The LGBTQ+ community has been an integral part in our society since society began. Unfortunately, community members have also been marginalized through harsh and restrictive laws. Erik explains how important same-sex marriage legalization is on a global scale.
By Erik Bearman
Same-sex marriage, or any form of queer-marriage, has been scrutinized for centuries. Queer-marriage may be legal in the U.S., but it’s not in some other countries. It’s high time that queer-marriage be decriminalized everywhere on Earth.
History of Queer People in Different Cultures
It may surprise you to know that homophobia is a recent development in human history. Many ancient cultures were totally accepting of queer people. For example, “the Toltec civilization condoned homosexuality” and even had two gods that embodied male and female homosexuality (Chronology of Mexican gay history). In Ancient Greece, the Sacred Band of Thebes was an elite military division of 150 pairs of male lovers. The Band was crucial in overthrowing Spartan rule in Thebes during the Battle of Leuctra (www.britannica.com).
As you can see, queer people have long existed and have had a strong influence on society. So, why are they so marginalized today?
Why Queer-Marriage Was Hated
According to Professor of Sociology at the University of Winchester Eric Anderson, “Intolerance toward homosexual behaviour grew particularly in the Middle Ages, especially among the adherents of Christianity and Islam” (www.britanica.com). You’ve probably heard of Leviticus 18:22. The infamous line reads, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination” (King James Bible). Many religious people who oppose the queer community often cite this line as evidence that being gay is sinful. However, several scholars argue that this line is a mistranslation and that Leviticus was actually condemning sexual abuse. The words for “boy” and “man” were similar. The translation should read, according to argument, as an edict against pedophilia.
As colonialism spread in more recent centuries, so did the homophobic views of leading religions. Many countries who once accepted queer people began to reject the community and even persecute them.
Decriminalizing Queer-Marriage
I want the record to state that I don’t want to decriminalize queer-marriage across the world because I am the son of two lesbians. I want to decriminalize queer-marriage because it’s the right thing to do and there is no science to support queer-marriage criminalization. As long as it’s consensual, and all parties are 18 or older, there should be no problem with people marrying whomever they want. Children are not hurt by the union. According to a study that tracked children born in the Netherlands after 1994, “children from same-sex couples outperform children from different-sex couples on standardized test scores at the end of primary education by 0.18 standard deviations” (washingtonpost.com).
Decriminalizing queer-marriage isn’t only a right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do!
Decriminalize/Criminalize Laws Editor: Evan Spry
Sources:
- https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/assault/roots/overview.html
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/homophobia
- https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Leuctra
- https://web.archive.org/web/20040510144816/http://www.geocities.com/gueroperro/Chron-Mex.htm
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/02/06/children-raised-by-same-sex-couples-do-better-school-new-study-finds/
Gay marriage is not just about love and commitment but the rights bestowed to married people such as social security benefits, health benefits and the right to make decisions for a loved one. Much of the debate centered on the right to be married was not just about being in love but basic human rights. As a straight person, I assume that if my spouse passed I have all rights with his estate even without a will. Also, the rights of my child to be his legal guardian without question. Check out Human Rights Campaign (HRC). World wide we are still fighting to gain this privilege for all people. Thank you for bringing this important topic up. I hope your generation will allow people to live as they choose.