same sex marriage flip

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IS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BENEFICIAL OR DETRIMENTAL TO AMERICAN
SOCIETY?

Kayla Lassetter
Professor Meredith
ENGL 1302: Sec. 2210

10 May 2016

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Table of Contents

Topic for WP3 .................................................................................................................................................2
Original Image.................................................................................................................................................3
Annotated Bibliography ................................................................................................................................. 4
Visual Argument .............................................................................................................................................5
.........................................................................................................................................................................5
Is Same-Sex Marriage Beneficial or Detrimental to American society? ........................................................ 6
Works Cited................................................................................................................................................... 10

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Topic for WP3
My topic for this paper will be discussing whether or not same-sex marriage is
detrimental or beneficial to American society. I believe it is beneficial and that it is
something that should be a part of our cultural literacy ten years from now.

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Original Image

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Annotated Bibliography

Rockwell, Norman. Freedom from Want. 1943. Oil on Canvas. Norman Rockwell
Museum, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, United States.

This image shows a family eating dinner on either Christmas or thanksgiving. Everyone
at the table is talking or laughing. Everyone looks like they’re having a great time. There
is a woman serving a turkey and a man behind her who is about to carve it. Looks like the
average American family.

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Visual Argument

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Is Same-Sex Marriage Beneficial or Detrimental to American society?
On June 26, 2015, marriage of the same sex was made legal in the United States.
Many people were thrilled about this law being passed and others weren’t so happy about
it. Throughout time, there has been the argument over whether same-sex marriage is a
positive or negative thing for society. In my opinion, same-sex marriage is beneficial to
the American society. With that being said, I also believe that this topic should be
relevant ten years from now in America’s cultural literacy. It is something American’s
should be talking about in the future because there are so many wonderful things that
come from this and I think they should be brought to everyone’s attention. I will be
explaining the beneficial effects as well as the detrimental effects that same-sex marriage
has on society.

One example of same-sex marriage being a positive effect on society is that
studies show it has no effect on the development of a child. A study that took place at the
University of Colorado showed that children that had same-sex parents weren’t any
different on the range of social or behavioral outcomes than kids that have parents of
each sex. It’s pretty obvious that same-sex partners are unable to reproduce on their own.
Therefore, adoption rates would eventually go up and kids would have more homes.
Psychological research from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that children are better off in
households with couples that are stable and committed. Same-sex marriage means more
marriage and less kids that need loving homes. Also, with same-sex marriage being
legal, there’s plenty more weddings! What do you think of when you hear the word,
wedding? A beautiful white gown and fancy tux isn’t what I’m talking about in this case.
A wedding means money, and a lot of it. According to studies from the Williams Institute

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for Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy at the University of California, equal
marriage could possibly mean $2.6 billion being spent in over three years. Which also
means that there is about $184.7 million from tax revenue. This is all beneficial for the
reason that it will give the United States approximately 13,000 new jobs.

Another great impact of same-sex marriage would be a giant increase on the
housing market. The National Association of Realtors conducted a search that showed
that about 65% of people who buy a house are married. Since this law was passed, there
have been many newlywed same-sex couples looking for a home together. Let us not
forget about the furniture and decoration that must go into the new home. Marriage
scrapes up a huge chunk of money and America needs that almost more than anything.
Along with marriage comes happiness. Another study conducted by the National Bureau
of Economic Research that marriage helped console the subject of going through a
midlife crisis. Married people are happier and there’s a higher chance of them living
longer and being healthier than those who aren’t.

Those were a few examples of the positive impacts of same-sex marriage. With
positive effects, there are also negative effects. A detrimental effect of the same-sex
couples being able to marry would be that it goes against the Bible. There are many parts
of the Bible that condemn homosexuality including Romans 1:25-27, Corinthians 6:9-10,
and much more. Many people argue that God wanted to the world to be man and woman
together. As the saying goes, “Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.” Jesus never
condemned homosexuality specifically, but it is confirmed that marriage is between a
woman and man. “For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined
to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh,” spoke Jesus. Many people who are

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against it are members of the Catholic Church, and other religions as well. Numerous
members believe it is going against the Bible and what God wanted. There is also the
argument that children need both a man and a woman in the household. Children need
their mothers to hold them and kiss them when they scrape their knees while their fathers
wrestle and play catch with them. Behavior is a choice, not a genetic trend. Therefore,
homosexual behavior can be learned from the child resulting in that child finding the
same sex appealing.

Many studies show that homosexuals have a higher rate of diseases such as
HIV/AIDS, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and much more. They have more sexually transmitted
diseases than heterosexual groups because they spend more time being promiscuous and
experimenting, Homosexuals have many healthy problems, including mental health.
Many suffer from alcohol and drug abuse. Homosexuals are always being pressured and
hated on, therefore, it must be super difficult not to let all that negativity get inside your
head. Depression and nicotine dependence rates are also very high for homosexuals also.
Homosexuals are usually teased or threatened because of who they are attracted to which
causes them to turn to drugs and alcohol in order to stop and distract from the pain. Even
if it is only a temporary sense of relief.

This topic was chosen because even though same-sex marriage is now
legalized, there are still so many arguments and discussions over whether it was the right
decision or not. Why should we still be discussing this ten years from now? This will
always be a subject that people are talking about in many cases. For one, everyone has a
different opinion on whether same-sex marriage is harmful or not to society. With that
being said, having different views on a subject gives the opportunity for debates and

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discussions. Same-sex marriage comes with many beneficial and detrimental effects on
society, and it’s important that this topic is still apart of America’s cultural literacy in the
future.

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Works Cited
“14 reasons why the Supreme Court got it wrong on Gay Marriage”
www.charismanews.com 2015. Website. May 04, 2016
“5 ways marriage equality is good for everyone” www.marketwatch.com 2015. Website.
May 4, 2016.
“Gay Marriage has no effect on child development: study”www.medicaldaily.com. 2015.
Website. May 6, 2016.
“About Gay Marriage and Same Sex Marriage” www.nobullying.com. Website. 2015.
May 7, 2016.

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