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Same-Sex Marriage and the Civil Rights Movement

In: English and Literature

Submitted By satkinson92
Words 901
Pages 4
“Same-Sex Marriage and the Civil Rights Movement”
Shelby Atkinson
COM/170
April 27, 2015
Vanessa D. Hayden

“Same-Sex Marriage and the Civil Rights Movement”

Is the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and the fight for same-sex marriage the same? African Americans fought discrimination and unfair treatment, segregation and hate for being who they were. Same-sex couples are doing the same thing, now in fighting for equality, rights, and liberties that America owes them all. Same-sex couples may not have been enslaved, but doesn’t that mean same-sex couples don't feel hurt all the same by not being allowed to be with someone they love or in danger because of it. Just because they didn't endure the years of hardship that African Americans doesn't mean same-sex couples don't have their fair share of discrimination for extremely illegitimate reasons. It boils down to people’s blatant fear of change and allowing anything new to blossom. Marriage equality is the same fight as the Civil Rights Movement because it will benefit everyone, end discrimination, and make a better future for our country.

Marriage equality will benefit everyone like the Civil Rights Movement did in the 1960’s. Federal, state, and local government will benefit the same ways it did after the Civil Rights Movement. There are 1,138 benefits, rights, and protections available to married couples, but not to same-sex couples until marriage equality is approved everywhere. Marriage equality will create opportunities in employment so that poverty levels will decrease. It will provide financial gain to the governments because the governments’ revenue from marriage comes from marriage licenses, higher income taxes in some circumstances (the so called “Marriage Penalty”), and costs for state benefit programs will decrease. “The CBO estimated annual savings in 2014 $100 million in SSI and $350

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