The Unfair Treatment of Same Sex Couples in the United States

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"On no issue in American life have opinions changed as fast as they have on gay rights," said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster and political consultant. "It is truly a stunning development." (Yost) Currently, the United States Government has left up the decision of same-sex marriage and civil unions up to the states, opening the door for many states to issue bans against it, and therefore leading to unfair treatment of individuals in some states. Same sex marriage is a civil rights issue and should be left up to the federal government. Individual states should not be left to discriminate against citizens, religious devotions cannot be used to promote against equal rights of those without the same beliefs, and treatment of individuals should be the same in whichever state in which they reside. Treatment of individuals should be the same in whichever state they live in. Although a growing number of states support equal rights for same sex couples, many states do not recognize rights granted by other states. If someone moves from one state to another state which does not grant these rights, they may run into some problems. For instance, a lesbian couple with one daughter from a state supporting equality, moved to Texas, a state against it. Since one of the parents was not the biological mother, and Texas does not recognize same sex relationships, the non-biological mother had to adopt the child to be able to be a legal guardian (Fernandez). However, when the law promoting this inequality was taken to federal court, it was struck down. The family stated "Ultimately, the repeal of Texas' ban will mean that our son will never know how this denial of equal protections demeaned our family and belittled his parents' relationship.” (Ferna... ... middle of paper ... ...take into effect. Yet, as we can see here, the opinion of the federal government is that these state-based bans are unconstitutional. Therefore, states should no longer be able to discriminate against citizens in this way.. A final and swift decision on same sex marriage should be left up to the federal government. Individual states cannot be left to discriminate against citizens. States can no longer be allowed to violate the constitution and use religion to violate someone's rights. Likewise, a decision through the national government is the only way to ensure that treatment of individuals in every state, not to take away from the sovereignty of the states, but to increase the sovereignty of the individual. Every single person in the United States deserves equal treatment, and therefore the entire country must enforce this fundamental tenent of our principles.

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