A 7 page argumentative paper which, using Baker’s (pro/con) model, articulates a thesis in favor of gay marriage. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Name of Research Paper File: TG15_TGforgay.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
lifestyle often must do so secretly, or "in the closet" for fear of reprisals from a society that condemns such a practice as deviant and immoral. Typically, the debate
concerning gay marriage falls neatly into two specific categories - those who object to it on moral and religious grounds and those who support it as a human as well
as legal right and representative of freedom of choice in a democracy. Because this issue lends itself so well to supporting and opposing arguments, the Bakers model is recommended
as the most effective method of presenting both perspectives since it lists major and minor points - both pro and con - before drawing a definitive conclusion (Orozco, 2002). Marriage
is a basic human right and to prohibit gay marriage is discriminatory, prejudicial, and a gross violation of that right (Should gay marriage be legal, 1996). In the United
States, preventing various forms of marriages is, unfortunately, not an unusual practice. Minorities have always, in one form or another, been excluded from the marital equation by being considered
illegal in several states (Should gay marriage be legal, 1996). It was only when the U.S. Supreme Court stepped in to establish a legal precedent in 1967 which declared
bans on interracial marriages as unconstitutional that states were forced to recognize interracial marriages (Should gay marriage be legal, 1996). However, gay marriage has been another matter altogether, that
is until the landmark case of Baehr v. Lewin, in which the Hawaii State Supreme Court ruled in 1993 that compelling reason denying marriage licenses to couples must be shown
because otherwise, it was in violation of Hawaiis equal rights amendment that forbids sexual discrimination (Farrell 129). Other states such as Vermont have followed suit, albeit have treaded lightly