Gay marriage in America Essay

America was built on the foundation of equality for all men notwithstanding, not until recently have intrepid and sapphic individuals inherited such well-bred rights. One of the largest and most pressing issues effecting the jolly population is the issue of gay spousals. Marriage is defined as the relationship that exists amidst a husband and wife or a similar relationship between people of the alike(p) sex (Websters). Within the past ten eld fifteen states have legalized gay marriage.As of Nov. 13, 2013, gay marriage has been legalizedin 15 US states (CA, CT, DE, HI, IA, MA, MD, ME,MN, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT, and WA) and the Districtof Columbia. 34 states have gay marriage bans through and througheither laws or constitutional amendments or both. (Procon)Fifteen states legalizing gay marriage in ten years is a strong the accomplishment however, it is still, and continues to be, a actually polarizing issue within the country. The passage and bridal of gay marriage effects popu lacey different diversity categories including but not limited to age, religion, and ethnicity and race, and economic status. seasonThere is a direct correlation between age and the opinion of same sex marriage in America. According to The Pew Research Center, junior Americans are much more accepting and favor same sex unions over cured Americans (PewResearchgroup).Individuals, born after 1980, favor allowing gays andlesbians to marry lawfully by a 53%-to-39% margin,while there is less support for same-sex marriage amongBaby Boomers those born 1946 to 1964 than amongyounger age groups. Currently, 38% favor allowing gaysand lesbians to marry legally while 52% are opposed(Pew Research)These recent poling numbers would suggest a continuing trend from extension to generation each new generation is more in favor of same sex marriage than the previous. With more Americans favoring same sex marriage than ever before, one would believe this trend of acceptance of gay marriage will cont inue over the next generations to come. ReligionThere is a strong relationship between how spectral you see yourself and your views and attitudes toward gay marriage. This idea is not very surprising although very important as it contributes to an understanding of the religious factors that influence opinions about issues directly impacting the gay population. Religious attention is associated with negative attitudes towards gay and lesbians and less support to gay and lesbian civil rights. (Todd and Ong, 1) There is a positive link between high religious at slantance and negative attitudes towards gay marriage religious attendance is a constant predictor of attitudes towards gay marriage. Within subgroups of religion such as Christian Orthodoxy and bourgeois Protestant, with such an identification, therefore reducing the odds of supporting gay marriage. (Todd and Ong, 1) Findings suggest the more one identifies and strictly follows their religious views has a direct link to thei r views on gay marriage.Ethnicity and RaceViews and opinions, whether they be negative or positive regarding gay marriage changes and varies within ethnicities and race. African-Americans are generally more opposed to gay marriage versus their white counterparts. African-American religiosity is primarily responsible for their conservative views about homosexuality and same-sex marriage. (Sherkat, Mattias de Vries, and Creek, 81) The factors of race and religion closely relate to each opposite in this aspect and help to influence each other. As stated above religion has great influence on ones views of same-sex marriage and African-Americans have the highest rates of religious participation of any subgroup of the U.S. population (Sherkat, Mattias de Vries, and Creek 81)Between 1998 and 2004, white opposition to same-sexmarriage declined to under 54 percentage, and it dipped tounder 46 percent by 2008. Opposition to same-sex marriagealso declined substantially for those of other rac es,decreasing to under 40 percent in the 2004 survey, andfluctuating between 45percent in 2006 and 43 percent in2008. Yet, African-American opposition did not declinesubstantially between 1988 and 2006. (Sherkat, Mattias deVries, and Creek 81)Within different races the opinions of gay marriage seem to be ever-changing with the clocks except for the African-American race. Again, whether it is due to outside factors of religion, culture, or tradition, the African-American race seems to be lagging in the forward movement of gay marriage. drumheadAs Americans we are guaranteed certain inalienable civil rights and liberties, however as we have seen and know that is not always true. Based on an individuals sexual preference the ability to marry is not always assured. Factors such as age, religion, ethnicity and race, and economic status greatly influence ones opinion on same sex marriage. Those who are older and more religious oppose gay marriage more than their counterparts who are youn ger and less religious. Is this to say every older religious individual does not believe in same sex marriage? The answer is no however, these factors such as age and religiousness tend to follow these trends. There is also variation in opinions within races and ethnicities. White Americans seem to be the most accepting of gay marriage over African-Americans and other races.DiscussionThe decision on choosing gay marriage legalization and views in America today comes from the realization that there are more gay couples pursuit marriage in todays society than ever before. fearless marriage is no different than heterosexual marriage between a man and a woman with the one obvious exception of gay marriage being between two individuals of the same-sex. Often times, gay marriages are not given(p) the same civil rights and civil liberties as their heterosexual counterparts. Age, religion, ethnicity and race, and economic status greatly factor into ones positive or negativeviews on gay m arriage. passim this course I have learned that some individuals or even groups of people, such as the gay population, have a very difficult time obtaining the same advantages as their peers. In the past, homosexuality was something to be feared, however, today the public opinion of gay marriage is changing for the better. Stereotypes and prejudices still exist today however they are slowly being phased out by an understanding and more positive attitude towards gay marriage. As of today fifteen states have legalized gay marriage with many other states predicated to soon follow suit.This research has helped me better understand the struggle and plight that the gay community often faces for basic civil rights. Liberties and benefits that I take for granted that come along with marriage are not often extended to the gay community based solely on sexual orientation. I have gained a new appreciation of marriage because I know it is not something that is equal for everyone as well as not obtainable for every individual at this present time. Marriage is not something to be taken for granted because there are those that still cannot share in its wealth. American was built on the foundation of freedom for all regardless of differing diversities I believe this should hold true for all regardless of sexual orientation. be given CitedGay MarriageProCon.org. ProConorg Headlines. ProConorg, 11 Nov.2013. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. Kohut, Andrew. Less Opposition to Gay Marriage, Adoption and Military Service. Pew Research Center for the People and the Press RSS. People Press, 22 Mar. 2006. Web. 06 Nov. 2013 Marriage. Marriage. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.Sherkat, Darren, Kylan Mattais De Vrias, and Stacia Creek. Race, Religion, and Opposition to Same-. Social Science Quarterly (2010) 80-100. EBSCO. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. . Todd, Nathan R., and Katherine S. Ong. Political and Theological Orientation as Moderators for the Association between Religious Attendance and Attitudes toward Gay M arriage for White Christians.Psychology of Religion and Spirtuality 4.1 (2011) 56-70. EBSCO. Web. 2013. .