Gay Marriage

A Speech by: Samantha Purcell

It should be legal in ALL states!

• It’s a right protected by the Constitution

• Would decrease discrimination based on sexual preference/identity

• Would result in lower divorce rates

• Would give gay couples benefits only given to married couples

• Claims against it are irrational and outdated

Equal rights

• Protected by the constitution• 14th Amendment: "No State shall make or enforce any

law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

• “A state law banning gay marriage clearly abridges the privileges of its citizens, deprives people of their liberty, and strictly denies people equal protection of the laws.” (ctpost.com)

Decreasing Descrimination

• Example: Tom Daley• Announced he was dating a

man, public went to social media with their thoughts

• Some people weren’t so supportive

More Common = More Accepted

• “Denying same-sex couples the right to marry stigmatizes gay and lesbian families as inferior and sends the message that it is acceptable to discriminate against them.” (ProCon.org)

• Allowing it would do just the opposite!

Lower Divorce Rates

• “In states where same-sex marriages are legally recognized, the divorce rate is 20 percent lower than in states that only allow marriages between a man and a woman. For example, Massachusetts, which was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage (in 2004), also has the lowest divorce rate in the country.” (huffingtonpost.com)

Marriage Benefits• Tax benefits

– Joint tax incomes with the IRS• Medical benefits

– Visiting your spouse in a hospital intensive care unit or during restricted visiting hours in other parts of a medical facility.

– Making medical decisions for your spouse if he or she becomes incapacitated and unable to express wishes for treatment.

• Family benefits– Filing for stepparent or joint adoption.– Applying for joint foster care rights.– Receiving equitable division of property if you divorce.

• Death benefits– Making burial or other final arrangements.

• (nolo.com)

Arguments Against Gay Marriage

• “Marriage is traditionally between a man and a woman.”– Okay.. I “traditionally” would have to stay in the house

and only wear dresses or skirts.. And yet here I am, wearing pants in a classroom.

• “The Bible says Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.”– Leviticus 19:27: Ye shall not round the corners of your

heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.– Leviticus 19:19: Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt

not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woolen come upon thee.

Arguments Against Gay Marriage

• “Next thing you know, a man can marry a dog, or his sister.”

• First of all, this is a complete exaggeration.

• Second of all-– This is not hurting anyone– This is no one else’s business– They’re happy, and that’s all that

matters

Arguments Against Gay Marriage

• “It will weaken the institution of marriage.”– I’ll just leave this here…

Works Cited

• "Gay Marriage ProCon.org." ProConorg Headlines. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.

• Mallon, Bridget. "Gay Marriage: States That Allow Same-Sex Unions Have Lower

Divorce Rates." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 27 June

2013. Web. 04 Dec. 2013.• "Marriage Rights and Benefits." Nolo.com.

N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2013.• "Same-sex Marriage: A Constitutional Right."

Connecticut Post. N.p., 12 Aug. 2010. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.