What would it be like for hate and discrimination to follow someone all because of their preference on love? Same-sex couples fall in love only to realize that they are not “supposed” to be together. These couples cannot even enjoy every day activities that other couples may take for granted. Many same-sex couples are discriminated against because they are not what others consider the social norm. The religion in which many Americans believe in is Catholic. The general outlines to Catholic religion are referenced throughout the bible; nowhere in the bible does it say that same-sex marriage is at all acceptable. Therefore many religious minorities believe that marriage is only acceptable between a man and a woman. If America prides itself on being the home of freedom and hope, anyone who is truly in love should be married when they want to be. If all marriages were treated equally, America could live up to being the home of the free. By denying same-sex unions America is violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Hence, denying same-sex couples the right to be married is unconstitutional. Many homosexual marriages will in fact last longer than marriages between heterosexual couples because it is so much more difficult for them to be married in the first place. In fact a recent study was completed in Vermont over a three year period of time that proved marriages to be very well grounded for same-sex couples. Homosexual participants were compared with heterosexual participants and the homosexual couples actually reported greater relationship quality, compatibility, intimacy, and lower levels of conflict after being unionized (“Sexual Orientation Across The Lifespan”). Marriage actually made these couples st... ... middle of paper ... ...: Henry Holt and Company, 2004. Print. "Same Sex Marriage Laws." Same Sex Marriage Laws. N.p., 6 Mar. 2014. Web. 1 May 2014. "Same Sex Marriage Laws." Same Sex Marriage Laws. N.p., 6 Mar. 2014. Web. 1 May 2014. . Stone, Geoffrey. "Judges Now Recognize Anti-Gay Marriage Laws Are Irrational." The Daily Beast. N.p., 03 Apr 2014. Web. 13 Apr 2014. . "The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription." National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration, 4 July 1776. Web. 2 May 2014. .
Avalon.law.yale.edu,. (2015). Avalon Project - Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. Retrieved 27 August 2015, from http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/declare.asp
The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. Web. The Web. The Web. 13 Nov. 2010.
"The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription." National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2014.
Nagourney, Adam. "Court Strikes Down Ban on Gay Marriage in California." New York Times. N.p., 7 Feb. 2012. Web.
"The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription." National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration, Web. 07 Mar. 2014.
Marriage is defined as “(1) the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2): the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage ("Marriage," 2003, p. 659). Despite the latter definition’s addition to dictionaries in the past decade, this definition of marriage is still debated. Being a touchy subject in both politics and religion today, it’s been very hard to come to an agreement. There are two main sides to this argument regarding the nature of marriage. Some stick to their conservative and/or religious beliefs, while others state that marriage is a civil right (Kim, 2011, p. [Page 38]). However, same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in North Carolina and thirty-two other states at this time ("Defining Marriage: State Defense," 2014). Homosexuals have been denied many of the rights given to those that are heterosexual. Same-sex couples are not able to receive other benefits as a heterosexual couple would. The lack of benefits is extremely unequal and unfair. This unacceptable treatment is unconstitutional and should not continue.
Wolf, Richard. “Timeline: Same-Sex marriage through the years.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 26 June 2015,
Kennedy, Dorothy M., and Jane E. Aaron. " What's Wrong with Gay Marriage?." The Bedford Reader. By X. J. Kennedy. 11th ed. Boston: St. Martin’s, 2012. 570-572. Print.
Savage, Charlie., and Stolberg Sheryl G. “In Shift, U.S. Says Marriage Act Blocks Gay Rights.”
Gay marriage is a hotly debated issue in today's society. Andrew Sullivan and William Bennett offer opposing views in the June 3, 1996 edition of Newsweek. Sullivan's article, “Let Gays Marry,” offers several arguments supporting the issues of same sex marriage. Bennett counters in his article, “Leave Marriage Alone,” that same sex marriages would be damaging to the sanctity of marriage. Each author presents several reasons for the positions they defend and bring up valid points to defend their opinions. William Bennett and Andrew Sullivan share a mutual respect for the values and sacredness of the bond of marriage. Their disagreements stem from who they believe should be allowed to marry.
Rauch, Jonathan. "The Government Should Sanction Gay Marriage, Not Domestic Partnerships." Homosexuality. Ed. Paul Connors. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Current Controversies. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 16 Apr. 2011.
Stoddard, T, Fein, B, (Jan. 1990) Gay Marriage, Personal relationships, Marriage, Legislation, Homosexuality, American Bar Association, (Pages 42, 42)
“A Right to Marry? Same-sex Marriage and Constitutional Law | Dissent Magazine.” Dissent Magazine. Martha Nussbaum, 8 June 2009. Web. 14 Nov. 2016.
(no author given). (2000). Fighting to Win and Keep the Freedom to Marry: The legal, Political, and Cultural Challenges Ahead. National Journal of Sexual Orientation Law Online. 234 paragraphs. Available: http://metalab.unc.edu/gaylaw/issue2/wolfson.html. [2000, May 22]
In society, the people that constitute marriage are the policy makers in our government. Unfortunately, marriage is a privilege and not a right. In some states, homosexuals are not allowed to get married (Lamanna and Reidmann, pg. 276). Although people in s...