Introduction

No, you may not marry the person you love because you two are the same sex. How does two people getting married effect other people in any way? It's not like your the one marrying them.

The subject of same sex marriages has been widely debated in societies with those who are for it and those who are against. It is only now that same sex marriage has become an issue which is being considered to be legalized New Zealand. Referring to same sex couples as being sinners and disrespecting politicians who support same sex marriages seems childish. What happened to equal rights?

Taking away the right for someone to get married is taking away a choice which they were legally allowed to have. And who gave use that right ? The churches? The politicians?

Same sex marriages should be legal, regardless of how people define the label of 'marriage'. It's not about having the status of being married, for homosexual couples, its about rights. It's not about religion, its not even about politics. It's about having the same rights as everybody else. Same sex couples aren't different, and every human should have the same rights, whether they are gay or straight.

Is this just about votes?

Politicians are thinking about the legalization of same sex marriages as possibly being a blow to their elections. Some politicians are against the same sex marriage bill because of the amounts of votes they stand to lose. So what, does this mean that MPs are going to throw away the idea of a same sex marriage simply because of what THEY could lose? I wondered if these politicians have thought about what couples in a civil union stand to lose? When it comes down to it, couples in a civil union means nothing when their other half has been involved in an accident and why? Because in a civil union, your not classed as immediate family.

Homosexuality is a sin ?

Most negativity surrounding the topic of same sex marriages is based around religion. A number of religious groups have been more than open about their thoughts on same sex marriages which some religious leaders go as far as urging the members of Parliament not to vote for the passing of same sex marriages claiming it is offensive to Christians which make up quite a bit of New Zealand's population and the voters.

New Zealand however, is becoming more and more aware of same sex marriages and are backing it with a total of 63% of the New Zealand population keen for the change to make same sex marriages legal. Many religious officials feel that by passing the bill, they will have no choice but to officiate at same sex marriages as it will become illegal if they don't. A number of religious groups have expressed their opposition and are claiming to ignore the law if it does pass. The problem with religions becoming involved with this is that they chose certain aspects of their religion which they chose to enforce more than the others. For example, there are things which is mentioned in many holy books such as the bible which is said to be forbidden yet, everyone does it anyway such as eating bacon or playing football. So why has same sex marriages gotten such a negative response from religious groups? Why is same sex marriages classed as committing a sin whereas eating bacon is seen as okay? I don't hear of Christians being killed for eating bacon.

The pope has also made his opinion of this topic known as he made a comment saying that making same sex marriages legal will "undermine the future of humanity". Mind you, this is coming from the person who once said that pedophilia isn't such a bad thing. The video to the left is from the Jimmi Kimmel show where Jimmi Kimmel puts a comedic spin to the Pope's statement by making a funny scenario which makes the Holy Man's statement true.

Equality for all!

It seems that regardless of what happens, there is always going to be a battle of equality amongst humanity. The subject of same sex marriage has now become seen as a civil rights movement as the fight for legalizing same sex marriages is becoming ever stronger! It's becoming ever more known that being gay is the new black which highlights the point of there constantly being a struggle for equality.

Same sex marriages have no reason to be illegal. To me, it seems fairly simple; if you don't want to be in a same sex marriage then don't. No-ones forcing you too. But that doesn't mean you stop other people from having those benefits.

Many people against same sex marriages focus on the negatives such as the impact a same sex marriage would have on children which to me personally doesn't make sense. I highly doubt children will become confused about gender roles because our roles have changed drastically in the last 40 years alone! There isn't much about gender roles to confuse children because then aren't we teaching children about sexism if we teach them about gender roles?

Conclusion

So what is the real reason same sex marriages have become so debated? Same sex marriages should be a thing of human rights. Being a homosexual doesn't make you a sinner. Being gay isn't a preference and you can't just pray the gay away. The debate of same sex marriages has become an issue of homosexuals vs religion and human rights vs politics. Religions pick and chose certain aspects which they chose to enforce more than others which brings about the topic of who gives them the right to decide what people can and cant do. Same sex marriages shouldn't be dismissed just because of how many votes a political party stands to lose. Marriage is about love, not about who you are or what your sexuality is. There should be an equality for all; and for this reason same sex marriages should be legalized.

References

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Goodstein, Laurie. (2012, May 13). Unions That Divide: Churches split Over Gay Marriage.  The New York Times. Retrieved from 

 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/14/us/gay-marriage-issue-divides-churches.html?pagewanted=all&_moc.semityn.www&_r=0

Gower, Patrick. (2012, August 08). Opinion: Labour breaking up over same-sex marriage. 3 News. Retrieved from

http://www.3news.co.nz/Opinion-Labour-breaking-up-over-same-sex-marriage/tabid/1382/articleID/264602/Default.aspx

11 Things The Bible Bans, But You Do Anyway. (2008). Retrieved September 28, 2012, from http://www.11points.com/books/11_things_the_bible_bans,_but_you_do_anyway

Gross, Michael Joseph. (2008, November 16). Gay Is the New Black? Retrieved from http://www.advocate.com/news/2008/11/16/gay-new-black

Jimmy Kimmel Live. (2012, January 10). How Gay Marriage Could End Humanity [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NrSkmpHp_T0

Ten Links

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http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7057118/Kiwis-back-gay-marriage-poll

Summary: A TVNZ poll conclluded that 61% of NZs which participated were for the bill to be passed whereas 31% opposed

http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2012/08/poll_breakdown_on_same_sex_marriage.html

 Summary: Statistics regarding same sex marriage polls, ratios to for and against. 

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/church-losing-debate-gay-marriage-4915153

 Summary: "...it is quite likely Christians will just have to accept gay marriage." Many Christian churches have opposed same sex marriages. This shows that the government isnt the one opposed to it.

http://www.balancedpolitics.org/same_sex_marriages.htm

 Summary: Pros and cons about same sex marriages; cons include a sense of confusing children about gender roles - sexism.

http://www.3news.co.nz/Anti-gay-marriage-petition-launched/tabid/1607/articleID/263079/Default.aspx

 Summary: Petition online which is against same sex marriage. Also brings up the "concern" about the same sex couples adopting.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10828775

 Summary: "A conservative group within the Presbyterian Church has urged Parliamentarians to reject the same sex marriage bill next week" Church's are planning on fighting for the bill not to be passed.

http://www.3news.co.nz/Opinion-Labour-breaking-up-over-same-sex-marriage/tabid/1382/articleID/264602/Default.aspx

 Summary: "Labour's Mangere MP Sua William Sio has basically called for a divorce from the bill, saying it should be withdrawn - because it could cost the party the next election." Labour gets the majority of its votes from the Pacific Island communities and there are fears this bill being passed could make labour lose all those votes.

http://gaymarriage.procon.org/

 Summary: More pros and cons for gay marriages.

http://www.care2.com/causes/which-countries-have-legalized-gay-marriage.html

 Summary: A total of 9 countries worldwide have legalized gay marriage. Certain states in USA have also made same sex marriages legal.

http://www.civilrights.org/publications/hatecrimes/lgbt.html

Summary:  Hate crimes which have occured due to ones sexual orientation.