The Uniqueness of Every Person

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.

If certain states have laws that say they cannot marry the one person they want, then that is not something that should be allowed. The people who are told they can not marry the one they want to spend the rest of thier life with are the ones who want to see the change that desperately needs to happen. Same-sex marriage has become such an important issue in today's society. It is the path to many couple’s happiness. With the recent change in office, the road for same-sex marriage could be terribly damaged. But if others continue to try and equalize everyone's happiness then same-sex marriage will continue along a positive road. People will be able to marry whoever they wish in years to come but that change is not clear due to the change in office. The inability to accept what is different often sets back many. It’s an issue or topic people tend to shy away from. Being different is not a bad thing and everyone needs to realize that. Difference is something that needs to be accepted or the world will never be able to survive. The decisions and opinions of others affect others lives and overall well

On June 26,2015, the Supreme Court sided that gay marriage is a right protected by the U.S. Constitution in all 50 states. Previously, to their decision, same sex marriage was already legal in 37 states and

In the summer of 2015 the U.S supreme court ruled in favor to legalize same-sex marriage in all 50 countries in the United States. This all occurred because of the Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) case. This very important case involved “14 same-sex couples and two men whose same-sex partners are deceased” and the couples argued that the “state officials violated [their] 14th amendment by denying them the right to marry or to have marriages lawfully performed in another state given full recognition and also violated their equal protection Clause. The supreme court ruled for this case because in the 14th Amendment it clearly declares that all people should have “equal protection under the law”, regardless of race or ethnicity.

I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman, and ever since the recognition of marriage in all cultures, it has been that way. A lot of people have been trying to look at it as a right of the people protected under the Constitution. I say that it is being examined completely wrong. Marriage is, by my definition, the union of a man and woman recognized by the state. I do not think it is the union of two people. Regardless of what I believe, I do not think it was legally right for the Court to require all of the states to recognize gay marriage. According to Chief Justice Roberts,

It is in sweeping terms that would have been unimaginable just about 12 years ago. In 2003, the Supreme Court of Massachusetts became the first state to ratify the right to marriage equality at a state level constitution. Now the Supreme Court of the United States is needed to decide whether the Federal Constitution would require all states to either license same-sex marriages or to recognize those marriages if they’re performed elsewhere in a state that allows it.

The decision reached at the Supreme Court regarding the case of Obergefell v. Hodges is that same-sex couples have a fundamental right to be allowed to marry each other. To make it plain and simple, my belief is that I agree with the court’s decision. Whether you are a homosexual couple or heterosexual couple, I believe your marriage rights should be equal and not separated due to any religious beliefs and other’s personal feelings. I believe people have a fundamental right to practice their religion, but that right doesn’t grant anyone the power to force said religious beliefs onto anyone. America is the land of the free, you can do what you believe in as long as it doesn’t harm others and is safe for yourself and the people whom are affected

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.

On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme court ruled gay marriage as a constitutional right in all 50 states. This was a tremendous achievement for the LGBT community, it was the beginning of acceptance. Even though the Supreme Court passed this ruling

Only seven out of the 50 United States have declared gay marriage legal. These states include California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, Washington D.C. and most recently, Hawaii who legalized gay marriage on February 23 of this year. The governor made a statement saying, “This bill represents equal rights for everyone in Hawaii, everyone who comes here. This to me is the essence of the aloha spirit. With its signing, I want to say ‘welcome’ to the world, come to paradise.” However, this country has continued to vote to keep an estimated 9 million Americans who claim to be homosexual from marrying (Morello). Some are uncomfortable with gay marriage or it may go against their religion but banning it directly

Firstly, Marriage Equality and the Gay Rights Movement have a history dating back to 1970. "On May 18, 1970, two University of Minnesota students, Richard John 'Jack ' Baker and James Michael McConnell applied to Hennepin County District Court clerk Gerald Nelson for a marriage license. He denied the application, because the applicants both were men.” (ProCon.org) January 1st of 1973, Maryland was the first state to pass a stature banning marriage between same-sex couples. (Wolfson, par. 2) Several other states followed suit up through 1975 and from 1975 through the early 1990’s were fairly quiet. Then in 1993, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled in Baehr v. Lewin that denying marriage to same-sex couples violates the Equal Protection

Of the many societal customs engrained in humanity, marriage may be one of the most prevalent. For most of history, man and woman have displayed their capacity for affection through this formality; and, for most of history, marriage has been limited to only man and woman. Like marriage, however, homosexuality too has existed for thousands of years. One could even argue that it is simply a part of human nature. Nonetheless, those who identify as anything but heterosexual have been persecuted for hundreds of years. In the United States of America, gay marriage has been legal since 2015 -- and although legal, the opposition persists to this day through politicians and religious groups. For example, while the Constitution of the United States

The right to same sex marriage has been involved within the Constitution as part of Amendments V, VIII, and XV. Marriage is both global and central. All across our country, in every region, every social class, every race and ethnicity, every religion or non-religion, people get married. Same sex marriage was a division of social and political. An example of a court case dealing with same sex marriage is Baehr v. Lewin. In 1993, Hawaii’s high court issues first-of-a-kind ruling that a barrier to marriage is discrimination, launching the freedom to marry movement. Three years later in 1996, a full trial took place and was decided that the same-sex couples are entitled to marriage licenses. Later in 1998, Hawaii amends its constitution with regard to marriage by exempting same-sex couples from protection of equality guarantee, giving legislature the power to define marriage as limited to a man and a woman. However, a year later in 1999, Baehr v. Lewin Hawaii’s high court rules that Hawaii’s constitution no longer protects lesbian and gay individuals with regard to their freedom to marry. As in today, some states in the United States did not approve the right for same sex marriage. On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to force same-sex marriage on all 50 states. According to the Supreme Court Justice page, “The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that there is a federal constitutional right to

Same sex marriage has been widely looked down upon for ages. People say, “It’s not the traditional constitutional marriage”, or “Children need a mother and a father”. It honestly doesn’t matter. If two people love each other, they should be allowed to marry. It’s just as simple as that. What other reason do you need? If two complete strangers of the same sex want to be together for the rest of their lives, we should let them.First, denying some people to marry is discriminatory. Judge Sarah Zabel of Miami-Dade Circuit Court ruled the gay marriage ban of Florida unconstitutional. She stated that it, “serves only to hurt, to discriminate, to deprive same-sex couples and their families of equal dignity, to label and treat them as 2nd class citizens, and to deem them unworthy of participation in one of the fundamental institutions of our society.” In other words, you’re looking down upon same sex couples that want to get married as if they’re lower than you; that they don’t deserve the same rights as us. Same sex couples would be able to enjoy the same benefits as heterosexual couples if they were able to be married.Furthermore, the General Accounting Office made an assessment in 2004 about the benefits that heterosexual married couples have that same sex couples could not. Some of these benefits include hospital visitation during an illness and the option of filing a joint tax return to reduce a tax burden. Imagine not being able to see your significant other in the hospital

Today many people have their own opinions and beliefs when it comes down to the topic of gay marriage. I personally feel that gay marriage should be legalized. Yes God said, “That marriage is to be between a man and a woman.” My question is, “What gives people the right to judge or tell another human-being who to love or how to love?” I personally feel it’s insulting to one’s integrity and people should be able to express their love how they see fit.