Donquarious Howie

March 30, 2014

English 1102
Teacher Feedback: You have a good start with this paper and with explaining three varying
perspective on your issue. You tie in a lot of good met commentary about the complexity of the
issue and varying reasons why people have different opinions about and stakes in the issue. One
thing to work on is with tying in outside information. You want to remember to introduce
something about the author or article the first time you use a source in a paper. Also, paraphrase
whenever possible. The event tied in with the second voice is a good one, but most of it could be
paraphrased. (Make sure you have at least two different sources to tie in for each "voice." I was
missing sources in the third voice.
Final Round Table Paper
What is homosexuality? According to Wikipedia, the formal denotation of this phrase is a
romantic attraction, sexual attraction or sexual behavior between members of the same sex or
gender. However, in America, since the late 1900s, this phrase has been widely debated
amongst many people, sides, and perspectives because of each individuals connotation of the
word. In America heterosexuals (or couples of the opposite sex) have been allowed to marry at
will no matter of the circumstances, but homosexuals have been enduring a long fight for that
same fight. The fight started in 1972 by two homosexual males Richard Baker and Michael
Mcconnell who wanted rights to marriage but were inevitably denied by the Hennepin County
District Court in 1970. The two decided to take the fight to a trial before the Supreme Court and
were soon dismissed. There has been progress over the last 44 years as 17 states now allow gay
marriage, but the debate is still ongoing at this very moment.
As previously stated, there are many perspectives that are for or against gay marriage, but
the purposes on why they stand for or against are unlimited. To begin, there are members of
religious authority (such as priests, popes, and clergy) that strongly oppose gay marriage because
of the old age argument that God planned for man to be with woman. According to
Sieczkowski, Pope Francis has been on record describing gay-marriage as the work of the devil
and a destructive act as Gods plan. Religion has never really mixed well with homosexuality as
many religious figures such as the Pope feel as though it threatens their individual faith as the
holy matrimony of man and woman will be broken.
The man and woman only old age argument has made it hard, if not impossible, for
homosexuals to exist in the house of God. In the Catholic religion there are many consequences
for being homosexual and many people have lost their jobs because of their preferred sexuality.
The Catholicism way is strictly man and woman and do whatever it can to promote that belief
into their followers. In fact, earlier this year in January the band and choir director at a Catholic
school in Ohio was fired hours after he told the schools president that he planned to marry his
boyfriend; in December, a French and Spanish teacher at a Catholic school in Pennsylvania was
fired days after telling his principal he was applying for a marriage license in New Jersey.
Similar ousters have taken place at Catholic schools, universities and parishes in Arkansas,
California, Illinois, Missouri, New York and North Carolina. (Paulson, par.4). A belief in
homosexuality has cost people jobs and their ability to be accepted religiously because of their
support or decision to oppose the God way.
Not only do people of religion disprove of same-sex marriage, but so do people of moral
belief. Many people argue that gay marriage is detrimental on our youth and also has it weakens
the purpose of parental figures. According to Eckholm, a case in Detroit recently occurred, and
its purpose was to determine whether or not a child could be raised in circumstances with two
parents of the same sex. There were many studies that were conducted, and some of the studies
discovered that a child can be affected in a negative way by a homosexual parent household. A
child is not meant to be raised in any other environment but a two parent, heterosexual
household; anything else can prove to be detrimental to a childs development.

However, there are those individuals who believe in homosexuality. According to
Debate.org people have carried on an ongoing debate about the premises of homosexuality and
91% of these individuals support the cause. These supporters come in many different views for
their support, and one main view they present at the round table is the one of equality.
Homosexuals are only human, and they are granted the God given rights of any human being. To
be told that you are not allowed to be fully and legally happy because of your individual choice
can be very challenging to an individual. There is slowly a transition in Americans today that
supports this theory as the belief of equality amongst all couples has become respected more and
more over time.
In addition not only do they say that they have the god given right, but they also believe
homosexuals have a constitutional right to be married. According to Craighill, exactly 50% of
United State citizens believe that the Constitution's equal right amendment provides
homosexuals the same marriage ability that a straight couple receive. These same people voice
the opinion that gay people need to be accommodated like heterosexuals would. We are all born
with rights to be humans, so why wouldnt we be allowed to marry whoever we please?
To conclude, gay marriage has a round table that extends infinitely. There are many
borders, lines, topics and socially sensitive topics that come with the inquiry. In America, we
have made progress toward treating all human beings with equality. From the freedom of African
Americans to the legalization process of many undocumented immigrants, there is plenty ways
for all to be accepted into the American culture. However, the only process that has yet to reach
all states is the legalization of gay marriage. No matter if you agree or disagree is too black and
white, but the primary question that truly linger for all parties is what voice do you support?


Works cited
Craighill, Peyton M., and Scott Clement. "Support for Same-sex Marriage
Hits New High; Half Say Constitution Guarantees Right."
Washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post, 05 Mar. 2014. Web.
18 Mar. 2014.
Eckholm, Erik. "Opponents of Same-Sex Marriage Take Bad-for-Children Argument to Court."
Nytimes.com. The New York Times, 22 Feb. 2014. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.
Sieczkowski, Cavan. "Pope Francis Against Gay Marriage, Gay Adoption." The Huffington Post.
TheHuffingtonPost.com, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 06 May 2014.
"Should Homosexuals Have Equal Rights?" The Premier Online Debate Website. Debate.org,
n.d. Web. 06 May 2014.