Gay marriage in China Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Gay marriage in China - Research Paper Example In China, very small achievements surrounding the issue of gay marriages have been realized. According to Fedorak, â€Å"in 1997, the law that outlawed sodomy was repealed, and in 2001, homosexuality was no longer classified as a mental illness† (90). The have been numerous attempts to have the marriage laws that only recognize straight marriages amended, but they have all been unsuccessful. This paper is an argumentative research essay that proposes that gay marriages should not be legalized in china. This is after a thorough look, discussion and reflection of both sides of the argument. The existence of homosexuals in China is a reality: Same sex relationships have existed in China for a very long time. According to Newton, â€Å"long-term same-sex loving relationships were common during certain periods of early Chinese history, with at least 10 emperors between the period 206 BCE and 1 CE known to have been involved in such relationships† (5). This however does not mean that homosexuality was accepted; it was rather fairly tolerated. Drescher and Lingiardi point out that â€Å"it was only after 1949 that homosexual behavior was seriously punished in China and served as grounds for persecution during Chinese political upheavals between the 1950s and 1970s† (117). From this, it is clear that the Chinese people have always accepted homosexuality and its existence, but not its legalization. All Chinese citizens have equal rights: The only reason the law should deny people their rights is in instances where the rights are against the law. The Chinese criminal law has no specific statement that describes the status of homosexuals or whether it is illegal or not. Only the following statement exists in the nation’s laws: â€Å"all hooliganism should be subjected to arrest and sentence† (West and Green 63). In this case hooliganism means any disruption of social order. Since homosexuality is greatly condemned in the Chinese society and viewed as