Current Ethical Issue Term Paper

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Changing Attitudes Regarding Same-Sex Marriages

Even in today's modern, permissive society, many people are still jolted by the idea of same-sex marriage. However, throughout history, regardless of whether or not society encouraged it, gay and lesbian couples have been living with one another for centuries. The only difference today is that gays and lesbians are now demanding the same rights as heterosexuals, including the government's recognition of their relationships.

With official recognition, gay and lesbian couples would have the right to all economic and family-oriented privileges as heterosexual couples have. For example, surviving gay partners would have the right to obtain pension and Social Security payments. And gays and lesbians would be able to include their partners in their health insurance packages.

However, many state and national agencies still have old-fashioned attitudes toward same-sex marriages. For example, the New Jersey Family Policy Council believes that the institution of marriage would be jeopardized if homosexuals were encouraged to wed. "States do have the right to set limits on who is allowed to marry," said Len Deo, the president of the council. The council ignores the fact that changing times always have brought changing attitudes about marriage.

From the early 1800s until the 1950s, the Western world was plagued by a campaign against homosexual activity, first on legal grounds, then on medical grounds.

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While there is some evidence of lesbian relationships being accepted in some early circles, for most gay and lesbian people during this time, their relationships endangered them. Even France, where the idealism of the French Revolution prevented criminalization homosexuality, it was still condemned by the medical profession.

According to Kohlberg's stages of moral reasoning, at this point in history, gays and lesbians were at the first level, at the preconventional level. They were obeying authority by staying in the closet to avoid punishment and gain acceptance in society. Same sex marriages were not even considered.

In the late 1960s, many changes occurred. In Europe, homosexuality became more and more accepted. Gay marriage was accepted in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Gay common law marriage has also been recognized in Hungary. Many European countries followed suit shortly after.

Still, gay marriage in the United States did not catch on so quickly. In 1971, a Minnesota court case, Baker vs. Nelson, was the first same-sex marriage to be tried in the U.S. However, it ruled against the plaintiffs, Richard John Baker and James Michael McConnell. The court rejected the case,….....

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