Gay Marriage
North Carolina Legalizes LoveBY MAYA JARRELL OCTOBER 31 2014
The ban on same-sex marriage in North Carolina has been ruled unconstitutional. On Oct. 10, 2014 North Carolina was added to the list of now 32 states where same-sex marriage is legal. This change allows the more than 18,000 same-sex couples in North Carolina to legally marry.
Junior Amanda Scanlan, president of the Gay Straight Alliance, is extremely supportive of this movement and says it is very close to her heart. “I’ve always been raised to believe that it’s okay, and that we should accept other people,” Scanlan said. Scanlan has many family members and friends who are gay, and is a strong advocate for equal rights. “The government of North Carolina made a smart decision legalizing gay marriage in North Carolina because all people should be allowed to marry who they truly feel affectionate towards,” sophomore Zara Mehta said. Scanlan agrees with Mehta, saying that it is good that same-sex marriage has been legalized. “People don’t have to agree with it, but I just think it’s really important that people start accepting it and allowing others to make their own decisions,” Scanlan said. Many people agree that marriage is a personal matter. Although 53% of selected Americans surveyed by the Public Religion Research Institute said that they support gay marriage, some people argue against it by saying it weakens the constitution of traditional heterosexual marriage. “If a person feels that gay marriage affects their personal lives, then they are wrong,” Mehta said. Though many Rose students seem to be pro gay marriage, some are not so sure. Sophomore Zion Carr expressed her indecision on the matter. “I’m kind of in between opposing it or not, because I feel that it’s wrong, but it’s their decision,” Carr said. Junior Thomas Hill said that he doesn’t know what to think because it involves other people and not him. “I don’t really have an opinion on it,” Hill said. One of the main reasons people are opposed to same-sex marriage is because they believe that it is a sin. “I don’t think it’s right. The Bible is like, God created Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve,” anonymous said. “When we were first created we were supposed to be based by the Bible and God.” Sophomore K’son Williams agrees that gay marriage is wrong because it is against the bible. “It’s a sin, actually if you’re gay, you go to hell,” said Williams. However, religion is not the only reason people oppose same-sex marriage. Some people believe it is wrong because the couple is unable to reproduce. “I feel like marriage should be about creating children and making this world broader and bigger and a better place with more people,” an anonymous sophomore said. Although allowing same-sex couples to marry is now a law, some people are still against it. Pasquotank County Magistrate Gary Littleton refused to marry a gay couple who came in three days after the ban on same-sex marriage was lifted. “The fact that he’s denying them a North Carolina privilege of being a citizen is very disrespectful because they’re not breaking any laws and he is,” Mehta said. Sophomore Ashley Spence agrees with Mehta that the magistrate is very naive and deserves to be punished. “[The magistrate] is bringing his own personal life into it and it’s a law now, so he should be fired,” Spence said. The debate over gay marriage is still up in arms, but the advocacy for same-sex marriage is still going strong. The students of The Gay Straight Alliance are working hard to spread their message. |
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