Gay Marriage and the Government Essays -- same sex marriage, political

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. 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 righto 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 same-sex marriage. The Vermont law marked the first time gay marriage was legalized as the result of a statue rather than a court ruling. By the end of May 2009, two other state legislatures, those in Maine and New Hampshire, followed suit, bringing the total number of states that allow same-sex marriages to six. In June 2009, President Barak Obama granted family medical leave and certain other benefits to same-sex partners of federal workers. (The presidential memorandum did not include health insurance coverage, which would require congressional approval). Many supporters of ... ...gay marriage legal. Opponents of same-sex marriage note that whenever voters have had an opportunity to weigh in on the issue-even in a more socially liberal state such as California – they almost always vote against gay marriage. These opponents hope continue placing constitutional bans on the ballot and are targeting Iowa, among other states, in hope of reversing that states recent Supreme Court decision. To sum it all together, I believe that gays should have all the same opportunities and rights that heterosexuals have. It is nothing other than discrimination not only by society but by the nation’s government as well. I know that it’s supposed to be man and woman to wed, but I believe you can’t help who you fall in love with. References 1. Pew Research .org 2. World book (Ashford Online Library) 3. L.A Times 4. U. S. Congress 5. Pewforum.org