lady gaga-born this way
Christina Grzsik
English
01/16/2012
Same-Sex Marriage in Ohio
“If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter,” George Washington declared.
This powerful quote is monumental in the fact that if we as a people, whether gay, straight, lesbian, transgender, or bisexual, allow the government to take away our right of freedom of speech and freedom of expression, then convinced we will be to believe in them for what is right and just. Similar to the thought that our parents morals and customs are true to them and should be to us, but not exactly.
Let’s get something straight, I’m not. Neither is my cousin, who is 32 years old and has a beautiful civil relationship of over 10 years, with his partner. I understand I am only 16 years old but I have never seen a happier more devoted young couple than Steve and Dave. They are completely devoted to each other and have supported each other through sickness and health, good times and bad….. even without a legal document stating that they are a married couple. Why do we, as a society, need this legal document? The reason is simple, to protect our loved ones. All they ask for is a legal document stating that they are married, to be recognized and supported as life events are presented. This is the same legal right of heterosexual couples. It is not a measurement of commitment to each other, it is a legal document. I know in my heart that Steve and Dave will always be there for each other, the same as my parents, a heterosexual couple, will.
The debate between opposing sides concerning whether same-sex marriages should be approved or not needs to be seriously considered by the people. It is something that needs to be agreed by the government and we the people of all walks of life. Denying the opportunity for people who are homosexual to marry is a form of discrimination, contradicting to the first amendment’s “freedom of speech… freedom of expression”. Also, civil unions, as they do exist, do not allow the same rights as marriage. Finally, legalizing same-sex marriages would not have either a positive or negative impact on heterosexual marriages, so what is there to lose?
“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Human rights are inherited regardless of our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status. They should not be taken away, unless if being trialed by law for being found guilty of crime. Some argue that marriage is by definition between a man and a woman. But for centuries, marriage was by definition a contract in which the husband owned his wife. We changed that. Also for centuries, marriage was by definition between a man and woman of the same race. And we changed that. We changed these things because we finally noticed that human dignity is the same whether you are a man or a woman, black or white. And no one has any more of a choice to be gay than to be black or white or male or female. Just as blacks struggled for freedom from slavery and discrimination now gays struggle for their rights. They struggle for their rights that they inherited being born as an American citizen or naturalized as an American citizen as I am. Discrimination is a crime, and if people were fined for discrimination, then the government would not be struggling right about now in this economy. Discrimination, ridicule, and teenage bullying needs to stop!
Civil unions are recognized in some states. Currently, New Jersey, Illinois and Rhode Island permit same-sex couples to enter into civil unions. Delaware and Hawaii have begun recognizing civil unions on January 1, 2012. A civil union is a form of relationship recognition that gives same-sex couples access to the state-level rights and responsibilities of marriage though not allowing federal rights.
We are fortunate to have very vocal celebrities speaking out on the rights of all humans, but the visibility gained by the likes of Ellen DeGeneres, Lady Gaga, Chaz Bono and Melissa Etheridge, to name a few, on the subject of Gay Marriage is powerful and impactful. You cannot pick up a newspaper today without finding an editorial on one of them or their counterparts making their voices heard via rallies or some form of government platform. All of these powerful resources are taking the required political process steps to address this subject on the playing field set forth by our government. Legalizing same-sex marriages would allow heterosexual supporters of gay rights to marry with an open-minded conscience. It would also allow gays to finally live happily ever after, the American dream, knowing they are legally recognized by America as a married couple forever and always with a legal binding contract. Some may joke that gay marriage should be allowed so that they can suffer the same persecutions of straight couples. Joking that marriage is an “institution” to be admitted to instead of a state of being for a couple.
In closing I’d like to suggest that straight Americans walk in our shoes. To walk in someone’s shoes as if they have the other’s life, along with the feelings and emotions experienced. They need to first begin to understand how it feels to spend years denying your own self, to sit silently through class, meals, and church. I can’t begin to make you understand the lonely feelings I’ve experienced over the years at the hands of fear of ridicule. To feel what it’s like to have to hide from comments made by those who love you but you are too afraid to come out to. Comments that tear your soul apart due to ignorance. Comments that sink your heart like the RMS Titanic. Sinking as a whole and breaking in 2 parts to lie lifelessly at the bottom of the sea.
“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
