Homosexual Marriage Since 1971 when the first same sex couple Richard John Baker and James Michael McConnell applied for a marriage license and were denied in the Baker vs. Nelson ruling, America has been forced to debate whether homosexuals should be allowed to be married even though they are not the classical definition of a couple. There are many opinions about this subject from government officials, religious leaders and even the president of the United States. Homosexuals should be allowed to be married because they need to be treated fairly and equally. Homosexuals have been denied the right to be married because many people feel, "The union of a man and woman is the most enduring human institution, honored and encouraged in …show more content…
Additionally, being married is not only a social commitment to each other, but it also comes with 1,138 benefits that a civil union does not offer. Benefits such as: Social Security programs, employment benefits, federal, military, civilian benefits, medical health and illness benefits, estate and taxation benefits, trade, commerce and intellectual rights, and various other legal benefits. As these rights and benefits are denied to homosexual couples, many people insist that a constitutional violation exists. The Bill of Rights states "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." Clearly, our first documents were written to leave room for changes in society, so that everyone remained equal and were granted basic human rights. Gay activists have The Bill Of Rights to back up their argument, while anti-gay activists have the DOMA to support their argument. DOMA was only initiated after homosexuals insisted on the right to marry. Opposers think that legalizing homosexual marriages will not be the end of the line; they perceive that homosexual marriages will ruin the sacred sanctuary of marriage. They question what social repercussions legalizing gay marriage will cause. Concerns are: Gay people adopting children and what kind of life would it be for the children, what will be the next social tradition will be demolished if homosexual marriages are legalized
The United States of America was founded as a secular sanctuary for ideals like freedom, equality, and tolerance – few will argue against that. Over its history American culture has radically evolved as it strived to meet the ideals its nation was based upon, making changes like ending slavery and providing legal equality for women and minorities, changes that at the time seemed absurd but today are unquestionable merits that define what an “American” is. The quest to reach the ultimate utopian society continues today as true Americans fight the evils of ignorance, stubborn bigotry and the fear to change that still manifest themselves in a large portion of U.S. citizens, preventing this nation from moving forward. One of the outstanding minorities still left to be granted the ideals of freedom, equality, and tolerance are homosexuals trying to obtain the right to marry the person they want to spend the rest of their life with, regardless of gender. Same-sex marriages should be recognized in the eyes of the U.S. government in accordance with its responsibility to provide all American citizens equal freedoms.
“The freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights
Homosexual marriage is one of the old but controversial issues around the world. Compared to the past, it seems to become a more open debate among people. At the same time, people seem to be more swayable than before, but towards the gay marriage, different voices have still been hovering in the air. Gay people and their supporters have been striving for their rights to get married legally, while others who against gay marriage have never stopped deterring it.
According to DOMA, “In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word 'marriage' means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word 'spouse' refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife” (sec 3). Until recently 2013, the US Supreme Court finally delivered the verdict that declared section 3 of the DOMA, which is the rejection of right to gay marriage is unconstitutional (Shapiro 208). In “Gay Marriage Is A Fundamental Right” by Nathan Goetting, “The right to many, and to marry the person of one's choice, is a fundamental right and a necessary aspect of human happiness. This has been an explicitly stated abiding principle since the Court used its power of judicial review to strike down as unconstitutional a legislature's definition of marriage in 1967.” Currently, 17 states in the United States have legalized the right to same sex marriage. The realization of DOMA is unconstitutional has further evidenced that gay marriage is one of the civil right that should not be taken away by the government, and it is an inevitable changes that open doors for equality and equity.
The United States’ Declaration of Independence reads, “[We] hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” and Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address furthers, “[the] [United States’] fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” But in the United States today, not all are equal. Within the majority of the United States, same-sex couples cannot be married or reap the benefits of said marriage. Marriage is basic to the recognition as equals in society and any status short of this becomes
Some people may argue that marriage is a human right and not a heterosexual privilege. People believe that the illegalization of gay marriage has gone on far too long. They feel as if the legalization can transmute the way the world optically views them. “In order to attain equal rights, same sex couples must be able to have their relationship legally recognized, no matter where they live in the country "The Best Arguments for Gay Rights." Weblog post. N.P., n.d. Web.”
The controversy of gay marriages increases in debate within the United States and continues to be a debate even in the political scene. Whether we approve or disapprove of gay marriages the United States courts may force many to follow the law even despite the fact it may jeopardize their religious beliefs.
United States is a country where every citizen has an equal right to be free and everyone is treated equal without looking at the race, gender, or the class of a citizen. Even though we live in a free country where everyone has equal rights, there is still a debate going on whether same-sex marriage should be allowed. Gay marriage has been an issue in the United States since the early 1970s. In the 1970 case of Baker v. Nelson, two men named Richard Baker and James McConnell were denied a marriage license by the Hennepin County District Court's clerk in Minnesota. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the case in favor of the county clerk saying that the clerk has the right to decline a marriage license to gay couples. Gay marriage became an issue in California when Proposition 8 was passed in the November 2008 elections. Proposition eight stated that "only marriage
Unfortunately, it was not always viewed as such. Throughout the majority of American History, same-sex marriage was outlawed and slandered. Then, in April of 2000, Vermont signed a first of its kind civil unions bill that provided same-sex couples with the full benefits of marriage. By 2015, 37 states had followed Vermont into this revolution of marriage, and what it all means. Finally, on June 26, 2015, a Supreme Court decision guaranteed the right for same-sex couples to marry in all 50 states. Once again, the basis of legality in marriage equality lies in our Constitution. It states that everyone is created equal; and to withhold the right and benefits of marriage from someone because of who they wish to marry simply defies the Constitution. The plain inequality in disallowing members of the same sex to marry has been noted by Supreme Court justices time and time again. Be that as it may, America was founded on religious principles. This leads to what is perhaps the most controversial aspect of the same-sex marriage
Marriage provides both physical and psychological health benefits and banning gay marriage increases rates of psychological disorders. The American Journal of Public Health found that after their states had banned gay marriage they had a 37% increase in mood disorders, a 42% increase in alcohol- use disorders, and a 48% increase in generalized anxiety disorders. Banning gay marriage is against the constitution. It’s protected by Constitutions commitments to liberty and equality. The US supreme court ruled in 1974s Cleveland Board of
Same-sex marriages have been very controversial since becoming an issue in Canada regarding the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Several people state that same-sex marriages should be legal, while others disagree, saying it should not be permitted. There have been many debates and inquiries about this issue for several years; the MP’s and Parliament will finally settle the problem within the next year or so. Many are in favour of legalizing same-sex marriages in all of Canada due to the violations and infringes upon the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Problems revolving around same-sex marriages have upset many religious groups. These groups believe that same-sex
The first reason why same sex marriage should be legal is because it is fair for all individuals to have the same rights in society. With the end of sodomy laws, a recent decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, conservatives have lost their last excuse to write off gay lives and love
As the society changing, the history of marriage also changes. Marriage is legally recognized union of two people as partners in a personal relationship, but do those two partners always have to be a man and a woman? Most people believe that homosexuals should be granted equal rights as heterosexual couples. Being as an important social issue, same-sex marriage has become a hot topic of public debates in the recent years. For over the past decade, public support for the same-sex marriage has quickly risen. The United States is one of over twenty countries that allow gay and lesbian couples to wed. I believe that same-sex marriage should be legalized in all countries for several reasons, such as being an issue of equal rights, separation of church and state, no negative effect on the heterosexual communities, increasing in child adoption, and decreasing divorce and suicide rates.
On June 26, 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled that the US Constitution guarantees the right for same-sex couples to marry. Should gay marriages be legal? Why should our nation accommodate such a dreadful Supreme Court ruling? Gay couples have become a major problem for our children. Children only repeat what they hear, see, and other habits from their role models. Our children are the ones who are being subjected to these horrifying situations.
People are born homosexual. If you are homosexual you cannot get married. That idea is ridiculous. On June 26, 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled that the US Constitution guarantees the right for same-sex couples to marry. Marriage is defined as a sacred bond of love between two people. Gay people also feel love therefore, they should be allowed the same rights as everyone else in this country. Homosexuality is an accepted lifestyle nowadays with a proven biological causation. The only thing that should matter in marriage is love and denying them this is a violation of religious freedom.