Forming New Social Relationships

Marriage. No matter who you are, male or female, gay or straight, young or old, you have thought about marriage as a blessing at some point in your life. And why shouldn't it be? Marriage is first and foremost a symbol of love. Then, it's a symbol of commitment. However, in today's context, marriage can serve another purpose, not loving and not committing, but something even more practical for those who do not believe in love and commitment anymore. Marriage can be a gateway to a better, wealthier, and healthier life simply by sharing it with someone else.

As people we long to be loved by someone we love. And believe it or not, we also strive to love more than we consciously know. We like to serve our partners or significant others and make them need us and depend on us. We like to make commitments, because it makes us feel like we are important to someone else in the world. But what happens when love fades and commitment falls apart? Are we just left with divorce and broken hearts?

No, I disagree with this image of marriage. What I do agree with is that marriage is a practical way for a couple to support one another even through old age and sickness. And thanks to the Massachusetts legislation, same-sex marriage will help me make my point. Before gays and lesbians can be legally wed, did you suppose that gay couples did not have their own ways of symbolizing love and commitment? So why did MA gays bother to fight for same-sex marriage? Does the title of being married really matter all that much? I'm sure you can still buy a ring for each partner regardless if you're actually married by law, so that can't be it either.

So what's the big deal? Why did gays fight for marriage rights? The answer is simple. Gays realized one thing that straights have yet to realize and appreciate. That is, gays know that there are certain economic and health benefits to being married. For example, married couples can save money by sharing the same living space, the same car, the same utility bill, etc. Yes, this arrangement is similar to having a housemate who is also a good friend, or cohabitation with your boyfriend or girlfriend, but marriage is silently different. Ironically, it is the silent difference that is giving us a new reason to appreciate same-sex marriage.

What differs between two people sharing a house and all its financial aspects and a married couple is insurance. That's right. Insurance is the silent reason why gays want marriage rights. If you were a gay couple who weren't married, you would not be able to buy family insurance, whether it is family health, car, or life insurance. So with no way to help out your partner when they are in most need of your help either financially or medically, cohabitation is just not cutting it anymore.

If one person from a couple loses their job, they will cease to have health insurance. If the couple is not married, then the other partner can not simply add their partner to their insurance plan. You can only apply for family insurance from your partner's provider if you are their spouse. Thus, the covenant of marriage is in and of itself a blessing by law.

Whether marriage symbolizes social approval or economic and health benefits, no one can argue that gays do not deserve same-sex marriage rights, because that would be the equivalent of saying gays do not deserve to have health insurance, or life insurance. It would be the same as saying gays should be left to die from something as small as an ear infection or as big as cancer if they cannot afford to pay for treatment.

Furthermore, the single and heterosexual population in today's society should thank their gay counterparts for this wonderful new right to marry someone of the same sex. Career driven Americans push off marriage or never find the right person, because we are so swamped with work. Or, some straight men or women may choose not to marry at all. But now, singles have an alternative option to the inaccessibility of commitment without losing all the benefits that married couples get.

Single, heterosexual men and women who no longer believe in love or commitment can marry their good same-sex friends to take advantage of the economic and health benefits married couples enjoy. I know this may be strange to conceive at first, but it's really just like having a housemate or cohabitating, except you get the bonus insurance factor. I predict that 40 years from now, we will see our average household size decrease, but our cities will be filled with married heterosexual couples.

And although this new type of social relationship is a great idea, I am sure that heterosexual women will most likely be the first to take advantage of this opportunity, because women are usually the pioneers of forming new social relationships. After all, if a woman marries another woman and they decide to divorce and later remarry men, the men will probably take the nontraditional relationship easier than if it was the other way around.

Marriage. No matter who you are, male or female, gay or straight, young or old, you have thought about marriage as a blessing at some point in your life. And why shouldn't it be? Let us sincerely thank our gay friends for giving us a new and truly insightful reason to appreciate same-sex marriage. Let us embrace the forming of new social relationships and transform our nation as one that is accepting of all forms of relationships.