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Legalization of Same Sex Marriage in America

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Legalization of Same Sex Marriage in America
I do! The marriage of homosexual couples is a hot topic right now. Many politicians have changed their position from against homosexual marriage to for homosexual marriage. These politicians include Senator (Sen.) Rob Portman, former President Bill Clinton, and current President Barack Obama ("Political flip-floppers," 2014). The federal and state governments need to support same sex marriages the same as they support opposite sex marriages. Legalization of same sex marriages legitimizes the couple’s equality in society, strengthens family health, and is an intrinsic right for all citizens.
Equality, Stability, and Rights
Same sex couples do not receive the same socio-economic benefits that opposite gender couples do when they get married. The socio-economic rights of pension benefits, hospital visitation, child support, affordable housing etc... are basic resources for a healthy marriage regardless of same-sex or opposite sex couples (Dinno & Whitney, 2013). Currently in the United States (U.S.) 17 states plus the District of Columbia allow same-sex couples to marry, with four others allowing domestic partnerships or civil unions (Same sex marriage map, 2014). The states these same-sex couples are married in, are typically, the only state where their marriage rights are guaranteed. In the case of civil unions or domestic partnerships, these rights are limited and not always transferred from state to state (Jones, 2013).

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