He defines marriage as common emotional bonding and commitment between two people.4 Whereas, for Thomas Stoddard, New York University law professor and lesbian/gay rights lawyer, marriage is "legal status which rewards the two individuals" with substantial and practical advantages.5 (Stoddard, 14) Vacek and Steinfels put forth these definitions of marriage to oppose gay marriage while Wilson-Smith and Stoddard are staunch supporters of the legalization of gay marriage. .
Effect on Family life :.
Although all these authors uses their definitions of marriage to support their views on gay marriage, some like Charles Colson or Charlene Gomes are more concerned about the social implication such as effect of legalization of gay marriage on family life. The author, Charles Colson represents strong Christian belief and atmosphere. In his article "Why not gay marriage?" published in Christianity Today, he stresses that if gay marriages are allowed in the society then it will weaken the men's and women's commitment to the institution of marriage. He further emphasizes that marriage in the United States is already delicate enough and accepting gay marriage will lead to "rapid erosion of the family life" (Colson, 104) and also it will lead to social problems in the society such as school problems, teen pregnancy, crime. He gave statistics that 70 percent of long-term prison inmates grew up in fatherless home and 72 percent of adolescent murderers to support his claim.6 On the other hand, Charlene Gomes, a civil rights advocate, criticizes the views similar to Colson's. She argues that people opposing gay marriage often attempt to "disguise" their objection based on "sanctity of marriage." She accepts that marriage is an important social institution and it fosters the recognizable family structure. She argues, however that a family is a not necessarily restricted to marriage but it is a human commitment which includes children.
