READING AND WRITING

Fourth Quarter

RIVERA, Armina Nicole C. MT 1 Counter Claim Write Up

STEM 5 Mr. Joram Kim B. Corcuera
PRO: Same Sex Marriage

The question of whether gay marriages should be legalized has been increasingly asked over the
last few years. A move like this would allow for greater equality in many aspects of life for homosexuals, and
would also remove the negative stigma that looms around same sex couples. Banning same sex marriages is
discrimination, and in a world, that is striving for equality is a huge step backward.

In the article Senate bets oppose same-sex unions, LGBT discrimination, it was mentioned
that same-sex marriage is a sin against the teachings of God on family and procreation. However, I dont
agree with this. Who would be affected if homosexual marriage is legalized? No one. Everyone believes there is
one person who is out there to love us. Parenthood is a benefit of marriage and same sex couples cannot have
children by themselves. But by legalizing same sex marriage, adoption agencies will be forced to grant the same
respect and right to homosexual couples. Gay marriage will increase the chances for thousands of foster
children to gain loving parents and families. In fact, Family is not created because of the children. The essence
and nature of the family is about acceptance, belongingness, connectedness, responsibility and empowerment.

According to Francis Tolentino, It would weaken the definition and respect for the institution
of Marriage. Denying marriage to two individuals who love each other is to deny them a fundamental
freedom. Marriage is sacred, it is not to be taken lightly. The most important thing in marriage is love. Marriage
is a successful institution and it makes sense to open it to as many people as possible. Since the beginning of
history, couples have sought to seal their love and solemnly bind themselves together through marriage.
Opening that bond to all will strengthen the society. Legalization recognizes reality: there are gay people, they
love each other and they want to commit to each other through marriage in the same way as straight couples.
 It was also mentioned in the article, According to the Code of Law of the Church that
marriage is only between a man and woman. I dont agree with this statement because I believe we all
have the Freedom of Choice and as per our constitution specifically the 1987 Philippine constitution, states that
the state values the dignity of every human person guarantees full respect for human rights. The state should
have no say on how consenting adults conduct their lives. If two people love each other and want to get married
they should be allowed to do so regardless of the color, religion, nationality or sex of their partner. Love and
marriage should be a purely personal choice. When government interfere in the private lives of people, dictating
who can marry, individual freedoms are compromised with potentially dangerous implications.

Even though to most people same sex marriage should be illegal and should stay in its current
state, I believe we need to change the world for future generations. We feared that different religions were going
to clash, but now all the religions coexist. White people had Black and Hispanic slaves, but we overcame the
odds and now White men, Black men, and Hispanic men can be equals. If it is possible to overcome such fierce
obstacles, then we can overcome the boundary obstructing homosexual marriages and straight marriages alike.

Same sex marriage should be legalized for these reasons. Evolution will always continue and at
any given point in time, something will occur that we will like in this world., but we can overcome this. Same
sex marriage is a controversial issue that people have been fighting for years and it has finally come to the
surface.