The student news site of Atlantic High School

AHSneedle

The student news site of Atlantic High School

AHSneedle

The student news site of Atlantic High School

AHSneedle

Polls

What's your least favorite ISASPs test?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
Scores and Schedules
AHS JOURNALISM GOLD SPONSOR

Gay Marriage Pro and Con

By Maren McNees

Should the uniting of homosexuals as a sanctified union be legalized or not? The AHS student body and faculty speak out about this controversial issue that has our country in a heated debate with one another.

Everyone is rightfully subject to their own opinion, whether it be for or against marriage equality for homosexuals. Nick Barry said, “I don’t think [gay marriage] is very moral.” This is a differing opinion from Mackenzie Holmes who said she is fine with gay marriage, “Yes, we should not be limited to who we love.”

In talking with AHS students and faculty about the Supreme Court case that will decide the legality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), all of those interviewed who said gay marriage should not be legalized indicated that their opinions were impacted by their church and religious beliefs. Many people who said that gay marriage should be legalized declared that they have family members or friends who self-identify as gay and that they would love to see them be happy. IMG_8996

A lot of the controversy over this subject comes from a biblical stand point. Many people turn to the Bible to support both view points.

The Bible says that marriage should be between a man and woman. Genesis 2:24  Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

But the Bible also declares that love is the most important thing one can have. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.

“We have enough situations historically and throughout the animal kingdom to suggest that [homosexuality] is something that occurs naturallly and that social stigma can’t really make or unmake those feelings,” said English teacher Elizabeth Huggins.

Numerous people believe that one is born with homosexual feelings; they are not feelings that you acquire later in life. Nancy Jenkins said, “It is a fact of life.” So the troubling argument is whether or not the definition of marriage should be changed to accomplish equality for all. All of the people against gay marriage who were interviewed for this story said that if it was passed, it would not affect their life in any way.

Last week Illinois Republican Senator Mark Kirk reversed years of his position against gay marriage, saying that when his son came out as gay, he needed to re-think his stance. The United States has seen a trend toward acceptance of gay marriage over the past 15 years. According to CNN, a Gallup poll showed that 68 percent of Americans were opposed to same-sex marriage in 1996.  In 2012 that numer had dropped to 48% in opposition.

Take this poll below to give us your opinion on this subject. What is a life without love…and opinion?

View Comments (2)
More to Discover

Comments (2)

All AHSneedle Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • C

    ccrabtree2015Apr 4, 2013 at 10:22 am

    The debate over Gay marriage shouldn’t even exist. It should be a human right in the United States.

    Reply
    • M

      miekelApr 8, 2013 at 1:47 pm

      Excellent article Maren! You really captured both sides of the argument and I would definitely see the government turning to legalize gay marriage, because it really is a debate of equality.

      Reply