Love Is Blind: Gay marriage has been the topic of discussion in recent years. It has been broadcast on news stations and printed in magazines all across America. Each publication has displayed a different point of view. The discussions mostly have been about how it affects our world and our economy. There are many ways that gay marriage affects both our world and our economy. Gay marriage is not only affecting our economy, but is also protected by our government. Same-sex couples are also better off. There’s three main ways that gay parents affect children. They affect the child’s growth in their social and academic competence rate, they make amazing parents, and the children develop emotions that most kids don’t have. “The kids typically develop in ways that cannot be distinguished from their peers raised by heterosexual parents” (Davis). The affect it has on the child’s social and academic competence rate is outstanding. “According to a study published in Pediatrics, they found that children with lesbian parents have a higher social and academic rating; than those with heterosexual parents” (Gartrell & Bos, Pediatrics). "in fact, growing up with parents who are lesbian or gay may confer some advantages to children. They have been described as more tolerant of diversity and more nurturing toward younger children than children whose parents are heterosexual" (Davis). They make outstanding parents. Most foster kids just really need nothing more than a loving home, with two loving parents. The children that come from these households develop emotions that most kids don’t have. “Children that grow up in same-sex households will be more sympathetic to differences and more likely to believe in equality for all” (Life Long Adoptions). Equality for all is included in the human rights. They don’t have the same human rights/benefits as heterosexual couples. They lack the right of hospital visitation during an illness, they aren’t granted access to family healthcare coverage, and they don’t have the same taxation or inheritance rights. Same-sex couples don’t have the right to visit their spouse at a hospital. This means that they can only visit their spouse during visitation hours. They aren’t granted access to the same healthcare coverage as heterosexual couples. This means they won’t be fully covered in everything such as illness, or injuries. “Marriage makes people more financially stable and less likely to qualify for welfare programs like Medicaid and Social Security assistance” (Bloomberg). “Because gays can't marry, it's very difficult for partners to help each other in difficult situations like medical crises. The burden of support and decision-making typically falls in the laps of other family members when it should fall to one's chosen life partner” (Cline). They will only be covered by their healthcare to a certain extent. Lastly, they don’t have the same taxation or inheritance rights as heterosexual couples. This means that “they have to file their taxes separately, and they cannot inherit anything of their spouses after death” (Bernard & Lieber). They may not have the same human rights, but they keep our economy going. There’s three ways gay marriage would help the economy. They’d boost tax revenues, boost struggling economies, and cut spending on government safety net programs. They’d boost tax revenues by “bringing between $20-$40 million more per year in taxes” (Berman, Huffington Post). They boost struggling economies by “generating $123 million for the state economy” (Berman, Huffington Post). An example of this is, “Massachusetts has generated an estimated $111 million over the first five-years same-sex marriage was legal” (Berman, Huffington Post). “Since gay marriage was legalized in New York state a year ago, marriage license fees, local celebrations and wedding-related purchases have boosted New York City's economy by $259 million” (Bloomberg & Quinn). "Marriage equality has made our City more open, inclusive and free -- and it has also helped to create jobs and support our economy" (Bloomberg). Lastly, they cut spending on government safety net programs by “saving the government hundreds of millions per year” (Berman, Huffington Post). "The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that on net, those impacts would improve the budget’s bottom line to a small extent: by less than $1 billion in each of the next 10 years (CBO’s usual estimating period)" (Nadler, 3). Same-sex couples really do help the economy. The government also protects gay marriage. Gay marriage is protected by the Constitution’s commitments liberty and equality. “The US Supreme Court declared in 1974's Cleveland Board of Education v. LaFleur that the "freedom of personal choice in matters of marriage and family life is one of the liberties protected by the Due Process Clause"” (Adrian). And to deny any same-sex couples the right to marry, also says it’s okay to discriminate them. “Banning gay marriage is unconstitutional under both the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses” (Boyer). Gay couples are better off on their own. “Perhaps the most important aspect of marriage is that it establishes a legal and social relationship which makes it easier for people to "be there" for each other - economically, emotionally, and psychologically. Most of the rights and privileges that go with marriage are, in fact, ways to help spouses support each other. Married couples are thus much better off than unmarried couples, giving relationships the ability to grow stronger and deeper” (Cline). Gay couples as individuals are better off mentally, emotionally, and psychologically. Gay marriage is proven to be beneficial for gay couples. In return, this will be better for everyone. Gay marriage is looked as harmful to everything. “For too long homosexuality has been considered a form of "deviant sexual behavior"” (Messerli). “Throughout our history going all the way back to ancient Greece, homosexual relationships have existed. The term "lesbian" comes from a Greek island called "Lesbos" where many such couples lived” (Messerli). See even back in acient times there was homosexuals. Why should we discriminate them, when they help our economy everyday?

Everyone should be able to marry equally. Equality for everyone is all that’s wanted. Even though gay marriage has been the main topic all over the world, there will always be those that support and oppose it. Gay marriage should be legalized. My only question is when will this battle end?