...Gay Marriage Research Paper Did you know that only 17 states in the United States have officially legalized gay marriage? Some of these states include: California Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. Maryland became the first state to pass a statute banning marriage between same-sex couples on January 1st, 1973. Then, President Bill Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) into law on September 21st, 1996. The DOMA mandates unequal treatment of legally married same-sex couples. 3 years later, California becomes the first state to create a domestic partnership statute, on September 22, 1999 allowing same-sex couples to receive some, but not all, of the protections afforded by marriage. (History and Timeline of the Freedom to Marry in the United States). Gay marriage should be legalized in all states because it will boost the economy, it will provide health benefits for the couples , more children will get adopted, and because it can allow same-sex couples to visit their spouse in case they are at the hospital. Making gay marriage legal will boost the economy for sure. Why you ask? It is because the more marriages there are, the more money the state earns. Same-sex couples spend at an average of $9,039 on their weddings, while 31% spent $10,000 dollars or more. New York statistics show that after the first year of legalizing gay marriage, they gained $259 million dollars. (CNNMoney) . Also, according to a 2005 Stanford study cited by the Fiscal Times...
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...The Fight for Same Sex Marriage in the 6th Circuit The Fight for Same Sex Marriage in the 6th Circuit In the United States there is a current appeal occurring within the 6th circuit for the fight for same sex marriage/Gay marriage rights. The 6th Circuit issued the first ruling in favor of upholding laws that discriminated against same sex couple’s from a federal appellate court in the past several years (The Freedom to Marry, 2015). With all of the talk of marriage litigation and 60 rulings in favor of same sex marriage, it would seem that the country is ready for the freedom to marry for all. Quite a lot of people feel that everyone should be able to get married, and have the same rights as same sex couples despite loving someone of the same sex. In April 2015, the question of whether same-sex couples nationwide should have the right to marry will finally get to be heard in court before the U.S Supreme Court. For Years, people have one the freedom to marry from the courts of public opinion, to ballot boxes, to even the U.S Supreme Court (The Freedom to Marry, 2015). The argument of Marriage Equality raises the concern that denying marriage to same sex couples is unconstitutional and unfair which violates the American Values of freedom, liberty and respect. This argument has won over many voters, opinion leaders and courts all across the United States (The Freedom to Marry, 2015). The 6th Circuit is the first federal appellate court this year to rule against the freedom...
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...Gay Marriage Should gay marriages be legal? Clearly we as a nation are undecided on this issue. 36 states have passed legislation banning gay marriages, yet the state of Vermont recently passed a law that allows homosexual couples the right to participate in civil unions. Some other states are also debating whether or not to allow these couples to marry. Unfortunately, the dispute has left the United States homosexual community in an awkward position. There are some people who think that gay people have no rights and should never be allowed to marry. Other people believe that gay people are just like anyone else and should enjoy the same rights and privileges as heterosexuals do. I think that the United States should allow these couples to marry just like any other couple. There are many opponents of gay people as it is, and they all have their reasons to dislike the idea of letting them get married. One of the main reasons is that the primary purpose of marriage is procreation. Because gay couples are unable to have children, they should not be allowed to marry (Schiffen 495). Another main argument is that the word marriage means the union of one man and one woman. This is a long-standing theme of most major Western religions. Under a proposed bill known as the Defense of Marriage act, marriage is defined as “a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.” Furthermore, it defines a spouse as “ a person of the opposite sex...
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...Did you know that the Missouri State Constitution currently states that marriage is only between a man and a woman even though the United States Supreme Court overruled it in 2015? Banning same-sex marriage is discriminatory, especially when there are benefits only married couples can get. There are benefits for family values due to same-sex marriage due to things like adoption. Marriage is marriage no matter who is allowed to get married or not. Same-sex marriage is a fundamental right because banning same-sex marriage is discriminatory, there are benefits only married couples can get, same-sex marriage benefits family values, some people do not view it as a sin, and it will not change the definition of marriage. Gordon Babst states that...
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...Should married gay Veterans receive equal benefits? University of Phoenix August, 5, 2014 Kealakai Peña Marriage is a right protected by the United States Constitution. The Fourteenth Amendment allows American citizens entitlement to life, liberty, property, and equal protection under the law. By denying gay couples the right of marriage, laws that ban gay marriage also deny them these constitutional rights. These laws would deny gay couples the right to life and liberty by denying them the lifestyle that they want to live. It would deny them property by banning them from jointly owning property together as a married couple. Finally, it denies them equal protection under the law by stopping them from entering into a partnership based solely on their sexual orientation. The Fourteenth Amendment allows all citizens of the US the entitlement to life, liberty, property, and equal protection under the law. The sole right of marriage is protected under the United States Constitution. Denying same-sex married veterans would be denying their right to life and liberty. This denies them property by banning them from jointly owning property together as a married couple. A prime example of denying benefits to married gay veterans would be when the Wilkinson’s required a $175,000 bank loan from the Veterans Affairs, a department that provides to active-duty members and veterans. When the 32-year-old veteran was single, he was...
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...Injustice Involving Same-sex Marriage The legalization of gay marriages has been argued and talked about in our society for the earlier few years. It really is a very questionable subject matter. It is difficult for a lot of people to accept gay marriages. Writing a same sex marriage essay is becoming a more and more popular assignment, giving scholars the possibility to express their ideas on this particular matter. Same-sex marriage (also known as gay marriage) is marriage between two people of the same biological sex and/or gender identity. Legal recognition of same-sex marriage or the possibility to perform a same-sex marriage is sometimes referred to as marriage equality or equal marriage, particularly by supporters.(Dictionary.com) In early times, same-sex marriage was not considered taboo and in many cultures, it was encouraged. Random History (2011) explains that in the early civilizations of Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt, the union between couples of the same-sex was recognized by the kingdom. During Greek’s early years, attraction between a man and another man was normal and was considered an expression of love. “The main considerations in same-sex relationships in early history were often love, beauty, and excellence of character rather than gender” (Random History, 2011, p.1). Same-sex marriages were often believed to be more pure than a heterosexual marriage. Marriage was believed to be the union of two people based on love. A marriage consisting of two males or two...
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...Sample Final Exam Essay: Legalize Gay Marriage English—Mr. Fichter (This sample essay is based upon a student-written essay from last year. The student author is anonymous.) Homosexuality is everywhere. You can see it in books, on television, in the media; it is rapidly becoming a social norm. Given this trend of greater acceptance of gay marriage, the issue of whether to legalize same-sex marriage naturally arises. Massachusetts has led the way by legalizing gay marriage. Responding to this example, some states have taken steps towards accepting gay marriage while others are considering laws and constitutional amendments banning gay marriage within state borders. President George Bush has recently proposed a ban on gay marriage in the U.S. Constitution (Hulse). If Americans carefully examine the situation, however, they should all be able to understand the importance of making same-sex marriage legal in the United States. Those opposing same-sex marriage claim that by allowing this act, marriages everywhere will lose their honor and validity (Kurtz). Marriages between a man and a woman would lose their special importance, these opponents argue, if the definition of marriage is expanded to include same-sex couples as well. The test of time has proven this fear pointless. For several years, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands have allowed gay marriage without any signs of damage to heterosexual couples. Social life in these countries continues unchanged, and...
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...Keenen Walker Price Sociology 1160 3 December 2013 Same Sex Marriage The term social problem is defined as something that is damaging to society. There is a process for something to become considered a social problem. The process is made up of multiple steps all starting with claims making. Claims making is the step that defines the problem as an actual issue that is harmful to society. In the issue of gay marriage rights, the claims makers are people such as political leaders and people who have authority in society. Gay marriage rights is a major controversial issue here in the United States. Even though, according to a poll taken by Gallup, the majority rule of fifty-two percent would be for gay marriage to be legalized by the American people, it is still a very big issue. There are still many people who are not accepting of the gay marriage rights, believing that marriage is tradition between a man and a woman. The issue has been a main topic in political campaigns, and even in the 2012 election between Obama and Romney. The issue was brought up in many of the debates because it such a current issue, with both sides having very different opinions. In the poll taken by Gallup, the demographic groups who are the most supportive of gay marriage rights were: liberals with seventy seven percent agreeing, those with no religious affiliation with seventy six percent, Democrats with seventy percent, young adults aged eighteen to thirty-four with sixty nine percent, those...
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...They state publicly and express their love openly as a sign of commitment to each other. Marriage is a very symbolic gesture, and to take that privilege away from two people who are in love is a serious problem. We love who we want. You can’t change who you fall in love with. Opponents argue that is against their religion—marriage should be between a man and a woman so that they can pro-create. However, Evan Wolfson, from a gay-advocacy group called Freedom to Marry, argues that “every religion can decide for itself whether to perform or honor any marriage…but no religion should be able to dictate who gets a civil marriage license” (Wolfson). This country was founded and has continued to develop the concept of separation of church and state. It is up to individual religions whether to acknowledge same-sex marriages. However, it is the nation’s responsibility to acknowledge all unions, instead of discriminating couples based on their sex. To infringe upon couples right to civil marriage is a violation of human rights. Gay people, who are in love, have the right to commit to each other and have it legally recognized by the United States government. Banning an issue doesn’t make it go away. The American Constitution said that everyone deserves the same, equal rights that include gay people. So banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Making this issue illegal is also a form of discrimination. Homophobic ridicule and abuse gay citizens, and gay teenagers...
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...whether same-sex marriage is wrong and whether it is not. Before this essay is started out, here are a few interesting facts on homosexuality and same-sex marriage. The Netherlands was the first nation to legalize same sex marriage (in 2001). Same sex marriage is outlawed in 76 countries as of 2013. These are just a few out of the ma ny facts about homosexuality/same-sex marriage. This essay has several key points to why same-sex marriage is okay. Same sex marriage/attraction is not a sin and the Bible and history is wrong about the definition of ‘traditional marriage’, it does not affect heterosexual values/attraction, it increases the number of adopted orphans, I) Traditional marriage (same sex marriage isn’t considered a traditional marriage because its same sex) isn’t historically/culturally accurate a. The Random House Dictionary (circa 1970) defines marriage as “the state of being married”. Today, many Americans like to define marriage as “a bond between a man and a woman only”. Traditionally, Christians (who make up America’s religion census) oppose the concept of same-sex marriage because in the Bible it is viewed as a “sin”. Protest and posters that read “Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve” and “God hates fags” all because same sex marriage isn’t “traditional” marriage. The shocking thing is that it isn’t just Christians who believe this; several other major world religions such as Islam and Judaism both view homosexuality and same sex marriage as a sin. In the...
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...being placed across the country: Should the government allow gay marriage in ALL 50 states? They answer to this well known debate is yes. Marriage fifty years or so ago no longer really seems to apply in this day in age. If America says no to gay marriage, than the land of the free and the right to supposibly have the pursuit of happiness, actually discriminates against people. How can legislators say the are saving the traditional familes if more than 50 persent of of hetrosexual marriages end in divorec? Living in America, the land of the free people who are homosexuality should not get the end of the stick. They are human just like hetrosexual person and deserve the same rights. I belive my opioin is moraly respectable, no matter what my catholic upbringing tries to pursued me in beliving. To have our goveremt say who we can and can’t marry just isn’t right. The government cant control love and commitment. The purpose of our government is to make decision that will benfit the entire country, not just individual people. We need to take our moral out of the picture and make choice that give all a chance to equale. Allowing gay marriage is fair to not only hetrosexuallys, but all to supoorting people in their lives. If the United states allow gay marrige in all states and gives the same rights to heterosexuality couples that homosexual couple have this does not mean were asking all homophobic people to accept gays. Everyone has their own beliefs, and not a single law can...
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...Information found in the studies of the 50 states not all of them allow same-sex marriage. Same sex marriage has varied by jurisdiction, resulting from legislative changes to marriage laws, court, challenges based on constitutional guarantees of equality, or a combination of the two (Sunstein, 2003). As reported by (Godoy May 9, 2012) gay marriage has been legalized in the District of Columbia and 7 U.S states.Vermont being the first to recognize legal equality in the civil marriage laws and to protect the religious societies authorized to solemnize civil marriages. The laws then came into effect on September 1, 2009. In Vermont the Supreme Court ruling in the Baker v. Vermont that same-sex couples had a constitutional right to access the benefits.Marriage stated in the (New York Times)....
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...Gay Marriage It is inconceivable that gay marriage is not legal or recognized in most of the United States. To have anti-gay marriage laws and not identify it with discrimination is a crime within itself. “We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal.” This is one of the most famous quotes from the Declaration of Independence, and sadly, the most untrue. The American Constitution states that everyone deserves the same, equal rights and yet gay people are not allowed to marry. Banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. It is true that it is difficult for everyone to be equal and everyone to be happy about it. If gay marriage was made legal there would be problems arising in the religious community. Many people believe that gay marriage goes against the bible and religion. This is a good point and yes the bible does state that homosexuality is a sin but there is a separation of church and state clause in our bill of rights. This means that all religious views on the matter of gay marriage should not have any impact on whether it is legalized. In the catholic community there is a religious belief that you cannot divorce and remarry. When someone remarries, the marriage is not valid in the eyes of the Catholic Church but the government recognizes the marriage and the couple receive the benefits that every other married couple receives. If a gay couple were to marry, the church would remain free to establish its own views and teaching...
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...102-02 Gay rights and Religion I choose to do my paper on gay rights and religion. I will be talking about Amendment 14. States that support gay marriage. Religious rights versus gay rights. Gay rights and religious freedom. Gay discrimination. Gay rights and the Constitution. In February of 2004 San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom ordered the city clerk to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples. The issue that had simmered in the background for years was moved toward the front of the nation's political agenda. Supporters of the more traditional conceptions of marriage fought Newsom in the courts. When they failed there they were placed on California's 2008 ballot that would restrict marriage to heterosexual couples only. Before the 2008 election Massachusetts and Connecticut had already legalized same-sex marriage. Soon after California's vote, Vermont and Iowa joined the ranks states that allow gay couples to marry. While many supporters of gay marriage have focused on winning state approval through the political process by passing new laws to legalize the practice. That strategy has succeeded but only in New England. In the other states, gay marriage has been established only through the courts. While most of the legal fighting over gay marriage has unfolded in the various state courts, many gay-rights advocates suggest that soon the battle needs to be taken to the next level and fought out in the federal courts. Total victory will come only, when gays and...
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...congress the power to pass laws, but no power to enforce those laws. If a state didn’t support the law, that state could just ignore that law. The Congress also had no power to regulate trade or levy taxes. There was no federal court system or executive leader. The states could even issue their own money. The states were not nationally united. Then all this was fixed in 1789 when the US Constitution was put into place. The US Constitution included three branches of government called the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branches. These three branches of governments have “checks and balances” to make sure no branches will become more powerful than the others. But one branch of government still seems more powerful than the others, the Judicial branch of government. The Judicial branch of government is superior to the Legislative branch of government because the Judicial branch of government can declare laws unconstitutional. Although the Legislative branch of government can impeach and remove judges, new judges can be elected back on the Judicial branch of government. The new judges then would have the power, which is still in the Judicial branch of government, the power still lies in the Judicial branch of government. In the Constitution, Article 3 The Judiciary, Section 3 Paragraph 1 Supreme Court it states: “In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In...
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