Gay Marriage

It is time for the people of this country to finally recognize and accept gay marriages. In an essay by Thomas Stoddard, he tells the story of a lesbian couple who live their lives in a manner the represents marriage in every facet except legally. This couple is not only missing out on a legal acceptance of their life long bond to one another, but also missing out on a number of financial benefits available to couples of legally accepted marriage.

Stoddard tells of a situation where one of the women was involved in a horrible car accident leaving her paralyzed and the parents of the woman stepping in to prevent her partner from gaining guardianship. Nobody should have the right to speak for another person if it is going against their wishes. If someone doesn't agree with couples of the same sex exchanging vows of eternal companionship, that is fine, you have the right to disagree. To totally disallow a same sex couple of a legal marriage is on a completely different level. In the case of the lesbian couple, we see a woman who loved her partner dearly and displayed every intention of a life long partnership, and in a blink of an eye it is all taken away by a legal technicality.

Stoddard points out some of the benefits and rights that are given to married couples. Some of these being, sharing of an estate, entitlement of life insurance and pension plans, as well as tax advantages. People need to wake up and get past their own moral issue with what marriage really is about and let everyone have the opportunity to take advantage of these benefits. Stoddard states that "the decision whether or not to marry belongs properly to individuals - not the government."

Face it, marriage is not what it used to be. Divorce rates continue to climb and domestic violence cases have become second nature. Before one can say that a gay marriage diminishes the meaning and value of what marriage is intended, one should realize that marriage's traditional values have already been diminished. There was a time when society would look at a person who has been divorced with a very shrewd eye, and generally not accept that person. It is not uncommon to see people today who have been married two or three times. People are divorcing each other for every single reason imaginable, and sometimes for no reason at all. The fact that a couple signs a prenuptial agreement before marriage shows a sign of doubt from before the marriage

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