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).
Advocates, prove their counter-argument by saying such denial is the violation of human rights for civil and religious freedom, which the United States commonly stands by. Additionally, they state the social status of homosexual couples being unmarried does not entitle them to receive several medical benefits, such as joint ownership or medical and insurance decision-making capabilities. Nowadays after getting married in Texas, the LGBT community faces numerous challenges linked to social integration. Normally, each individual is aimed to being recognized and respected by the rest of society, but due to the bias judgments and prejudice against homosexuals, they are often treated as outcasts such as a lack in the above mentioned benefits and opportunities. On the other hand, homosexuals claim the legalization of their relationships with the help of marriage is the only way to fight discrimination held against sexual
The question often arises “Why do gay couples want to get married? Aren’t there other forms of union the state offers?” There are other alternatives to marriage that give gay couples the same tax benefits as other couples but, marriage allows for some benefits under taxes, medicare, and medical decisions that other types of union won’t allow.
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).
Legalizing gay marriage has given America a troubling debate throughout a majority of the states. With only thirty-seven states allowing legal gay marriage, the other thirteen have either banned it or are still deciding (unknown, 2015, para 1). Gay marriage is seen as different and wrong to so many people in America that is has become sickening. People do have their differences and as Justin Timberlake once said, “We’re people and we’re different, all of us. And we should be using our differences to bring ourselves closer together” and with this being said, everyone is equal to one another in different ways (Timberlake, 2014, 10). For example, two people could have two different religions, which is different, but also equal in the sense
"Marriage isn't between a man and woman, but between love and love." Gay marriage should be legalized in every state because homosexuals deserve the same equal rights as heterosexuals. Nobody should be told who they can and cannot marry. Everyone deserves a chance to be happy and not legalizing marriage is taking that opportunity away from homosexuals who want to get married.
First we have Social Security benefits that married couples share. Basically, if your spouse dies you get their Social Security and if they die and have kids then you can get benefits from that too. Since marital rights are being denied, the LGBT community doesn’t get these benefits even if they considered themselves married. Another right denied to gay couples is the way they are taxed, this directly affects certain children. For example, if a gay couple has a child, which one of the partners is the biological parent of, and the state they live in doesn’t not allow them to marry, then the amount of resources that they earn is lower and can’t provide as much to child care than a married heterosexual couple.
Same sex couples have access to the same benefits as straight couples. For example, there are social security benefits, tax benefits, veteran and military benefits, federal employment benefits, and immigration benefits just like straight couples. The Supreme Court ruled that the section of DOMA defining marriage as between a man and a woman violates the Equal Protection Clause and is therefore unconstitutional(Kathleen Michon, 2015). The rules for eligibility
Same-sex marriage and straight marriage do not have the same rights. Same-sex couples are denied equal access to civil marriage. If same-sex couples enter a civil union they are denied equal access to all the benefits, rights, and privileges provided federal law to married couples. Being denied to all these rights they should have may harm people who also experienced discrimination based on age, race, ethnicity, gender, and religion. The APA (American Psychological Association) believes it is unfair to discriminate and deny same-sex couples legal access to civil marriage and all of the benefits, rights and privileges. (Wikipedia)
When heterosexual couples get married they get certain benefits such as employee, medical, and estate. Meaning they can leave work in case of an emergency with their spouse and also get insurance for themselves and their spouse. Married couples also get the
Gay rights is a very popular issue in American politics that asks ask the question “Should same sex marriage be recognized legally.” Some Americans support gay rights and believe all homosexuals deserve the right of protection from discrimination. They do not believe marriage would devalued but would allow homosexuals to have same benefits and security as heterosexual couples. Some of the rights same-sex marriages would be entitled to include: eligibility of health insurance through each other’s employers, visitation rights in hospitals and jails, and the right to sue over wrongful death of a partner, right to refuse to testify against spouse in court, tax and Social Security benefits. Opponents of the gay rights movement believe marriage is between one man and one woman. They believe it is a wrong and unnatural act that devalues the institution of marriage. They believe marriage is meant to foster two-parent families that are the foundation of our society. Gay rights have been a controversial issue for many years, but until recently there had not been any real progress in ensuring same-sex couples have the rights they deserve that are given to heterosexual couples and crushing the belief that being who they are is wrong or shameful.
All citizens should be able to enjoy full human rights, no matter their sexuality. In Same-Sex marriage in the United States: Focus on the Facts, the author states, “Partners without legal family ties are routinely prevented from visiting their loved ones in hospitals” (Cahill). Not allowing same-sex couples to marry takes away very important potential benefits they could have if allowed to marry. Some health care related rights are available exclusively to married couples. These rights include: visitation rights, the right to make funeral arrangements, and access to Health Care rights, they also get unequal tax treatment for being the same sex. Only married spouses can transfer an unlimited amount of money without taxes being taken out. Opposite sex couples can enjoy tax free health insurance. Same-Sex couples do not qualify as dependents so they are not
The issue of Gay marriage is a very controversial topic in today’s society. However, people may feel about gay marriage, they are typically either fully for it or against it. As time continues and generations pass peoples opinions on controversial topics have been changed, however there is still a lot of controversy about gay marriage throughout the United States government and citizens. Many people in the United States government get their views about gay marriage from the constitution and traditional civil rights these two are perhaps the two biggest sources as to where people get some of their beliefs on gay marriage. The issue of same-sex marriage is one of the biggest areas of controversy within the United States, from the constitution and the supreme court to the political parties and an individual 's view on same-sex marriage all help contribute to whether or not same-sex marriage should be legalized within the United States.
There is a long standing debate regarding same-sex marriage across the whole world. Many religious institutions as well as the people under each denomination, still firmly oppose it even after it’s legalization. “Religious denominations play a strong role in structuring attitudes about the morality of homosexuality, and support for specific policies of toleration and nondiscrimination” (Sherkat, Mattias de Vries and Creek 81). Religion continues to be a major factor towards the society’s views in same-sex marriage. It also determines how the scriptures in the bible regarding homosexuality are interpreted. “Fully 85% of those who are religiously unaffiliated favor same-sex marriage, as do 62% of white mainline Protestants and 56% of
In our time the traditional viewpoint that we have previously exerted in relationship to the definition of a family is being challenged more than ever before. Regardless of whether or not that is through grandparents raising children, foster children and adopted children being raised in families, single parenting, interracial couples, etc. One of the most talked about issues of our time is the legality of same sex union/marriages. The standpoint that many take on this issue is one rooted very deeply in traditions and personal beliefs. There is a constant conflict of opinions. However, research consistently that relationships between families are tied together based off of the quality of the relationship and child outcomes compared to the sexual orientation of the parents.
The onslaught of homosexuality legalization movements and initiatives has presented the society with a barrage of questions – dilemmas, even – regarding its moral and political sides. Legalization of same-sex marriage is a highly divisive issue and often pits former friends, neighbors and even relatives against each other. Whereas some people believe that same-sex marriage is an unnatural and unhealthy phenomenon, activists exhorting its legalization hold fast to the opposite opinion. The groundswell of opinion in the US is in favor of gay marriage and 37 states have already enshrined it in law. In most countries around the world, however, just the opposite is true. What is more appalling, homosexuality is punishable by death in several Middle Eastern countries. Even in the US, not all people accept the spread of gay marriage across the country with tacit acquiescence. Indeed, just as homosexuals and their supporters stage gay pride parades, the naysayers, too, eddy into the streets to protests against the spread of what they often call “the new bubonic plague”.