Newsflash

Same sex Marriage
Same sex relationships are very high in the most frequent topics of conversations in America. As an American I cannot understand why people of the same sex cannot unite and legitimize their relationship publicly. What is it about same sex marriage in the country? Why has it been legal in many other places that are linked closely with the United States, educational, legislative, economic policies? Looking at this from a historical context, since America and Canada are so similar what has caused this variance? Have Canadian people been socialized differently and may this be a result of educational, religious and policy differences? To say the least what type of people are here in America, also what kinds of leaders do we have when this is occurring? What type of country has a problem creating a legitimate policy that allows for same sex partners to be together legally? What country creates legislation that does not recognize people for what they are? What kind of leader allows this to occur? A leader that cares more about the number of votes he receives. Why does this happen? Obviously, the United States and many other parts of the world do not care about the rights of people with different sexual orientations. The reason I find this sad in the United States is because we live in a country where the foundation of our culture was built on ensuring the equality of human rights for everyone. Also because same sex couples have the abilities to challenge what is normal create perspectives on power structures and ultimately should be allowed to be with someone they have been with for an extended amount of time.
However, our country allows same sex couples to not feel like first class citizens. This is sad because these couples are tax payers, voters and citizens too. They deserve an opportunity to marry just like heterosexual people in our country. Our country has socialized people to oppose same sex marriage because they “agreed that marriage is a fundamental bond with ancient roots”. What I cannot understand is what makes the people of the same sex different from the “normal” people from the ancient roots, homosexuality has ancient roots. I also cannot understand how same sex marriage can undermine the legitimacy of marriage if it is not between a man and a woman. What the article is implying is that Americans are wrong in the ways in which they treat people of the same sex. The article just shows how the legislature is controlled by a vote of the American people. If it were not, the federal government would just abolish legislation that bands it.
I believe that the American president and congress are influenced by how many voters vote for them on the issue of same sex marriage. They do not care if the legislation is being passed, that is consistent with the constitution: they care about being reelected. The president states that he supports civil unions, but as a Christian believes that marriage is between a man and a women, but this stand make it seem that he is listening more closely to what the of the population is saying and not distributing the power of legislature that lies in what the constitution was created for. The Declaration of Independence said that everyone is created equal, so why are same sex couples not treated like it. Not until time later has the United States allowed for states to make the decision. I think that this is a copout from a citizen’s standpoint to make decisions. The United States is a community, so why not make it a collective decision. Same sex marriage has been considered legal for majority of countries with their federal government overseeing the country as a whole. Example Canada federal government had created legislation that states all places in Canada must legalized same sex marriage. I find this appalling because America is similar to Canada, but what has made people of America less accepting of the understanding these couples.
I believe that people are less accepting of same sex marriage because it takes the power away while challenging what is normal. Paula asserts, “Justice for gay and lesbian couples will be achieved only when we are accepted and supported in this society despite our differences from the dominant culture and the choice we are make regarding our relationships”( Ettelbick, 306). United States will not move as Canada has because they will not accept that people of a different sexual orientation as “normal.” According to Wikipedia, In a court case Egan vs. Canada, Egan was tried for what was called “inappropriate behaviors with same sex”. Egan was in jail for six years until they let him out. While he was in jail he argued that the Canadian Charters and Freedoms did not explicitly prohibit different sexual orientations. The Supreme Court ruled that same sex marriage was illegal under the constitution in Canada. However, Egan had not broken the rules of the Charter. He was a man of a different sexual orientation and there was nothing in the constitution that said being gay was illegal. He stated under the Charter he was being discriminated against. The Supreme Court recognized that the sexual orientation was implicitly included in the section fifteen as an “analogous ground” and is therefore a prohibited ground of discrimination. The Supreme Court ruled that “sexual orientation” should be read into. Canada looked into and read about sexual orientation and was sympathetic because it’s simply who he was as a person.
United States has much work to do because the basic human rights guarantee our constitutions are not being attained for the people of the country it was created for. LGBTQ are being discriminated against explicitly out in private sphere and nothing is being done to stop or prevent it. I think that American people need to stop and look at themselves in the mirror. How different are they in that they live by the same rules as the same sex couple but believe that they should be offered more advantages in society. Reading the article also made me think about our current leaders in society for not standing up and speaking out against these overt forms of discrimination and racism. Although I am like the majority I do not agree with the ways in which they alienate marginalized people. I also do not agree with our system being hypocrites of our constitution.