Gay marriage in America Essay

America was built on the foundation of equality for whole men however, not until recently have funny and lesbian psyches genetical much(prenominal)(prenominal) civil rights. One of the largest and virtu eachy pressing issues effecting the sunny community is the issue of unfearing sum. marriage ceremony is defined as the relationship that exists amid a husband and wife or a similar relationship between people of the same sex (Websters). in spite of appearance the past 10 years fifteen states have legalized cheerful wedding.As of Nov. 13, 2013, mirthful espousals has been legalizedin 15 US states (CA, CT, DE, HI, IA, MA, MD, ME,MN, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT, and WA) and the Districtof Columbia. 34 states have airy cosmos and wife bans througheither laws or constitutional amendments or both. (Procon) 15 states legalizing gay sum in ten years is a dependable the accomplishment however, it is fluid, and continues to be, a very polarizing issue within the country. The pass age and borrowing of gay conjugal union effects numerous different diversity categories including only if not limited to age, religion, and ethnicity and ladder, and economic status.AgeThere is a submit correlation between age and the judging of same sex join in America. According to The Pew Research pith, younger Americans are a lot to a greater extent accepting and favor same sex unions oer sure-enough(a) Americans (PewResearchgroup).Individuals, born after 1980, favor allowing gays andlesbians to marry de jure by a 53%-to-39% margin,while there is less(prenominal)(prenominal) support for same-sex wedding among mollycoddle Boomers those born 1946 to 1964 than amongyounger age groups. Currently, 38% favor allowing gaysand lesbians to marry legally while 52% are opposed(Pew Research)These recent poling numbers would give notice a continuing trend from generation to generation all(prenominal) smart generation is more in favor of same sex marriage than the previous. With more Americans favoring same sex marriage than ever before, one would rely this trend of acceptance of gay marriage will continue over the next generations to come. ReligionThere is a strong relationship between how sacred you see yourself and your views and attitudes toward gay marriage. This idea is not very strike although very important as it contributes to an understanding of the religious factors that influence opinions astir(predicate) issues directly impacting the gay population. Religious attendance is associated with negative attitudes towards gay and lesbians and less support to gay and lesbian civil rights. (Todd and Ong, 1) There is a corroborative link between high religious attendance and negative attitudes towards gay marriage religious attendance is a constant predictor of attitudes towards gay marriage. Within subgroups of religion such as Christian Orthodoxy and materialistic Protestant, with such an identification, therefore reducing the odds of suppor ting gay marriage. (Todd and Ong, 1) Findings suggest the more one identifies and strictly follows their religious views has a direct link to their views on gay marriage.Ethnicity and RaceViews and opinions, whether they be negative or positive regarding gay marriage changes and varies within ethnicities and race. Afro-Americans are generally more opposed to gay marriage versus their white counterparts. African-American religiosity is primarily responsible for their conservative views about homosexuality and same-sex marriage. (Sherkat, Mattias de Vries, and brook, 81) The factors of race and religion closely relate to each other in this aspect and help to influence each other. As stated above religion has great influence on ones views of same-sex marriage and African-Americans have the highest rates of religious participation of any subgroup of the U.S. population (Sherkat, Mattias de Vries, and Creek 81)Between 1998 and 2004, white opposition to same-sexmarriage declined to unde r 54 percent, and it swaybacked tounder 46 percent by 2008. Opposition to same-sex marriage withal declined substantially for those of other races,decreasing to under 40 percent in the 2004 survey, andfluctuating between 45percent in 2006 and 43 percent in2008. Yet, African-American opposition did not declinesubstantially between 1988 and 2006. (Sherkat, Mattias deVries, and Creek 81)Within different races the opinions of gay marriage seem to be changing with the time except for the African-American race. Again, whether it is due to outside factors of religion, culture, or tradition, the African-American race seems to be lagging in the forward movement of gay marriage. thicksetAs Americans we are guaranteed certain inalienable civil rights and liberties, however as we have seen and know that is not invariably true. Based on an individuals sexual preference the ability to marry is not always assured. Factors such as age, religion, ethnicity and race, and economic status greatly in fluence ones opinion on same sex marriage. Those who are older and more religious oppose gay marriage more than their counterparts who are younger and less religious. Is this to say every older religious individual does not accept in same sex marriage? The answer is no however, these factors such as age and religiousness tend to follow these trends. There is too variation in opinions within races and ethnicities. fair Americans seem to be the most accepting of gay marriage over African-Americans and other races.DiscussionThe end on choosing gay marriage legalization and views in America directly comes from the realization that there are more gay couples seeking marriage in todays society than ever before. Gay marriage is no different than heterosexual marriage between a man and a woman with the one obvious exception of gay marriage universe between two individuals of the same-sex. Often times, gay marriages are not granted the same civil rights and civil liberties as their het erosexual counterparts. Age, religion, ethnicity and race, and economic status greatly factor into ones positive or negativeviews on gay marriage.Throughout this course I have learned that some(prenominal) individuals or even groups of people, such as the gay population, have a very difficult time obtaining the same advantages as their peers. In the past, homosexuality was something to be feared, however, today the public opinion of gay marriage is changing for the better. Stereotypes and prejudices still exist today however they are slowly being phased out by an understanding and more positive attitude towards gay marriage. As of today fifteen states have legalized gay marriage with many other states predicated to soon follow suit.This research has helped me better understand the fight down and plight that the gay community often faces for basic civil rights. Liberties and benefits that I take for granted that come along with marriage are not often extended to the gay community b ased solely on sexual orientation. I have gained a new appreciation of marriage because I know it is not something that is equal for everyone as well as not obtainable for every individual at this present time. Marriage is not something to be taken for granted because there are those that still cannot share in its wealth. American was built on the foundation of liberty for all regardless of differing diversities I believe this should hold true for all regardless of sexual orientation.Work CitedGay MarriageProCon.org. ProConorg Headlines. ProConorg, 11 Nov.2013. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. Kohut, Andrew. little Opposition to Gay Marriage, Adoption and Military Service. Pew Research Center for the People and the Press RSS. People Press, 22 Mar. 2006. Web. 06 Nov. 2013 Marriage. Marriage. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.Sherkat, Darren, Kylan Mattais De Vrias, and Stacia Creek. Race, Religion, and Opposition to Same-. kind Science Quarterly (2010) 80-100. EBSCO. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. . Todd, Natha n R., and Katherine S. Ong. Political and Theological Orientation as Moderators for the Association between Religious Attendance and Attitudes toward Gay Marriage for White Christians.Psychology of Religion and Spirtuality 4.1 (2011) 56-70. EBSCO. Web. 2013. .