Running head: COMMUNITY PROBLEM REPORT: GAY MARRIAGE

Community Problem Report: Gay Marriage

Jennifer Gilman
The University of Texas at El Paso

COMMUNITY PROBLEM REPORT: GAY MARRIAGE

Abstract
In this paper, the reader will see the standpoints of gay marriage and how it has grown to become
a community problem today. With gay marriage being a very controversial topic, there are
multiple perspectives surrounding this issue. Some of the surrounding factors that branch with
gay marriage include, the current policy on gay marriage, the advantages and disadvantages to
gay marriage, different ethnics acceptance towards gay marriage, and the proposed policies for
gay marriage. These factors have multiple perspectives on them whether it be
agreeing/disagreeing or proposing different policies. With the following factors being projected
to the reader, the reader will be able to be gather a wholesome intelligence of gay marriage and
how it is a community problem.

COMMUNITY PROBLEM REPORT: GAY MARRIAGE

The controversy of gay marriage has always been an issue in our community. Today, it
has become a growing controversy making the community more aware of the issues that are
taking place with this problem. The issues vary from certain states legalizing gay marriage to
fighting for a particular state to make gay marriage legal. There are some who are against
legalizing gay marriage and others who are all for gay marriage. As of right now there are about
37 states, in the U.S., that have legalized gay marriage and the 13 other are either in the process
or have not yet worked on legalizing it. Because some states have legalized it and others have
not, this creates controversies such as making gay marriage legal in all states in the U.S. or
keeping the laws as they are now. The thought of legalizing gay marriage may be absurd to some
considering their religious beliefs and the way they were brought up but others may believe that
it is your right to marry the person that you love regardless of the gender.
Current Policy on Gay Marriage
Throughout time, the issue on gay marriage has been a political problem within the
United States and as well around the world. Where there is rules, there is someone or something
trying to break them. Individual states have their own rights just as like how the people have
theirs. Therefore many states have fought and won to legalize gay marriage in their respective
state. The current policy is different according to the state homosexuals are residence in. For
example the current policy in Texas is that gay marriage is illegal, but it is going through the
process by the Supreme courts to surpass the ban. Although the Supreme Court has the say
whether to surpass the ban or not the people have a say as well. One Texan believes that gay
activists should instead put their energies into environmental issues like climate change, because

COMMUNITY PROBLEM REPORT: GAY MARRIAGE

there's a chance to make a morally more defensible difference. (Geoghegan, 2013.) As to the
state of California, gay marriage is perfectly legal and is treated like a regular marriage to the
current policy that particular state has right now. As stated by one of the supporters for gay
marriage in California states believe God desires inclusiveness for all families in the benefits
conferred by civil marriage. (Ershadi, 2012.) Current policies can change from day to day, but
rarely do. As of right now, thirty-seven states have current policies that allow same sex
marriages, while five others, which includes Texas is trying to pass the policy.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Gay Marriage
Advantages and disadvantages are something everyone has to deal with for the rest of
their lives, no matter if youre female, male, young, old, or straight or gay. Everything has it
advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, same sex marriage has their share of both. According
to, Outcast Films, the disadvantages do outnumber the advantages quiet largely, Gay men,
lesbians and transgender people want full equality including all the same benefits and
protection. (The marriage equality, n.d.) The disadvantages hit the wallets of those homosexuals
who decide to tie the knot. One of the biggest disadvantages is the social security benefits regular
couples have. For example the social security. As a married homosexual couple, if one partner
dies, the living partner will instantly stop receiving their deceased partners check. Another
disadvantage is that when applying for any sort of income, from credit cards, home loans, or
anything that includes needing to provided information about income, they cannot combine
incomes, they must claim themselves separately. With cons, comes pros, everyone loves
advantages, and oddly, the U.S government is the main party who receives the biggest advantage.
According to Suze Orman (2013), gay marriage can bring in financial gain to federal state, local

COMMUNITY PROBLEM REPORT: GAY MARRIAGE

governments and as well to the local communities. The revenue from marriage license, the
marriage penalty, and in some cases higher income between partners, boost economy strongly. In
2012, Mayor Bloomberg announced the state of New York gained $259 million from gay
marriages alone. Advantages and disadvantages will always be seen in issues regardless of what
the issue is, its just the matter of knowing how to deal with them.
Different ethnic groups acceptance toward gay marriage

COMMUNITY PROBLEM REPORT: GAY MARRIAGE

Each ethnic groups are made up of people you share the same cultural background. For each
different ethnic group comes with their own values and beliefs in which they each believe is
right. In the past, ethnicities werent exposed to gay marriage, therefore, wasnt such a problem.
Now that gay marriage is more exposed than before different ethnicities have their own opinion
towards it. There are some ethnicities who have an easy time accepting gay marriage as if it was
a heterosexual marriage. As stated by a homosexual couple in the article by Gumbrecht,
Acceptance increase when people know gay individuals, such as whites being more accepting to
our marriage since it is more mainstream for whites here in California. (Gumbrecht, 2012).
There may be ethnic groups, such as whites,
who are more accepting than others who arent
so accepting. According to the article by Sh)
ore, On May 18 at a gathering in LA to voice
their opposition towards same-sex marriage,
Figure 1. Nikki Solis and her family affected by
not being accepted within their ethnicity.
(Gumbrecht, 2012)

Latino activists Luis Galdamez and Vincente

Martin attended representing 1,900 Christian churches in California. (Shore, 2004). Due to the
fact that each ethnic group will have their different beliefs they may never come to a consent to
agree whether on agreeing or disagreeing to same-sex marriage and will stand with their beliefs.

Proposed Policies for Gay Marriage

Like mentioned in the previous paragraph explaining the current policy on gay marriage,
not all states have legalized same-sex marriage, therefore, have proposed policies on it. These
propositions that have been made can either please people or make them go against it depending

COMMUNITY PROBLEM REPORT: GAY MARRIAGE

on the proposed policy being suggested. There are those who stand on keeping policies as they
are now and dont wish for gay marriage to be legalized. Reported by Carpenter, Proponents of
the Federal Marriage Amendment claim that an amendment is needed immediately to prevent
same-sex marriages from being forced on the nation. (Carpenter, 2006). Although there may be
some who would like to keep policies as they are now there are others who wish to change the
current policy. An article states that State legislatures, voters and more recently the courts have
made sweeping changes over the past two decades in laws defining whether marriage is limited
to relationships between a man and a woman or is extended to same-sex couples. (Same-Sex
Marriage Law, 2015). These are some examples of the proposed policies there are today for
same-sex marriage and in the process of being approved or denied for it.
Gay marriage will always be an issue. There always be two sides to gay marriage. But in
todays world, those who are against or for gay marriage can only give their opinions due to the
fact that in the end its up to the Supreme Court. The current policies will as well soon all be the
same, the community problems will still be around, with those still fighting to keep gay marriage
banned, and there will be only advantages for gay marriage. The legalization for gay marriage
will open doors for many, those who were afraid to tell others about their homosexuality to those
who are ready to take the next step and tie the knot with their significant other.

COMMUNITY PROBLEM REPORT: GAY MARRIAGE

References
Carpenter, D. (Ed.). (2006, June 1). The Federal Marriage Amendment: Unnecessary, AntiFederalist, and Anti-Democratic. CATO Institute. Retrieved from
http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/federal-marriage-amendmentunnecessary-antifederalist-antidemocratic

COMMUNITY PROBLEM REPORT: GAY MARRIAGE

CNN [CNN ]. (2013, March 16). Suze Orman; Benefits of same sex marriage [Video file].
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z42E9YWNQwA
Ershadi, J. (2012, January 1). Ballot Initiatives, Part II: States Take Up Gay Marriage, Marijuana,
Gun Rights. Retrieved from http://0web.a.ebscohost.com.lib.epcc.edu/ehost/detail/detail?sid=674dd0f8-5e86-4d4b-9d8d9d1684ee7c88@sessionmgr4003&vid=19&hid=4106&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl
2ZQ==#db=a9h&AN=82404016
Geoghegan, T. (2013, June 10). The gay people against gay marriage. Retrieved March 2, 2015,
from http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22758434 82404016
Gumbrecht, J. (2012, June 1). Race, ethnicity can be challenge to gay acceptance. Retrieved
March 3, 2015, from http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/06/23/ia.gay.acceptance/
Same-Sex Marriage Law. (2015, February 9). Retrieved March 2, 2015, from
http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/same-sex-marriage-laws.aspx
Shore, E. (2004, June 7). Ethnic Communities Speak out Against Gay Marriage Ethnic
Communities Speak out Against Gay Marriage. Retrieved March 3, 2015, from
http://www.alternet.org/story/18901/ethnic_communities_speak_out_against_gay_marria
ge
The marriage equality. (n.d.). The marriage equality primer: Know the facts; educate everyone.
Retrieved from http://www.outcast-films.com/res_marriage/SSMprimer.pdf

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