1. Running Head: Gay Marriage 1
Gay Marriage: A Solution to Inequality
Randall L. Noggle
Soc 203: Social Problems
Instructor Sharon Chappelle
12/9/13

2. Running Head: Gay Marriage 2
Gay marriage has been an issue that has been a topic of great debate over the last few
years. This social problem has grown in popularity from a “small-time” issue to something that
has been discussed and reviewed worldwide. This social problem and its implications affect
society on a personal, national, and global level. It is more than just gay rights on an individual
basis. No, it is much more than that. On a national level it deals with the rights granted to us by
the Constitution. On a global level it deals with the concept of basic human rights. Gay marriage
qualifies as a social problem because it meets all four conditions required as stated in our text of
Social Problems: Causes and Responses in that it is part of a social pattern, it violates the core
values of society, it negatively affects those in power, and it is socially created (Korgen & Furst,
2012).
First, gay marriage constitutes as a social problem because it affects a measurable part of
society. In a recent Gallup poll (October 18, 2012), 3.4% of all Americans publicly identified as
openly gay/lesbian (Gates & Newport, 2012). It should be noted that 4.4% of the people refused
to answer the question, which can be possibly associated with the social repercussions of being
openly gay in our current society. This is because although it is “acceptable” to be gay, the
actual tolerance level in some areas is still very limited. Second, gay marriage, or more
specifically illegality of gay marriage, violates one of the core values of society. This core value
being the pursuit of happiness which we are all constitutionally granted. This illegality is simply
because gay people choose to partner with people of the same sex, and that is the sole basis of
anti-gay marriage laws. Third, this issue does affect those in power. Reluctance of public
officials to subscribe to allowing gay marriage are more and more likely to lose voters because of

3. Running Head: Gay Marriage 3
the growing sector of gay/lesbian voters and those that support gay marriage. It also shows a lack
of acceptance of the human condition and again, basing an opinion solely on someone’s sexual
preference. Last but not least, the issue of gay marriage is socially created and likewise can be
solved socially. All the conflict surrounding gay marriage is fabricated and continued by the
people.
The sociological theory that I feel has a good grasp on the concept of gay marriage rights
and understanding them is Liberalism. From a legal standpoint, applying this theory is best
summarized as such: “Same-sex and opposite sex marriages are in all legally relevant ways
identical.” (West, 1998). From the Liberalism point of view, humans (and their subsequent right
to marry) are inherently the same and the sex of the person they are marrying has no bearing
whatsoever. The concept within this social issue, when viewed liberally, is further-reaching than
a simple gay rights issue, but a human rights issue. It also has feminine undertones because of
the equality it places on men and women and their sex having no bearing in a decision of
marriage and its legality.
There are numerous personal and societal implications involved with gay marriage.
Starting with the personal level, the psychological health of these gay couples is in jeopardy.
Wanting to get married but not being allowed to do so because of state laws based on the
individual’s sex can have an adverse effect on the individual. “…lesbian, gay, and bisexual
persons who were not in legalized relationships had the highest psychological distress.” (Wight,
LeBlanc & Lee Badgett, 2013). It does make sense for these people to be stressed
psychologically. Having laws put in place that are dictating personal freedoms and forcing
people to live an unmarried life because they love someone of their same sex can certainly be
considered stress-worthy.

4. Running Head: Gay Marriage 4
On a societal level (it also applies to a global society), the division between supporters
and non-supporters is creating a rift in beliefs. There are varying levels of acceptance of gay
marriage. It included everything from complete acceptance to civil unions to disregarding any
form of legal union between people of the same sex. Society is being torn between either
supporting or opposing gay marriage. Supporters maintain that marriage is a constitutional right
and should be allowed because it is inherently the same as an opposite sex marriage, while non-
supporters are claiming that it is immoral. It should be noted that a good majority of the non-
supporters are traditional conservatives.
There have been efforts on both sides to either legalize or keep the current laws in place
regarding gay marriage. According to procon.org, there are currently 16 states: Massachusetts,
Connecticut, New Hampshire, Iowa, Vermont, New York, Washington, Maine, Maryland,
California, Delaware, Rhode Island, Minnesota, New Jersey, Hawaii and Illinois (law takes
effect June 1, 2014) that have legalized gay marriage, while the other 37 states either have laws
and/or state constitutional amendments banning it (www.Procon.org, 2013). Both sides are
standing firm and not so willing to compromise on the legality of gay marriage. In fact, it seems
as though this subject is growing into more and more of a heated debate and area of conflict.
There have been protests and hate crimes committed because of gay marriage. However, the tide
is very slowing shifting towards acceptance of gay marriage. One of the biggest victories, if you
will, for gay marriage would be the finding of the DOMA (Defense of Gay Marriage Act) as
being unconstitutional (Ferrera, 2013).
Society’s overall acceptance and approval of gay marriage is gradually increasing in
small increments. There have been a lot of informal things done to aid the progress of this issue.
Protests, websites, non-profit groups, and social media have been fueling awareness and support

5. Running Head: Gay Marriage 5
of gay marriage. However, for every one of those forms listed in favor of gay marriage, there is
certainly one in opposition. All in all, it seems to be having a slightly positive affect on how
people are viewing gay marriage. Those that oppose it don’t necessarily have any real scientific
support that it is wrong, and their primary source of demonization is based out of the Church and
conservative religious beliefs. However, more and more people of religion are starting to accept
gay marriage for what it really is: two people who love each other and want to be legally
married.
The only logical alternative is to allow gay marriage to be legalized. There is no real
harm that will come of this action on a societal level, besides that of religious zealots trying to
make their religion’s beliefs national law. That, the discord and disapproval from this sector, is
the main thing inhibiting and would also be the only negative argument to legalization of gay
marriage. There is no supportive evidence that gay marriage is in any way different from
heterosexual marriage.
The issue of gay marriage, at least for the moment, is still in the hot seat of debate. In our
current societal structure, its legality is very much a social issue. There are a lot of people
involved in this monumental and pivotal time in our social history. The implications of this
debate are affecting both individuals and our country as a whole. It is more than just the debate
of this. People are choosing sides and the controversy is growing. My own family is a good
example of this earlier stated division. My house is divided between acceptance & approval and
intolerance & demonization. It is my personal belief that marriage is a basic human right. It
should not matter if the two parties are the same sex or not. There is no substantial evidence that
gay marriage undermines social structure or affects society as a whole. What it comes down to is
intolerance and refusal to accept people as they are and as they see fit in pursuing their own

6. Running Head: Gay Marriage 6
approximation of happiness, which in turn could create even more social problems. I don’t, and
can’t see the point of denying a group of people the right to be married because another sector of
society disagrees because of their own personal opinion and has no valid, logical reasoning to
support it.

7. Running Head: Gay Marriage 7
References
FERRERA, T. J. (2013). Supreme Court Decides DOMA and Prop 8 Cases; Affirming
Reasoning in Second Circuit Case Finding DOMA Unconstitutional. Journal of Pension
Benefits: Issues in Administration, 20(4), 53-58.
Gates, G. & Newport, F. (2012). Gallup Special Report: The U.S. Adult LGBT Population.
Retrieved from the Williams Institute:
http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/research/census-lgbt-demographics-studies/gallup-
special-report-18oct-2012/
Gay Marriage. (2013). Should Gay Marriage Be Legal. Retrieved from
http://gaymarriage.procon.org/#Background
Korgen, K. & Furst, G. (2012). Social Problems: Cause & Responses. San Diego, CA:
Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
West, R. (1998). Universalism, Liberal Theory, and the Problem of Gay Marriage. 1997 Mason
Ladd Lecture, Florida State University College of Law.
Wight, R. G., LeBlanc, A. J., & Lee Badgett, M. V. (2013). Same-Sex Legal Marriage and
Psychological Well-Being: Findings from the California Health Interview Survey.
American Journal of Public Health, 103(2), 339-346. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2012.301113