Marriage and Family/Gay and Lesbian Marriage

* Should gay and lesbian couples have the right to marry each other in the United States today?

Absolutely. It is every humans inherent right to pursue what makes them happy, that is what it means to be an American. So long as an individuals choices do not bring harm others, you can have and do anything you choose. Although I must admit that I didn’t always feel this way, and can somewhat sympathize with those who may see homosexuality as unnatural and unusual. As the saying goes, “people fear what they don’t understand,” and if someone is on the outside, brought up believing otherwise, gay and lesbian couples would be demonized.

Such was the case with me. I grew up in a very strict Roman Catholic home and the right to free expression and ideas was heavily restricted. I was told what to believe, how to believe and the Church was my compass for morality. When I had heard of homosexuality as a lifestyle, I just comprehend why mankind would make the ultimate insult to almighty God by relishing in such deviant behavior. I too despised the idea and automatically thought that people of this lifestyle were wrong and evil.

As I got older, and began realizing I could think for myself, I came to understand that affection and love does not have to be restricted to a man and a woman. You can love many people on many levels. The idea that I truly loved my best friend, a man, and my loyalty to him would match exactly the kind of love and loyalty I hold for my wife. My expression of love is different with each but a very thin difference existed. When he passed away in a fire fight and I became extremely depressed out of grief, the idea hit me that all at once, that my beliefs were flawed. If I could care that much about another man, why couldn’t a man love another, or woman love another, in an intimate manner? The realization was so profound that I felt guilty for ever believing what I once did.

Gay and lesbian couples should have the right to marry one...