In recent years, the debate over same-sex marriage has grown into a nationwide controversy, reverberating into the halls of congress, at the white house, in dozens of state and legislature and courtrooms, and in the rhetoric of election campaigns at both the national and state levels. As the debate rages on, the American religious community remains deeply divided over the issue, and over the morality of homosexuality. The debate has grown from an issue that occasionally arose in a few states to a national and even worldwide controversy. Moreover, the battle over whether or not gay and lesbians should be allowed to wed shows no signs of abating. However, there is a third option, let every couple whether homosexual, or heterosexual receive a license then apply for a certificate of legal union from the state in which they reside, once they get the certification, then no other ceremony should be required.
In the last year alone, three states have banned same-sex marriage and four states have legalized the practice. Recently, both sides in the debate have scored important victories. In April 2009, Iowa’s Supreme Court ruled that the states constitution guarantee’s gays and lesbians the right to wed; the high court in Connecticut had issued a similar ruling back in May of 2008. Gay marriage advocates have also won important legislative victories in a number of states, beginning in April 2009 when Vermont legislature approved same-sex marriage. The Vermont law marked the first time gay marriage was legalized as the result of a statue rather than a court