Blog 12 - Julie Martin

Should Gay Marriage be Legal?

In chapter 5 of What Matters in America, Gary Goshgarian presents four essays on the issue of recognition of marriage of same-sex couples by the states. Four differing arguments are represented. The first entitled “The ‘M-Word’: Why it Matters to Me” is written by a gay man Andrew Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan argues that there exists an emotional need for legitimization of the union of two people that if met, would benefit society as a whole (152-154). The second essay, written by Laurie Essig "Same Sex Marriage", questions why lesbians would feel the need to participate in the quintessential heterosexually-defined institution of marriage (157). Sam Schulman develops a historical and philosophical definition of marriage in "Gay Marriage - and Marriage", which leads to the unavoidable conclusion that marriage can only be defined as being between one man and one woman (167). The final essay is "Abolish Marriage" by Michael Kinsley. In this piece, Kinsley takes the legal and political route in arguing that the spiritual definition of marriage is best left to religious and like institutions, and that the government doesn't need to be involved (171-173).

It is probable that there are more points of view on this topic, but these four give fair representation to enough varying opinions to demonstrate why this is a volatile subject in public discourse. Such combinations of emotional, religious, and legal arguments are difficult to mediate. Looking back at how this debate has unfolded over the past four or five years, one would have to admit that the cat is out of the bag. This will issue will not disappear. This fact is not unnoticed by the authors. For example, part of Schulman's argument follows this logic; if marriage between same sex couples is sanctioned, what is next? Marriage between three people? Four people (164)?

All four essays look for the next step, only one; “The ‘M Word’: Why it Matters to Me” looks to make gay marriage legal. The other three are basically arguing against it with slight variations. Of all the opinions expressed, Kinsley's argument to abolish government sanctioned marriage is unique in that he would move the argument to the church, temple, or mosque and out of the legislative houses (172). When that thought process is compared to one of the basic of tenets of our government; separation of church and state it provides a strong argument for his case.

Works Cited

Essig, Laurie. "Same-Sex Marriage." Goshgarian, Gary. What Matters in America. New York: Pearson Educational Inc., 2007. 156-159.

Goshgarian, Gary. What Matters in America. New York: Pearson Education, Inc., 2007.

Kinsley, Michael. "Abolish Marriage." Goshgarian, Gary. What Matters in America. New York: Pearson Educational Inc., 2007. 170-174.

Shulman, Sam. "Gay Marrige-and Marriage." Goshgarian, Gary. What Matters in America. New York: Pearson Educational Inc., 2007. 160-167.

Sullivan, Andrew. The ‘M-Word’: Why it Matters to Me." Goshgarian, Gary. What Matters in America. New York: Pearson Educational Inc., 2007. 152-154.