Q: Is same-sex marriage a practical consideration in this age of globalisation?
In the modern day of globalisation, the issue of same-sex marriage has grown to be a pervasive and widely-discussed topic among several communities. As such, this greatly-debated issue has spurred views ranging from supportive to those lined with unacceptance and disgust.
Given today's context, supporters of same-sex marriage argue that it is indeed a practical consideration. Reasons raised for the argument are associated with the biological and family aspect of every human's life.
Firstly, same-sex marriage bears biological benefits such as ensuring the continuation of the human race. With permission from the country's government, couples in a same-sex marriage will be given the right to adopt. In such a change of government policies, this attempts to eradicate discrimination against same-sex couples as well as solving social problems like declining birth rates that can cause ageing population trends. For example, as reported by a GPI global intern, South Africa recently legalized same-sex marriage in a move demonstrating further progress from a past fraught with inequality and discrimination. In this society, same-sex marriage is allowed as the government believes the change can build the nation's tolerance for such couples as they can help sustain population grown. Hence, as same-sex marriages are also able to carry out procreation through methods such as in-vitro fertilisation to contribute to the existence of human species, it can be considered acceptable in this modern era.
Additionally, same-sex marriage can provide a proper and suitable family life for the upbringing of children. To highlight certain traditional beliefs, some assert that a same-sex marriage is not an optimum environment to raise children in. This is due to fears that children in same-sex marriages may follow in their guardians' footsteps after being influenced from young. On the contrary, scientific studies have shown that the outcomes of children raised in the homes of same-sex marriages are just as desirable as those of straight couples. Given this confirmation by the Supreme Court of Hawaii, it exemplifies that same-sex couples do not fall behind their heterosexual counterparts with regards to the upbringing of children and building family cohesiveness. In fact, it is the moral values and education enforced by the parents that shape the character of the growing child. Thus, since same-sex couples can be successful parents by practicing appropriate nurturing methods, same-sex marriage can be practical today.
However, people have not always been welcoming of the idea of same-sex marriage. The attributing reasons include people being uncomfortable with the idea of same-sex marriage and the age-old belief that matrimony is an institution between one man and one woman.
The concept of same-sex marriage has people responding with rejection and resistance. It is not widely accepted probably because certain communities still maintain their accustomed matrimony believes and have low tolerance for issues that go against their practices. Another reason may be due to people thinking that same-sex couples are a shame to their respective genders. This leads to same-sex couples being prejudiced and discriminated against. For example, there are instances in the United States of America that portrays this. A national survey done by Pew Research Centre for the People & the Press and Pew Forum on religion & Public Life revealed that 56% of the population opposed same-sex marriage. Given the population size, it is a considerably large number of people who are directly unsupportive of the issue. This portrays that same-sex marriage is not an idea that people can easily warm up to. Hence, same-sex marriage is not a practical consideration because it is still a greatly defied issue in today's context.
Furthermore, same-sex marriage is not accepted because of the long term understanding that marriage is a bonding between man and woman. In many various societies, this has been the underlying principle that shapes the matrimony of a couple. This has also been discreetly taught to the younger generation through their daily dosage of television and fantasy storybooks. In these forms of educational entertainment, children come in contact with the stories of beautiful princesses who live happily ever after with their respective Prince Charmings. The concept brought forth is that a couple should consist of a male and a female. From young, growing children have come to accept unknowingly that a male and female couple is the norm, rather than a same-sex couple. Hence, same-sex marriage is not practical due to the fact that it conflicts with what the young are exposed to, that being marriage is between different genders.
Lastly, with records of HIV and sexually-transmitted diseases on the rise now, same-sex marriage should not be practiced. Some people protest that gay sex is perverse and considered an act of sodomy. This speaks in particular of men having sex with men. Linking back to the topic of sexually-transmitted diseases, Singapore has seen an increase in HIV cases by 12.6% since 2005. Of these statistics reported by the Straits Times, 30 per cent of the cases stemmed from gay sex. This represents that an estimated figure of 67,000 men in Singapore engage in gay sex. Not only does same-sex marriage consist of unnatural activities, it also encourages the undesirable outcome of catapulting HIV cases. Thus, same-sex marriage should be discouraged so as to reduce today's worrying statistics of cases of sexually-transmitted diseases.
In conclusion, the demerits of same-sex marriage outweigh the supposed benefits raised. In this age of globalisation, same-sex marriage is not a practical consideration because it induces discrimination and prejudice against same-sex couples as well as contributing to rising HIV cases.
