Gay Marriage And The Civil Rights Movement - 791 Words

In the past decade, our American society has become more open and welcoming to members of the LGBTQ community. Same-sex marriage has recently been declared legal by the Supreme Court, pride parades are held in nearly every major city, and thriving online communities and forums have popped up. People are no longer afraid to truly be themselves, no longer hiding one of the most major human feelings: love. It is just as common to see two men or two women holding hands as it is a man and woman. However, this is not always the case. Historically, the southern United States has not always held a warm greeting to those people who did not fit into the typical WASP stereotype: white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant. Events such as the Civil War were fit†¦show more content†¦Even though all states are supposed to follow the supreme law of the land, some states have refused to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples. This is exemplified by Kim Davis, a county clerk in Kentucky. She refused to issue licences to same-sex couples, citing â€Å" God’s authority † (nytimes.com) as her reason. â€Å" To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God’s definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience, she said. She added: I have no animosity toward anyone and harbor no ill will. To me this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. It is about marriage and God’s word. † (nytimes.com). Ultimately, Davis spent a little under a week in jail and returned to her position as county clerk. To me, there are several reasons why I cannot understand those who protest against same-sex marriage. Let me talk about Davis s point of religion againt same-sex marriage. Firstly, many LGBTQ members are religious. They attend church and identify with religions. Secondly, marriage is not as â€Å"sacred† as the Bible intends it to be. Non-virgins get married, people get divorced, and people do not follow à ¢â‚¬Å"to death do us part†. If she insists that giving marriage licences to same-sex couples violates her beliefs, what about non-virgins or divorcees who get married? Do they violate her beliefs, also? I don t feel as though Davis