex marriage to tack onto the United States’ list are preventable. Ergo, the decision to forbid the legalization of same sex marriage in the United States. Marriage would be saved and hold its place as the beautiful, upright, and religious practice that people know it to be.