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Gay Marriage
Research Draft Paper: Gay Marriage
Ronnie Johnson
Introduction to Ethics and Social Responsibility
Instructor: Christopher Myers
May 21, 2013

Gay marriage has been the subject of debate for centuries in different areas all over the world. Today, in America, the decision to legalize gay marriage is being debated in each state. To date, there are twelve states that have approved gay marriages; among them are New York, Connecticut, California and more. Many people are against gay marriage because the Bible and other religious books states that marriage is between a man and a woman in order to have children but I believe gay marriage should be legal everywhere. Lesbian, gay, heterosexual or transgender are all humans, and we all deserve equal rights; gay marriage does not harm anyone, individuals or society in general, so why shouldn’t gay people receive the same benefits as heterosexual couples receive?
The debate on gay marriage is usually taken back to the religious definition of what marriage is. However, if we are to apply the utilitarian principle of ethics to this situation, how would it rule? I would have to say the utilitarian act would be to choose legalizing gay marriage. Choosing to vote for gay marriage produces the best results for the greatest number affected by that choice. Even if there are more people against gay marriage than there are people for gay marriage, the people against gay marriage are not really affected at all. Honestly, it is unclear to me why so many people fight so hard against something that is not harming anyone in any way. In this particular situation, the utilitarian rule will benefit gay people in the pursuit of equality.
Most of the people who fight against gay marriage are considered to be emotivists, in my opinion. Times have drastically changed and it has become more apparent that there are more reasons to allow gay marriage than there are to fight against it. “It’s Remarkable not only how public opinion has recently


References: Blessing gay marriage. (2013, Mar 20). The Christian Century, 130, 7-7. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1324430987?accountid=32521 Whitehead, J. C. (2011). RISK, MARRIAGE, AND NEOLIBERAL GOVERNANCE: Learning from the unwillingly excluded. Sociological Quarterly, 52(2), 293. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/868121010?accountid=32521 Taylor, V., Van Dyke, N., Kimport, K., & Andersen, E. A. (2009). Culture and mobilization: Tactical repertoires, same-sex weddings, and the impact on gay activism. American Sociological Review, 74(6), 865-890. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/218811510?accountid=32521
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