Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage: A Sociological Perspective

This essay discusses the legality of same-sex marriage in Australia and other countries from a sociological perspective. It examines arguments for and against same-sex marriage and the impact of legalizing it on society. The essay also discusses the Queer drag theory and the right of LGBT community to marry.

Running head: ESSAY 0
FAMILIES AND INTIMATE LIFE
SEPTEMBER 7, 2018
STUDENT DETAILS:

ESSAY 1
In Australia, the parliament of Australia has legalised for the same sex marriage. The
Australia’s parliament passed the bill to permit the two individuals to get marry irrespective
of the fact of sex or gender. It is addressed by the Australia that marriage is only a subject of
man and women, not a sex. The lower house approved marriage equality with the members of
the governing liberal national Coalition joining Labor. There are many countries, which do
not allow the same sex marriage. The government of many countries in the world is deciding
whether to legally allow identification of the same sex marriage. There are two dozen nations,
which have passed the laws permitting gay and lesbians to get marry in the Europe and USA.
In the Mexico, some regions permit same sex marriage or while other do not. In this essay,
the legality of same sex marriage in Australia and other countries are discussed and
examined.
In Australia, on 7 December, 2017 the legislation allows the same sex marriage. There are
many countries, which allow the same sex marriage such as Malta, Germany, USA, and
Greenland. Ireland, Finland, and Scotland. On the other hand, there are also some nations,
which do not allow same sex marriage. It is argued for the same sex marriage that children
want father and mother both. The father and mother play important role in the life of children.
Some are argued that the parenting by the same-sex couple is not adequate (Arango, 2014). It
is suggested by the evidences that children raised by homosexuals are more likely to
understand the gender and sexual conditions. The children of same sex marriage are at the
increased risk for the range of worse results. Further, it is argued that the marriage of same
sex couple will undercut the standards of sexual dependability or the devotion in the
marriage. The main problem of same sex marriage is abolition of paternal commitment in the
coming times (Hoffarth and Jost, 2017).
The homosexuals are demanding the similar rights and the benefits like others. It is believed
by many homosexuals that they are excluded from the fundamental rights of human being.

ESSAY 2
They have gone to the court to get their fundamental rights. In the favour of same sex
marriage, there will be many changes in many countries such as education related to sex and
the adaption. The same sex marriage couple will also have same claim with the heterosexual
couples to adopt the children (Raifman, et. al, 2017). On the other hand, same sex marriage
will be the first step to change the meaning of valid marriage. The Queer drag theory is
relevant theory to consider the topic of same sex marriage. The Queer drag theory evaluates
the homosexual discourses in last century in respect of placing the queer in the context,
deconstructing arguments for and against the current terms (Conkle, 2017).
The sociological theory refers to the theory that talks about the statements of how and why
particular facts about the world are related. This theory relates to the single social process to
different paradigms for the analysis of interpretation. According to this theory, one should not
judge different actions on the basis of their personal opinion or values but an event should be
judged only on the basis of scientific methods that aim for objectivity and attempts to avoid
value judgement. As same sex marriage has been legalized in Australia so it can be said the
government of the country have taken this decision by various facts and figures that hold
justice to the case (Osterlund, 2017). It can be said that according to the theory of sociology,
same sex marriage is the right of people present in the country that they should receive.
People present in the society disallow gay marriage by arguing that their religion do not
permit them to do so. However, this claim is unjustifiable because it is does not have any
valid claim against it. Religion, faiths, and beliefs of people cannot hold the freedom of
others to get married with someone whom they want to. The government of Australia
understands the right of the LGBT community for which they approve same sex marriage.
Only a few countries believe in uplifting the interest of LGBT community by giving them
freedom to action their rights (Powell, et. al, 2015).

ESSAY 3
(Source: Zevallos, 2011)
The above mentioned image tells portrays the countries where same sex marriage is legalized
and the countries where it is banned. The sociological theory talks about the process of taking
actions of the basis of different paradigms, justifications and analytical frameworks. An
article states that one in every fifteen people present in Australia move on the verge to
become gay in their early 20’s. Seeing it as the need of the society, the government of
Australia abolished ban and supported the society to have same sex marriage. Marriage
between same sex is still illegal in some countries because they do not focus on the needs and
wants of the minority section of the society (Kreitzer, Hamilton and Tolbert, 2014). Denying
the marriage of same sex is considered as a breach of the right of freedom and every person
present in the society should get equal opportunity to protect their rights as other person does.
There are various opinions of people based on their belief and rituals but the government
cannot abolish or implement regulations on the basis of that. For instance, in some countries
like India, eating beef is conducted as sin but it is not the same rule in Australia. Similarly,
the sociological theory states that same sex marriage is a right that every person should
receive in the society (Rosenfeld, 2014).

ESSAY 4
Thus, in the limelight of above mentioned events, the fact should be noted that according to
sociological theory perspective, same sex marriage is a right to people that should be justified
using rules imposed in the favour of LGBT society. The government of Australia understood
the need of the minority section of the society and legalized same sex marriage. This act
should be legalized in other parts of the country as well because rules are never formed on the
basis of belief and rituals of society.

ESSAY 5
References
Arango, S. (2014) Same-Sex Marriage. Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human
Sciences, 13(1).
Conkle, D. O. (2017) Evolving Values, Animus, and Same-Sex Marriage. In Marital Rights,
35(5), pp. 91-114.
Hoffarth, M. R., and Jost, J. T. (2017) When ideology contradicts self-interest: Conservative
opposition to same-sex marriage among sexual minorities—A commentary on Pinsof and
Haselton (2016). Psychological science, 28(10), pp. 1521-1524.
Kreitzer, R. J., Hamilton, A. J., and Tolbert, C. J. (2014) Does policy adoption change
opinions on minority rights? The effects of legalizing same-sex marriage. Political Research
Quarterly, 67(4), pp. 795-808.
Osterlund, K. (2017) Love, freedom and governance: Same-sex marriage in Canada.
In Marital Rights, 38(1), pp. 115-132
Powell, B., Quadlin, N. Y., and Pizmony-Levy, O. (2015). Public opinion, the courts, and
same-sex marriage: Four lessons learned. Social Currents, 2(1), pp. 3-12.
Raifman, J., Moscoe, E., Austin, S. B., and McConnell, M. (2017). Difference-in-differences
analysis of the association between state same-sex marriage policies and adolescent suicide
attempts. JAMA pediatrics, 171(4), pp. 350-356.
Rosenfeld, M. J. (2014) Couple longevity in the era of same‐sex marriage in the United
States. Journal of Marriage and Family, 76(5), pp. 905-918.