Sociology

Thesis Statement Gay marriage has been subjected to extensive criticism and has been showered with conflicts and controversies. However, over time, gay marriage has proved to be no more different than traditional marriage and should therefore be considered to be the same.

Outline
An introduction to the concept of gay marriage
The reasons because of which the debate on gay marriage exists
The school of thought in favor or gay marriage finds its arguments on the basis of the right of every human being to choose the way heshe leads hisher life.

The school of thought against gay marriage finds its arguments on the basis of religious beliefs and social norms.

Gay couples over time have developed a somewhat cautious approach towards society in light of the barrage of controversies and criticism to which they have been subjected.

The demand for the right for same sex marriages should be considered in light of the fact that it is no more different than the recognition of the idea of marriage by choice through time

Resisting the recognition of gay marriage is ineffectual since it is not an outbreak or a cult but a part of the evolution of society and should be considered with the relevance it merits.

There has been no evidence and no indication that can oppose gay marriage and the only opposition that was based on stigmas is steadily waning away since it was without foundation to begin with.

Conclusion and validation of thesis statement
Gay marriage, or same sex marriage as it is otherwise referred to as, is the marriage of two people belonging to the very same gender category (Eskridge and Spedale). The issue is one that has acquired a significant degree of attention in the last few decades of the twentieth century and has become the subject of heated debate and criticism.

The reason because of which the issue is of sensitivity is that religious, cultural and other region based beliefs often conflict with the idea of gay marriage while is rejected completely by social norms in some societies (Mello). Not being accepted by such societies, gay couples end up without any legal recognition or protection. They are excluded from justice systems and legal frameworks through the refusal to recognize them as married couples.

Those in favor of same sex marriages stand for the perception that marriage in essence is the right of every human being and the authority to marry whosoever they wish to is a right that comes with it (Johnson). Protestors in favor of gay marriage perceive it as a basic human right and call for the recognition of gay marriage in the same light.

Those against gay marriage generally take their stand based on social norms or are motivated by religious or cultural beliefs (BBC News). This school of thought continues to deny accepting gay marriage as any recognizable form of marriage and denounces it strongly (Honan). They consider same sex marriages to be somewhat unnatural and look down upon people who belong to same sex marriages.

In recent decades, the debate for and against same sex marriages has become all the more critical in light of the fact that a steadily growing number of people have begun to favor same sex marriages and the gay community has come forth more openly than they ever did before. Studies have been conduced and the media has showed that same sex marriages are in fact, no more different than traditional customary marriages (Chait). Couples engaged in same sex marriages have come forth and have shown that same sex marriages mean and cause no harm to society in any way at all.

When considering the question of gay marriage, decades of subjection to heated debates and controversial perspectives have brought the gay community to a point where they now choose to lead cautious lives and while they are willing to express their sexual orientation without any hesitation, they make sure that they do not send out any messages to the larger society that have the potential to be misinterpreted into any meaning that may oppose the idea of gay marriage.

In earlier days, couples who chose to engage in gay marriages would choose to keep their identity as a gay couple secret from society. For decades, such couples were denounced and rejected by society with very little support. It was with time that it became apparent that this was not a temporary trend but a social reality that had to be recognized.

It is known full well that there was once a time when marriage took place as a result of a consensus between the parents of the husband and wife to be. This system steadily became inadequate and evolution brought forth the right and need for the right to marry according to ones will more profoundly than it ever had before. In light of this fact, it would be unfair to stop it from evolving further. While one cannot deny the fact that change has never been easy and societies have taken their time in adapting to change, it is the most essential constituent of the evolution of a society. In this case, the development is towards the provision of the right to choose a life partner.

No evidence has been recorded that may indicate that same sex marriages are harmful. In fact, couples engaged in same sex marriages can hardly be told apart since the fact of the matter remains that they are no more different from couples in marriages that are currently considered as traditional marriages. There is still a considerable degree of confusion amongst the church and government systems upon the legalization and recognition of gay marriage. However, the stigmas associated with the idea have disintegrated with time and one cannot help but notice that the realization of the authenticity of gay marriage as a marriage no different than a traditional marriage is steadily acquiring its position in society.

While countries such as Denmark chose to recognize gay marriage as a form of marriage long before others, the concept still remains new and is even considered to be taboo in some cultures. It is therefore evident that there is a strong need for education in this regard. Gay marriage and statistics acquired in its response over the decades have shown that it is not different from any other form of marriage and should therefore be considered to be the same. It would be reasonable to bring this paper to a concluding note with the statement that gay marriage should be considered to be no different than normal marriage and should be given the same relevance and regard that a customary marriage would be given.