Dear Next President,

In recent years, the vote for same sex marriage has gone up. This is causing states to legalize it and this is redefining what we have went by for thousands of years. Gender issues such as same sex marriage are causing protests and putting people and children in danger.

Same sex marriage is redefining what we have been doing for thousands of years. This means that same sex marriage is taking what humanity has always gone by and throwing it away. Paprocki clarifies that “The state has a duty to preserve and promote marriage as an institution that precedes the state, but the state does not have the authority to fundamentally redefine the nature of that institution. Similarly, the state has the authority to enact the "rules of the road" to protect vehicle drivers. But it has no authority or power to change the laws of physics so that car crashes will be less destructive. Rather the state assesses the preexisting factors that influence safe driving—the age when most persons can handle the responsibility of driving, the effect of alcohol on drivers, the best way to construct roadways, maximum safe speeds—in order to create rules that best accord with these pre-existing realities. The same should be true of marriage” (1). Paprocki compares it to the “rules of the road” which are not actual written laws but they are things that all drivers do, which is like same sex marriage. It’s not written in stone that you can’t marry your own gender, but it is something that we know isn’t right.

Same sex marriage is harming children. Miller tells us that ”Moreover, existing research on children reared by homosexuals is not only scientifically flawed and extremely limited but some of it actually indicates that those children are at increased risk for a variety of negative outcomes. Other studies find that homosexually parented children are more likely to experiment sexually, experience sexual confusion, and engage in homosexual and bisexual behavior themselves. And for those children who later engage in non-heterosexual behavior, extensive research reveals they are more likely to suffer from psychiatric disorders, abuse alcohol and drugs, attempt suicide, experience domestic violence and sexual assault, and are at increased risk for chronic diseases, AIDS, and shortened life spans.” (Miller 1). According to Miller, some children with same sex parents will face challenges in their life such as sexuall confusion, chronic diseases such as aids which can cause early death, and just might cause them to take part in illegal activity such as drug and alcohol abuse.

Although not everybody supports gay marriage it would be unfair if the state didn’t recognize it. Paprocki explains here that “The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is limited to the union of one man and one woman and that the civil law should reflect this definition. Some non-Catholic religions, and some people with no religious affiliation, are supportive of homosexual marriage. The civil law governs a diverse and pluralistic society, and it is not legitimate to single out one religious group's views and grant them favored status by enacting their religious views into law. Therefore, it is not legitimate for civil society to limit marriage to heterosexual couples.” (Paprocki 1). People that are not religious are more likely to support same sex marriage. People that follow religions that are against it such as Christianity, are more likely to be against it. Places of marriage such as the Catholic Church, are not allowing same sex marriage to take place in some cases.

 Thus, Gender issues such as same sex marriage are causing protests and putting people and children in danger, and is redefining society and will negatively impact us in the future.