Gay Marriage

Homosexuality and Marriage Equality
Marriage, as defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is "the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law. Under the same definition it states marriage can also be defined as “the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage”. There has been much argument and speculation over the rights of equality; not for society as whole but singlehandedly equality for gay men and lesbians. Should homosexuals have the same privileges as heterosexuals including accepted committed relationships? And most importantly can that committed relationship be considered sufficient enough to be recognized in holy matrimony? I would argue that marriage should be defined as the union of two individuals who love and respect one another under the union of God, and who are also recognized by government and society, regardless of gender.
Most religious individuals have opposed same sex marriage because, according to the article in Britannica “Religious and secular expectations of marriage and sexuality”, "passages in sacred texts condemn homosexual acts; and religious tradition recognizes only the marriage of one man and one woman as valid". In the Bible, which we refer to as the sacred text, are other tidbits on this topic including a verse that says, "If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death ", as well as other passages that depict the same idea. Same sex relationships are “unnatural and wrong” according to an article on current issues and controversies, and “legalizing it would devalue the institution of marriage which was meant to foster the stable, two parent families that form the bedrock of society”. Alternatively, some would argue that passages in this same sacred book can be somewhat misleading and misunderstood....