Gay marriage should remain illegal everywhere

I look forward to debating. I would like to remind my opponent that under general debating guidelines, the person who presents the topic or assertion has the burden of proof, under most circumstances [1]. In response to, “Gay marriage should remain illegal everywhere. ”For the following refutation, I will define remain. Remain is a verb which, as defined by Dictionary. com, means “to continue in the same rate; continue to be as specified” and “to stay behind or in the same place,” or, as defined by Marriam-Webster, “to continue unchanged. ”I can assure the opposing side of this debate that gay marriage has already been legalized in areas of the world. Canada passed an act (“Civil Marriage Act”) which allows same-sex marriage nation-wide. Gay marriage was made legal in Mexico City, Mexico, on 4 March 2010. Even after being challenged, same-sex marriage was deemed legal throughout the whole country. Gay marriage in the United States is not allowed nationally, yet it has been allowed in some states, such as Iowa. Iowa recognized same-sex marriage 3 April 2009. As of 22 October 2009, Germany allowed same-sex partnerships to have the same rights as non-same-sex marriages. Germany is among countries like Finland who recognize same-sex partnerships, but actually made it legal for the unions to have the same rights as non-same-sex marriages, as stated before. As collected from the evidence preceding this statement, the legalization of same-sex marriage has changed. Same-sex marriage is an issue discussed throughout the world, and as shown in the statements above, gay marriage cannot remain illegal everywhere because it is not illegal everywhere; same-sex marriage has already become legal in some areas. Parenting Effectiveness is Not Related to Parental Sexual OrientationThe American Psychological Association made a clear stance after extensive research regarding same-sex couples: “The APA [American Psychological Association] believes that it is unfair and discriminatory to deny same-sex couples legal access to civil marriage and to all its attendant benefits, rights, and privileges” [2]. The stance of the APA certainly does not establish a level of morality or a level of belief that everyone has, and it is certainly not the focus of this debate. However, the APA has done research regarding the effects of same-sex couples among society and with parental relations. In Resolution on Sexual Orientation, Parents, and Children, the APA stated, “There is no scientific evidence that parenting effectiveness is related to parental sexual orientation: lesbian and gay parents are as likely as heterosexual parents to provide supportive and healthy environments for their children” [2]. Marriage Offers Social, Psychological, and Health Benefits That Are Denied to Same-Sex CouplesAccording to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Self-Actualization is the top tier which is usually hardly reached by individuals. Even if the preceding statement is overstated to any degree, it must be noted that Self-Actualization is a level of Maslow’s needs that is difficult to achieve. According to the American Psychological Association, “in our society the role that most frequently provides a strong positive sense of identity, self-worth, and mastery is marriage” [2]. The APA further explains how same-sex couples are denied important benefits as a married couple: “Both tangible and intangible elements of the marital relationship have important implications for the psychological and physical health of married individuals and for the relationship itself. Because they are denied the opportunity to marry, partners in same-sex couples are denied these benefits” [2]. Through multiple sources and studies, the APA asserted that, “People who are unhappy with their marriage often manifest lower levels of well-being than their unmarried counterparts, and experiencing marital discord and dissatisfaction is often associated with negative health affects” [2]. With the general assumption that a government is generally in favor of the health of its peoples, a government not allowing gay marriage causes unnecessary negative health effects (for those of the same-sex classification of course). Work Cited[1] Michalos, Alex. 1969. Principles of Logic. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall. p 370 - “usually one who makes an assertion must assume the responsibility of defending it. If this responsibility or burden of proof is shifted to a critic, the fallacy of appealing to ignorance is committed. ”[2] . http://gaymarriage.procon.org...