All You Need to Know About Same-Sex Marriage, Is Life Really A Rainbow?

All You Need to Know About Same-Sex Marriage, Is Life Really A Rainbow?

Issue: Raising a Family in a Same-Sex Marriage Target Audience: General Public

Table of Contents 1. Introduction

3-4

2. Cultural view on Same-Sex Marriage - Same-Sex Marriage around the World

5

- Homosexuality in Southeast Asia

6

- United States

16

- France

16

- Taiwan

17

6. Effects on the children and family

- How are homosexual people being treated in Malaysia?

5. Statistics of Same-Sex Marriage

7-8 7. Conclusion

3. Protests against Same-Sex Marriage

18-19

9 - 12

4. Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage - United States

13

- France

14

- Taiwan

15

- China

15

20

Introduction Homosexuality is defined as being attracted to someone of the same sex. With “Gay” being the term coined for men, and “Lesbian” being the term coined for women (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2018). Lesbians and gays are part of the LGBT community, with the B standing for bisexual and the T standing for transgender. As of 2018, the abbreviation has expanded to include the letters Q for queer, I for intersex, A for asexual and a “+” sign to include any other unincluded sexualities. The new abbreviation is now LGBTQIA+ (Gold, 2018).

Marriage is traditionally defined as a legal union between two people, usually a man and a

“Gays”

woman (Akpan, 2017). Same-sex marriage is the practice of marriage between two people, which can either be both men, or both women. This is not the "norm" that most people are used to, which led to debates on same-sex marriage’s morality, religiousity, and legality (Akpan, 2017).

“Lesbians”

Many people might think same-sex marriage started in the cotemporary world.

In Rome, child Emperor Elagabus married his chariot driver Hierocles, and

Actually, same-sex marriage has existed even in ancient Egypt, China, and

the athlete Zoticus. Not only that, Rome’s first Emperor, Nero married

India. Below are some pictures of homosexuality depicted in paintings, carvings

Pythagoras, where he took the role of the bride, and later went on to marry a

and sculptures in ancient times.

young boy called Sporus, where he became the groom (Bullough, 1979).

Egypt.

India

Homosexuality in ancient Greece Egypt.

Elagabus China

Same-Sex Marriage around the World Marc Yuan (left) and Shane Lin (right) becomes first gay couple in Taiwan to register for marriage. Here they proudly hold the sign “We are married!� while posing for pictures in front of Taipei 101 ("Taiwan celebrates first same-sex marriages," 2019).

Del Martin (left) and Phyllis Lyon (right) - first gay couple to be legally married in California (Marcus, 2017).

Two men - Bruno Boileau (left) and Vincent Autin (right) become first gay couple to get married in France (Langlois, 2013)

Homosexuality in Southeast Asia One study that studied six Southeast Asian countries (Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Philippines) show that sadly, not one single country in Southeast Asia legalizes same-sex marriage. Furthermore, child adoption between same-sex couples is also still not possible (Sanders, 2015). When ranking the six countries on their attitudes towards homosexuality, Indonesia and Malaysia were found to be the most homonegative, followed by Vietnam, who were more ambivalent, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines (Manalastas et al., 2017). The researchers hypothesize that this could be partly due to the dominant religion in each countries. Malaysia and Indonesia’s dominant religion is Islam, and Islam is known to be homophobic. Disapproval towards homosexuality is also clearly stated in the Quran (Ndzovu, n.d.). Other factors that can affect one’s attitudes towards homosexual people is age.

Researchers of this study found that in all six countries except for Vietnam, elders were more homophobic as compared to youngsters. Furthermore, apart from Indonesia and Malaysia who had reversed results, participants who were more highly educated in the other four countries were less homophobic than those who were less educated. Last but not least, Malaysians and Thais who were religious were more likely to refuse having a homosexual neighbour compared to the other countries (Manalastas et al., 2017).

How are homosexual people being treated in Malaysia?

Adolescents perceived as homosexual are the targets of bullies and hate crimes

Malaysia is still one of very few countries who prosecute individuals for being

(UNESCO, 2015).

transgendered

(“Transgender Woman

Murdered

in

Malaysia,”

2020).

Additionally, any individual caught involved in same-sex relations will be whipped, fined, and imprisoned for up to 20 years (How, 2020). With both the authorities and the public against them, the LGBT community of this country is left unprotected, and hateful acts towards them not being taken seriously as biased-motivated crimes. Where are their human rights?

The LGBT community in Malaysia is constantly under attack by both government officials and the public. Transgendered women faced sexual and physical assault, abuse, beatings and were even allegedly murdered. Though police officials refuse to acknowledge these as hate crimes, an LGBT activist retorts by saying that the deceased aren’t able to speak for themselves. Malaysia’s government is currently being led by Pakatan Harapan party. Ironically, they absolutely refuse to accept LGBT equality, calling it “unacceptable”, and saying that LGBT people should return to the “right path”, even though their campaign manifesto is to make Malaysia’s human rights record respected globally (Ghoshal & Sulathireh, 2020).

Even as other countries around the world have progressed in accepting LGBT as part of society, after WHO (World Health Organization) declassified homosexuality as a type of mental disorder exactly thirty years ago (How, 2020),

Crimes involving the LGBT community in Malaysia

In 2017, Sameera Krishnan, a transgendered woman working in a florist shop was stabbed all over her body and shot three times. Her funeral was held on the 24th of February, 2017 - her birthday (“Transgender Woman Murdered in Malaysia,� 2020).

In April of 2018, two Muslim women were caught trying to have sexual relations in a car. Both received six strokes of a rattan cane and were fined RM3,300 each (Beh & Reuters, 2018).

T. Nhaveen was out buying burgers with his best friend T. Praviin when they were being harassed by their former high school classmates who taunted him for being feminine. T. Praviin managed to escape while T. Nhaveen was continuously assaulted and allegedly raped with a blunt object, as there were injuries in his genitals. He was pronounced dead without ever regaining consciousness since the night of his assault (Dermawan, 2017)

Protests against Same-Sex Marriage

For something as simple as people who just want equal rights in loving who they want to as consensual adults,

“Do you think a gay couple should have the same rights as a

there are a lot of protests that want to stop said people from

(heterosexual couple)?”

being able to experience one of the milestones of human life that a majority of the world set for themselves:

“No I don't. I really don't. I don't think it's fair”

marriage.

“To the gay couple?”

US Anti Same Sex march (2015)

“It's against religion.”

“Well, no but the regular couple, they worked so hard, you know? And the gay couple...they want more.”

“Tradition states that it is a man and a woman who get married”

“When you say more, do you mean equal?”

“It goes against nature.”

“Yeah, they want equal, yeah…”

Protesters outside the Taiwan Legislature as they announce the legalisation of same sex marriage (2016)

“And that's just too much.”

“Marriage is defined as the union of a man and a woman.”

“People get married to have children and same sex couples

“Yeah.”

biologically cannot procreate thus cannot be married.”

(The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, 2016)

“If gay marriage is legalised, what’s next? Beastiality? Child marriage? Poligamy?”, etc.

(Carpenter, 2005)

Protesters show up right before France legalizes same sex marriage and adoption (2012)

These are some of the more common arguments from protesters of gay marriage.

The arguments showed are insubstantial for a number of reasons, the first being

Moreover, if religion were to be included in the law and the bible was used in

that when it comes to religion, people refer to holy books that were written at a

defence of homophobia, adultery should also be illegal as well marrying a

different time and therefore some of the teachings might not be as applicable in

divorced woman (Matthew 5:31-32) and eating rabbit, pork or shellfish

today’s world or misinterpreted after the many generations that have passed

(Leviticus 11).

since their creation or have been through multiple translations. For example, all

It is also being urged that religious exemptions of laws that discriminate

biblical texts were originally written in ancient languages 2000 to 3000 years

against people should be repealed (Epsin, 2010). The homophobia,

ago. Therefore translations without the help of the original writer or knowing

discrimination and prejudice also go against teachings of the bible according to

about the customs, language, circumstances, cultures, etc. of the time it was

John 13:34-35 (“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:

written could have been subjective or biased to the person translating an

just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people

attempting to interpret the ancient texts. The text from the Hebrew Bible,

will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”)

Genesis 19:1-11 is widely used by religious people against homosexuality but

("OpenBible.info", 2020)

is now understood to have nothing to do with it and instead, the “sins” mentioned were actually people going against hospitality (Espin, 2010) The Shariah law is also being reanalysed for its interpretations as light is being shed on how homosexuality is actually acknowledged and is neither prohibited nor to be punished while sexual diversity is celebrated in several passages of the Qur’an. It is also said that the discrimination and suppressuin of homosexual people condradict the fundemantal principles of the Shariah anf are also contradictory to the human rights law (Rehman, & Polymenopoulou, 2015).

A study conducted in 2017 showed that when people used religion against same sex marriage, it was partly explained by conservative ideology, sexual prejudice, political conservatism, opposition to equality and mostly resistance to change (Toorn, et al., 2017)

When it comes to tradition for a marriage to be between a man and a woman as an argument against same sex marriage (or its Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve), again there are traditions of the world that would be completely unthinkable in today’s day and age. For example, in the USA, it wasn't traditional for a marriage to be between interracial couples, in fact it was illegal. Traditional gender roles that

Homosexuality has been recently supported by scientific studies to also be

were practiced in a time where it was uncommon for a woman to work

influenced by biology, thus thwarting any argument that starts with “Its

and earn for herself. There are also traditions that a majority of the

unnatural”. A recent study found two genes: SLITRK6, that sits on

world think of as wrong and are trying to change such as child

chromosome 13 and TSHR that sits on chromosome 14, that have shown

marriages, genital cutting, etc.

possibility in influencing sexual orientation. Neuroscientist Simon LeVay discovered that the SLITRK6 gene to be active in the hypothalamus of male

Thus giving the conclusion tradition does not always = good.

mice fetuses just days before being born and states how that period of time is said to be crucial for sexual differences. In 1991, he also discovered how the size of the hypothalamus was different in heterosexual and homosexual men (Coghlan, 2017)

As well as the “fraternal birth order effect”, where a build up of a mother’s antibodies after her first biological son can increase the chance, at high concentrations, to influence the sexuality of the following male children (Balthazart, 2017).

Next, implying that the purpose for marriage is to procreate, this brings to question if infertile people should get married. If there is no objection to “sterile couples, old couples and couples who simply do not want to procreate” getting married, what grounds are there for the onjection of same sex marriages?

And lastly, the slippery slope of arguments, implying that if leeway were given to gay marriage, other “obominations” would soon follow. These types of arguments tend to be beleved by the public and can divert from the problem at hand, which is if same sex marriage would be a bad or a good thing. One must remember to step back and logically think through these implications before proceeding. Same sex marriage is between two consensual, legal adults who want to be officially unite. In the cases of beastiality and child marriage, consent cannot be given (Carpenter, 2005).

Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage United States According to Smith (2018), the reasons for same-sex couples in the United State to seek for the legalization of same-sex marriage are parental rights and spousal recognition. Female couples are the one who seeks for parental rights while male couples would like to seek for spousal recognition. This is because female couples are more likely to form families with children while most of the male couples experienced HIV/AIDS in their lives, which make them realized the importance of spousal recognition for the illness or death of a partner.

Massachusetts was the first states in

The United State had legalized same-sex marriage due to the concept of “marriage

the United States to legalize same-sex

equality” on June 26, 2015 (“US Supreme Court,” 2015). Justice Anthony Kennedy stated

marriage in 2003 (Smith, 2018).

in the court that “no union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest

However,

is

ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family…These considerations lead to the

legalized in the state but not in federal

conclusion that the right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of the

law. Hence, it was not a full union for

person.” (Stephens, 2020, p. 273)

same-sex

same-sex couples.

marriage

Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage France France was the fourteenth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage on May 18, 2013 (Sénac, 2018; “French same-sex marriage,” 2013). The reason for France as a Republic took a long time to legalize same-sex marriage is because the vote for same-sex marriage law only took place since 2013.

Besides, the intention of France to legalize same-sex marriage was to solve the problem of unequal citizenship, which caused by discrimination and the violation of equal rights (Sénac, 2018).

However, there are many oppositions to the French law. A lot of demonstrations had been organised since November 2012. They think the legalization of same-sex marriage was against the concept of “traditional family” in terms of psychological, political chaos embodied and social (Sénac, 2018).

Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage Taiwan

China

Taiwan was a country which has less discrimination against homosexuality in

China hasn’t legalized same-sex marriage as the marriage law in China did

Asia. Besides, Taiwan also provides education on gender equality and sexuality

prescribe legal marriage should be a union of a male and a female (Cho & Kam,

(Chen, 2018).

2018).

On May 24, 2017, the Constitutional Court in Taiwan ruled that the laws preventing same-sex marriage should be banned as this violate the citizen rights to equality (Jeffreys & Wang, 2018).

After two years from that day, which is May 24, 2019, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage (Jeffreys & Wang, 2018).

Sun Wenlin and Hu Mingliang (left) was the first male couple in China to apply for official registration for marriage in 2015.

They have been together for one year and want to try whether they can register to marry. However, the office director disapproved their application and indicated that he will only register for them when they want to marry women (Zhang, 2019).

Statistics of Same-Sex Marriage United States

France

As shown in the bar chart above, we can see that the number of same-sex

France has legalized same-sex marriage on May 18, 2013 (Pew Reasearch

marriage in the United States is increasing since 2013 (United States Census

Center, 2019). There were more than 40,000 same-sex couples get married

Bureau, 2019; “Nearly 1 million U.S. households,” 2020).

between 2013 and 2018 (“France marks five-year,” 2018).

According to the bar charts shown above, there is also a decrease in the number of same-sex marriage in both the United States and France in recent years.

This phenomenon may be due to the current trend of marriage. A study done by Miller (2020) stated the rates of marriage has declined since 2018 as the divorce rates is increasing.

Statistics of Same-Sex Marriage Taiwan Taiwan was the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage on May 24, 2019 (Jeffreys & Wang, 2018). There are a total of 4021 same-sex couples, which comprises of 1,248 male couples and 2,773 female couples get married in Taiwan since May 2019 (“4,021 same-sex couples,” 2020).

Apart from the total number of same-sex marriage, there is also an increase in 15.1 per cent of public acceptance of same-sex marriage from 2018 which is 37.4 per cent to 2020 which is 52.5 per cent (“4,021 same-sex couples,” 2020).

Effects on the children and family There are often concerns raised regarding the challenges that a

However, these studies were conducted with absent parents. What of

family with same sex parents face and if they’re any different to

those with both parents, just of the same sex? Well, a recent study

those with parents of different sexes and if these challenges affect

showed that children from same sex parents reported no differences

the children of these families. These concerns prove valid when

in general health, emotional difficulties, coping behaviour and

statistics show how the absence of a father or a mother shows to

learning behaviour when compared to children with parents of

have adverse effects in later years of a child’s life.

different sex. Be that as it may, the study also showed that same sex parents eperienced more parenting stress (Bos, Knox, Gelderen, &

Girls with absent biological fathers were found to experience sexual

Gartrell, 2018).

activities at an earlier age and were more prone to teenage pregnancy. Teenage pregnancy in turn, could lead to other

Along with the content of this handbook, it could be deduced that the

difficulties such as an increase of mental and physical health

parental stress can be affected by external stressors and a societal

problems, lower educational and occupational achievements and a

expectation for there same sex parents to not perform as well as

lack of social support. On top of that, children that come from teen

parents of different sex. A longitudinal study also revealed that

pregnancies have shown to have an increased risk for abuse and

regardless of sex od parents the children as teenagers were functining

neglect (Ellis, et al., 2003).

well and that the closer they are to their parents, the better they were at school. Another study conducted in 2014 showed that children

There has also been research that showed care from a non maternal figure in the early stages of a child’s life could lead to an insecure infant -parent attachment relationships and aggression and noncompliance during toddler years all the way through preschool (Belsky,2001). Studies also showed that as these children grow into adulthood, they could show lack of feeling and possess violent or antisocial tendencies (Fitzgibbons, 2015).

from families with same sex parents showed no difference when compared to children from heterosexual parents in terms of academic performance,

social

development,

cognitive

development,

psychological health, substance abuse and early sexual activity (Meaning, Fettro, & Lamidi, 2014).

A meta analysis conducted in 2010 also showed there were no differences in behavioural problems, self perceptions of cognitive and physical competence, security attachments to parents and interest, effort and success in schools between children raised by same sex couples compared to opposite sex couples (Biblarz, & Stacey, 2010).

These studies, however, noted the importance of parental and familial stability despite sexual orientation when it comes to the significance of the children’s outcomes. To conclude, familial stability is more of a factor when it comes to the wellbeing of a child rather than the sex of the parents. This could be because certain traits that are often paired with the mother and father are not necessarily mutually exclusive to the sex of a parent.

“As a gay dad, I’m not a mom, but sometimes I think I have more in common with moms than I do with straight dads. I mean, these straight dads that I know are essentially weekend dads; they don’t parent with the same intensity that I do or that their wives do. In many ways, despite being a man, I am a dad, but I am like a mom too.”

(Biblarz, & Stacey, 2010)

In conclusion, Homosexuality did not just “appear” in this modern era. It has in fact, been around since ancient times. Unfortunately for Southeast Asians, same-sex marriage has still not been legalized. The LGBT community are still being forced to live in the shadows in fear of being prosecuted by the authorities. It will take a lot for the government to change their beliefs and learn to accept LGBT instead of regarding them as unnatural.

In marriage, only heterosexuals are considered as “normal”, whereas homosexual people are considered abnormal, immoral, and may even be considered unfilial and disrespectful to the family. However, times have changed. There is an increase in people who are concerned and care about homosexual people. The main reason for the United States, France and Taiwan was gender equality. In their point of view, the issue of gender equality is very important.

Every citizen in their country has the rights to equality. No one should be deprived of the right to marry even if their sexual preference is different from “normal” people. Homosexual people should have the right to marry their loved ones too.

Depriving people of a basic human right that can lead to further discrimnation, prejudice and violence towards a certain group of people goes against the vision of creating a better world. Hopefully in the times to come, with more awareness being created and the destigmatization of people outside heteronormative boxes, people will be more accepting of those different from them.

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Group Members

Lim Pei Ying (E1900208)

Oviyashwini a/p P.Paramesvaran (E1900210)

Ng Yu Jun (E1900209)