Guest Author - Toni Collinson

The subject of gay marriage is a hot topic at the moment, and has been for a long time. It has caused many divides in society, with many wanting the gay community to have the same rights as the straight community, and many others absolutely opposing the thought. We need to ask ourselves this question: If it became legal for the gay community to marry, and illegal for the straight community to marry, what would happen?

If you fell in love with someone, and wanted to seal your commitment to them, would you be angry if you were told that you can’t? As with many things, this is a case of putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and thinking about what it would be like to be told you can’t do something, even though everyone else can.

Many people that are against gay marriage use arguments such as the fact that the gay community has a choice as to whether they are gay or not. This is absolutely untrue. It would be astonishing if we found out that even one person woke up one morning, thinking to themselves, “What should I do today? Oh, I know, I think I might be gay!” No one in their right mind would decide at the drop of a hat to become gay and relinquish their right to marry, not to mention being one of the many people who are subject to discrimination by people they once trusted. The real reason that there are people who are gay is because there are people who are brave enough to be absolutely honest about who they are – good for them! There is a need for more honesty and happiness in the world we live in.

Another argument against gay marriage is that by allowing the gay community to marry, we would be allowing them to adopt a child. This could cause the child to become traumatized by the lifestyle their parents lead, and could also give the child a preference to being gay. This argument is a dangerous one, as many people actually believe that this is possible. The truth is, there are many straight parents who have children of their own, and are unable to look after them. These children are put into the system, and many are never adopted by anyone. How can we not allow two people who are in love and care for each other to give a child a loving, caring, and stable environment to grow up in? Many gay parents would make wonderful parents, and would be able to give a child a home that they otherwise may have never had.

In regards to people arguing that a child with gay parents could end up gay, there are many straight parents out there with gay children. Why would the reverse not happen?

The most important thing for us to do is to remember what marriage is all about. Marriage is a very personal union between two individuals who wish to state their undying love for one another. Why should anyone other than the two individuals being wed get a say in that?

If you love someone, surely you should have the same rights as anyone else to express that love. Love is a rare thing, and something to be cherished and held for eternity. This should be something that is enjoyed by the whole world, not just part of it.