Civil Union Is It Worth The Trouble?

The definition of marriage has changed over time. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the United States defined marriage as a union between a consenting man and woman, of non-African decent (Stahlberg, 2008, p. 443). This, however, changed after the civil war. In 1868 two consenting adults of opposite gender could marry someone of the same race, but this was also restructured in 1967 to allow marriage of all consenting adults of opposite genders regardless of race (Stahlberg, 2008, p. 443). Today, the law looks very different. Recently, on June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marriage (gay marriage, 2015).

While some states have began to embrace the civil rights of all American people and allowing both hetero- and homo-sexual couples to marry, some states have done quite the opposite and banned same sex marriages and unions. Not all Americans feel so strongly about legalizing same sex marriage. Those against same sex marriage believe marriage has been defined as being between a man and a woman. However, that has not always been true, as explained in the beginning of this paper, the ancient people commonly wed the same gender and them and also had same sex sexual relations (ProCon.org). In fact in the first century Nero the Emperor of Rome married at least two of his lovers who were men (Chastain 19.) It was not until Christianity became a wide spread religion that sodomy and homosexuality became immoral. Those who oppose the legalization of gay marriage also believe that same sex marriage will threaten the institution of marriage. Marriages since 2011 have been at a new low, with only 52 percent of adults being married (Yen). However gays are fighting for the right to marry who they love, while heterosexual couples take that for granted. Divorce rates are currently lingering around 40-50% that is without gays being able to be married in many states. By allow homosexuals to marry their significant others, it will allow for a stronger bond and maybe bring back life into the deteriorating world of marriage. In states that do allow for same sex marriages, their divorce rates are

For the past, few centuries the concept of marriage has become a matter of church and state. Those who wish to become a married couple within the United States must get permission from the states by obtaining a marriage license. According to Taking Marriage Private by Stephanie Coontz for sixteen centuries marriage was valid based upon the couples wishes. If both the man and women claimed they had exchanged vows, then the Catholic Church would recognize it as a valid marriage. Today all states require that a couple obtain a marriage license from the state if they want the marriage to be legal and valid in the eyes of the state.

The fact that they cannot have such a union is an outright transgression against the 14th Amendment. There are also legal, medical, and financial disadvantages to the current system of civil unions. Plus, if the rest of the world accepts same-sex marriage, the United States absolutely must do the same thing in order to remain “The Land of the Free.” How can we overcome this obstacle on the road to equality? Through your vote. Only with the exercise of the democratic right to vote by the citizens of this great country can this be done. It is your duty to fight for acceptance and for equality, regardless of sexual

Gay marriage has been one of the most common topic under discussion, arguments and quarrels since couple of years in almost every nation of the world. Looking deep down to the region of United States, same-sex marriage or gay marriage has not been legalized and documented in most of its jurisdictions. However, it is prudent to note that with the beginning of the twenty first century, only a few of US states have legally recognized the gay marriage through court verdicts and legislative proceedings and have lawfully allowed the gay people to get into a relationship (Wolfson 2004).

Like many social trends, marriage in the United States has changed over time. Investigation of these trends can aid in the comprehension of the status of marriage in our society, while also

On February 3rd, 2004, The Massachusetts Supreme Court wrote an opinionated yet influential statement to the Senate which said offering civil unions was not an acceptable alternative to gay marriage because "...it is a considered choice of language that reflects a demonstrable assigning of same-sex, largely homosexual, couples to second-class status." (Gay 6) Same-Sex couples having the right to Marriage denied by the law stigmatizes there value and sends a message which allows for discrimination against them. A civil union is defined as a legal status which provides legal protection to couples at the state law level, but omits federal protections, as well as the dignity, clarity, security and power of the word

Out of all the thousands of rights, marriage equality; equal acceptance of same-sex marriages; is the biggest controversy. Opposite sex couples believe that gay marriage will harm or destroy marriage all together if it is allowed, because it is not a ‘traditional’ marriage between one male and one female. Only banning same-marriage will destroy marriage and society. Marriage is a keystone of our social order. Studies show that the United States has one of the highest divorce rates when compared to other countries (infogr.am). Allowing gays the privilege to get married will increase marriage rates and less couples will get divorced due to not being attracted to the opposite sex. The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy, which has conducted previous studies on same-sex relationships and parenting, collected administrative data on divorce rates between lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender couples from New Hampshire and Vermont. The data found that same-sex couples divorced at an average rate of 1.1 percent annually between the two states, compared with 2 percent annually between heterosexual pairs

The history of same-sex marriage in the United States dates back to the early 1970s, when the first lawsuits seeking legal recognition of same-sex relationships brought the question of civil marriage rights. In 1971 the case Baker v. Nelson ruled that denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples did not violate the U.S. Constitution. But as the subject of same sex marriage became increasingly prominent in the U.S., in 1993, the case Baehr v. Lewin suggested that such prohibition might be unconstitutional. The United States is the land of the free and freedom means equality, but for decades marriage was a denied right for the LGBTQ community. The nation’s “constitution contemplates that democracy is the appropriate process for change, individuals who are harmed need no wait legislative action before asserting a fundamental right” (Obergefell v. Hodges 533), therefore under the fourteenth amendment which protects fundamental liberties “states [had] to recognize same-sex marriages validly performed out of State” (Obergefell v. Hodges 533). The United States was founded on the term “men,” the men that abhors the idea of femininity.

When Baker and McConnell went to the supreme court they were dismissed again. In 1973 Maryland became the earliest state to ban Gay Marriage. On November 21st, 1976 Wayne Schwandt and John Fortunato walked down the aisle side by side and had what they called a “holy union”. This story was a media firestorm. As spousal rights of gay couples became a bigger issue the nation’s first Domestic Partnership law was passed in 1984. On October 10th, 1987 almost 2000 gay couples were married at the National Mall in Washington, DC. It became known as “The Wedding”. In 1989 the New York State Court ruled that a gay couple living together for at least 10 years can be called a family, this was the first time a state’s court ruled that gay couples could be considered a family. Gay couples in Domestic Partnerships started to receive benefits just like straight couples from employers in Massachusetts and those who worked for Levi Jeans. As more states started to “defend” marriage by banning Gay Marriage such as the states of Hawaii and Utah, Bill Clinton (the current president of the 90’s) signs DOMA (passed 1996). DOMA keeps marriage between one man and one woman, the consequences of that federal law influence 1049 laws that allow eligibility for federal benefits, rights and privileges. In 1997 Hawaii starts to offer Domestic Partnerships benefits to gay couples but did not make them a requirement. But then Hawaii bans gay marriage and so does

The government’s recognition of Civil Unions between Gays/Lesbians. The government should recognize civil unions. In February of 2004, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered county officials to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and the first same-sex couple to get married there was Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin. Their marriage did not last long, though, due to the California Supreme Court voiding the Mayor’s actions on August 12, 2004, as given in the book called Gay Rights, created by Peggy J. Parks. In the late 1900’s, there were laws that were recently struck down that made same-sex activity illegal. Some laws were called the Sodomy Laws, which means any sexual activity that “goes against nature,” were struck down as well with these other laws. Even though it is considered immoral by many, Civil unions should be recognized because it seems to be the equal of marriage and it will advance gay rights by recognizing them. The point is the government should legally recognize Civil Unions as the equivalent to marriage of straight couples, at the least.

In history, most people didn’t accept the idea of homosexuality, and many people used to believe that marriage is strictly between a man and a women. Many years ago, homoesxuality was in the DSM of Psychology as a psychological disorder, and psychologist used to try to treat patients with homosexual urges. Just like civil rights, the acceptance of homosexuality has increased through movements of gay and lesbians fighting for their equal rights. The most recent movement in the United States was the federal legalization of gay marriage. Everyday people are becoming more accepting of same sex marriage. On June 27th 1969 a group of gays and lesbians stood up against discrimination of homosexuals in New York City. This event is known as the Stonewall Riots in New York City and was a milestone for homosexual equality and civil rights. The United States has always been about equality, and that shouldn’t exclude same-sex marriage. With the legalization of same sex marriage our nation 's laws are closer to what we preach. Politics often debate the legalization of gay marriage, conservatives being mostly anti-equality, and liberals being pro-equality(Murray). Accepting same sex marriage promotes quality in the United States and brings this nation closer to a free nation.

Gay and lesbian couples wish to get married for many of the equivalent reasons that heterosexual couples wish to for love, constant companionship, and to create a nuclear family environment. A survey of same-sex marriage and same-sex parenting reveals several challenges facing gay and lesbian couples, most noticeable being the stereotyping their lifestyles, parenting, and gay beliefs. In the United States, marriage egalitarianism has started to structure itself. The first acknowledged legal battles started in 1969 after the Metropolitan Community Church implemented the country’s inaugural gay espousal ceremony. Meanwhile, the same year in Minnesota Jack Baker and Michael McConnell became virtually unnoticed as the first gay couple to request a marriage license in the United States (Revel & Riot).

But, slowly, marriage went from a practice, to a constitution. It became a commitment to truly love each other, and to make each other genuinely happy. It started between the seventeenth, and eighteenth century, when people supported marriage for love, rather than wealth. But, it was up until the twenty-first century that gays, and lesbians claimed a right to be married. Since 2001, a number of countries started to legalize gay marriage. Even though, gay individuals had already started to stand out, and declare their sexuality. But, they are still being outcasted in society.

Historic change in American matrimony is especially pronounced in three areas: the equalizing of the respective rights and duties of wives and husbands, the dissolution of marital prohibitions based on race, and the evolution from state-defined grounds for divorce to couple-defined no fault divorce. The most recent area of debate is whether the state should sanction marital consent between same-sex couples. Although such a prospect is unthinkable to some, earlier forms of legal marriage are equally unimaginable now.