A Local View On Gay Marriage
The tensions are at an ultimate high, especially on the campus of Bloomsburg University, as the presidential campaign heats up with different stands on the hot topic of gay marriage.
“I don’t know why this is such a huge debate,” said senior, medical major, Kaitlyn Smith. “America is the land of the free. People come here so they can get away from discrimination and so they could be granted their right to live a happy life with free speech.”
President Barack Obama is a supporter of same-sex marriage, and his Republican opponent, Mitt Romney is against gay marriage. “I believe marriage should only be between a man and a women,” said Romney, according to Mittromneycentral.com. On the other hand, according to CNN.com, Obama calls his support of gay marriage an “evolution” of his beliefs.
With a lead in the polls, Obama’s stand on same-sex marriage seems to be a crowd pleaser. A CNN poll indicates that more than half of all Americans believe that gay and lesbian marriages should be legally valid. With 51 percent of respondents saying that same-sex marriage should be legal, it is the first time a CNN poll has found majority support on this issue.
“It looks like Obama is doing something right, because I will be voting for him now that he has decided to support gay marriage,” said freshman, Adam Montagna. “A very close relative to me is gay and I’ve seen the struggles he had to go through with being ridiculed about liking the same-sex and it is not fair, therefore that is why this issue has determined who I am voting for,” he said.
“I was raised to believe marriage should be between a man and a women, and that is all I have ever known,” said junior, Romney voter, Brooke Rieder.
The issue of same-sex marriage is creating a huge buzz around the presidential campaign, as one of the biggest issues to be debated upon. The LGBT community on the campus of Bloomsburg University is keeping a close eye on the different stands the two presidential candidates have on this hot topic.
“My best friend is gay and an active member of the LGBT community,” said former Bloomsburg deaf education major, Nora Coley. “I’ve seen what this community of loving people do, and they are so active with supporting and helping those who are discriminated against just because of who their partner is, so Obama has my vote solely because of this issue,” she said.
After sitting down with two Bloomsburg University students with opposite views on same-sex marriage, it was evident that this popular issue won’t be put to rest any time soon. “Whoever is against gay marriage is distorting the meaning of the word American,” said junior communications major Samantha Garvin. “Every child should have a mother and a father,” said senior political science major Kristin Chiverella, who continued to support Romney across the table from Obama voter, Garvin.
According to mittromneycentral.com, if elected president, Mitt Romney is trying to stop same-sex marriages from being validated and migrating to other states. What will this mean for the LGBT community and America?
On the contrary, if chosen for a second term as our leader, current President Barack Obama, will continue to support same-sex marriage. “”I have talked to friends and family and neighbors; at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married,” said Obama, according to an interview with Robin Roberts of ABC news.
Americans and the students of Bloomsburg University are casting their votes based on this issue alone. Views on gay marriage are a crucial topic in the presidential campaign and could be a deal breaker for each of these prestigious candidates.
On May 9, Barack Obama became the first US president to back same-sex marriage when he told ABC News, “I think same-sex couples should be able to get married,” says csmonitor.com.
In contrast, Mitt Romney signed a National Organization for Marriage pledge a year ago in favor of a federal constitutional amendment to define marriage solely as between one man and one woman, according to csmonitor.
“We need change and I think Romney will make that happen, because even though America is in favor of same-sex marriage right now, he isn’t afraid to say his opposing opinions on it,” said Bloomsburg student Kelsey Lobrutto. “If there is going to be gay marriage, the term “marriage” should not be used because in my eyes marriage is between a man and a women,” she said.
The issue of same-sex marriage is far from over, as the presidential candidates continue to travel the globe in hopes of lassoing more Americans to their side of the campaign. The campaign is a back and forth battle of winning over Americans day by day. Who will you choose to be your leader for the next 4 years?
