Liberty and Justice for All: Same- Sex Marriage

Marriage. A legally, religiously, or socially sanctioned union of persons who commit to one another, forming a familial and economic bond. Same-sex marriages included. Same-sex marriage is one of the most controversial topics of our day and age. As of July 1st, 2013, 55-40% of Americans believe that same-sex marriages should be recognized by law as valid. That’s the most support there has ever been in our country. We shouldn’t be depriving gay and lesbian couples of the human right of equality. It has been proven that legalizing same-sex marriage does amazing acts for not just individuals, but our country as a whole. Failing to do so would only take us farther back in the evolution of American society. We are constantly becoming more open-minded as a society, and treating everyone equally would definitely help.

Firstly, same-sex marriage should be legal because it would create financial gain to the state and local governments. Revenue from gay marriages comes from marriage licences, higher income taxes, and decreases in costs for state benefit programs. More marriages means more money for the government. The Comptroller for New York City found that legalizing gay marriage would bring $142 million to the city’s economy and $182 million to the state’s economy over three years. Now, just because the government has more money doesn’t mean they will use it well. They could unnecessarily fund irrelevant changes instead of more important causes. Although, it can never be guaranteed where the money goes, but this is the system that generally functions well and benefits us. In the end, most of us get what we need.

One of the most popular arguments against gay and lesbian marriages is that the Bible says homosexuality is wrong. This shoul...

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...upreme Court case Zablocki v. Redhail, the court described marriage as one of the basic civil rights of man. Granting only heterosexual couples with the “privilege” of marriage would be unconstitutional. Americans should have the freedom to marry who they want, regardless of gender.

Therefore, if we legalize same-sex marriage, All Americans will be treated equally by the government. Just think, this could be the one thing holding us back from a jumpstart in the economy and society. More money in the system and a more open-minded society are both things that our country needs desperately. Using religious texts for peace is a good start. Legalizing gay marriage wouldn’t hurt anybody, so why not do it? We need to give everyone their civil rights. It’s time for a change. If people have been fighting for marriage equality since the 1960’s, it’s more than just important.