Should Marriage For Same Sex Couples Be Legal In United...

Should Marriage for Same Sex Couples be Legal in United...
Marriage as generally define is the union between one man and one woman. However a recent
debate over same–sex marriage has stirred a nationwide debate reverberating in the halls of
Congress, at the White House, in dozens of state courtrooms and legislatures, and is also becoming a
speech–making topic for election campaigns at both the national and state levels. As the debate for
this controversial topic rages on, the American religious community view on the topic remains
deeply divided over the matter and over the morality of homosexuality in general. Granting legal
marriage right to gays and lesbians would primarily alter the idea of marriage, ignore a child's right
to a mother and father, and expands government control of marriage. ... Show more content on
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People against same–sex marriage can use the doctrine that separates states from church in order to
stop the government from compelling them to accept a new definition of marriage. Under this
doctrine, if the government decides to grant the legal right to same–sex marriage, the government
will be violating the freedom of religion of people under the "civil rights" of the Constitution, who
hold the deep believe that homosexuality is morally wrong in the society. The role of marriage in the
society is a major topic that it is thought in public schools. If same–sex marriage is legalized, public
schools would have to teach the pupil about same–sex marriage as equivalent to opposite sex
marriage which will violate the beliefs of many parents who are against same–sex marriage.
According to Stanley Kurtz, a social commentator, he argued that among the likeliest effects of
legalizing same–sex marriage is to take us down a slippery slope to legalized polygamy and
polyamory. Marriage will be transformed into a variety of relationship contracts, linking two, three,
or more individuals weakly and temporarily in every conceivable combination of male and female
(Weekly Standard).
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

Same Sex Marriage In The United States Essay
Same Sex Marriages in the United States How do most couples show the world that they are in a
loving, devoted, committed relationship? How does one express that they want to spend the rest of
their life with one particular person? This is normally done through a marriage, celebrated by a
wedding, certified by a marriage license. Homosexuals are human; therefore they are capable of
loving another person just as any heterosexual human. Yet, homosexuals are unable to obtain a
marriage license. This needs to be changed. Currently in the United States there is much legal and
cultural activity surrounding the possibility of the legalization of "gay marriage". As of December
1995, a law case underway in Hawaii may lay the ground ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Rights that married people take for granted, such as the ability to visit a sick or injured spouse in the
hospital, are denied to gay and lesbian people. Because of the law, hospitals and other institutions do
not have to respect the basic human rights of gay and lesbian couples. Likewise, if one partner in a
married couple is seriously ill and incapacitated, the other spouse should be able to make decisions
regarding their care and guardianship. This basic right of guardianship is denied to gay and lesbian
couples, because, again, their committed relationships are not recognized under the law. If one
partner is incapacitated, the other partner is not given the right to make basic health care decisions.
If homosexual couples had legal partnerships, there would not be any cases of confusion over
guardianship or visitation in places like hospitals. According to the American Civil Liberties Union,
many of the benefits of marriage that homosexuals are denied include: government benefits like
Social Security and Medicare; hospital visitation rights; special rates and exemptions on tax returns;
joint child custody; joint insurance policies; automatic inheritance in the absence of a will; making
medical decisions on a partner's behalf; and choosing a final resting place for a deceased partner.
While none of these are reasons to get married, they are all benefits

The Defense Of Marriage Act
Before the Constitutional Convention in 1787, relations between the States were not ideal. To reduce
tensions, the new Constitution contained a provision, the "Full Faith and Credit Clause," which
granted each state authority over public Acts, records and judicial proceedings. In 1790, Congress
acted to put the provision into effect by enacting the "Full Faith and Credit Statute." Revised most
recently in 1948, it provides, in part, that properly authenticated shall have the same full faith and
credit in every court within the United States. In 1996, to help defend one–man, one–woman
marriage from efforts to redefine it, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly passed – and President Bill
Clinton signed – the "Defense of Marriage Act." This ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
DOMA was intended to defend traditional marriage at the federal and state levels. Consequently,
DOMA enabled states–even in the face of claims made pursuant to the full faith and credit clause
(discussed below)–to decline to recognize same–sex marriages from other states. Furthermore,
DOMA defined marriage traditionally in federal law.
As everything in life has its effects, DOMA had a negative affect, which appeared over time. The
good side was that this law was applied to the majority and gave strength to a lot of people but since
there was a minority, which doesn't agree with DOMA, it turned negative. DOMA caused many
problems to these minority people, causing many spouses to not get the same rights and claims as
others. For example, as a same–sex marriage spouse you couldn't claim your spouse as anything
because according to the state law it's not a legal marriage. Others faced problems such as they
couldn't even visit their spouse or help in any health issues because of the requirement that they be
immediate family, and they were not recognized as spouses. DOMA law in section 2 said, "No state
has an obligation to recognize marriages that

Gay Marriage Thesis
Gay marriage is a very controversial issue that has emerged in our society. Depending on your
upbringing and your mentality, individuals have formed their own personal opinions and have taken
sides, either to support or to oppose the issue. Gay marriage throughout the years has sparked so
much controversy that it was brought to the United States Supreme Court, which is known to be the
highest court of all the land. It is up to the justices of the court to determine how states and society
view and treat gay marriage. Whether it being legalized throughout the country or only in certain
states, it is, now legalized and recognized as a legitimate marriage in certain state. However,
although it is recognized and states legalized gay marriage, the ... Show more content on
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After hearing the case three issues that were needed to be addressed was if same–sex marriage a
right for individuals to marry in each state, does the states have to grant marriage licenses to same–
sex couples, and lastly must states recognize same–sex marriage licenses in other jurisdictions? The
courts concluded and favored the plaintiffs, the ruling of the case was 5–4 and the majority opinion
was written by Justice Kennedy. Basically the judges in the majority believe that the fourteenth
amendment is responsible and is required to allow same–sex marriages have the right to marry in all
states that states must issue marriage licenses to those of same–sex, and lastly the license must be
recognized throughout all states. As you see an example of the some of the justices siding with the
plaintiffs, however there is another side that opposes the legalization of gay marriage. In the
Supreme Court justices of the courts are allowed to issue and write opinions on cases whether to
favoring or arguing against a case's ruling. In the case of Obergefell vs.Hodges, Scalia wrote a
dissenting opinion that can be considered

Do State Laws Prohibit Same Sex Marriage Violate The...
Do state laws prohibiting same–sex marriage violate the United States Constitution? This is a
question that will be presented before the United States Supreme Court. Four states with bans
restricting marriage to a union between one man and one woman will be considered. The question at
hand relies on the Court's interpretation of the 14th Amendment in both the Due Process Clause and
the Equal Protections Clause; the Court will also have to consider the question of State's rights and
whether the State has a legitimate interest in denying the title of marriage and its corresponding
benefits to same–sex couples. The argument for overturning the bans and legalizing same–sex
marriage would conclude that the state laws are indeed in violation ... Show more content on
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Casey. This ideal was applied in Lawrence v. Texas and continues to be applicable to this case. This
ideal creates the separation of what one would constitute as liberty versus a judges own personal
opinion on the topic of same–sex marriage, or homosexuality in general. The previous Court rulings
regarding sodomy laws around the Nation have held that while the Court does not outwardly decree
homosexuals as a protected class, or take a stance on homosexuality, these individuals do have
certain liberties, just as all persons have liberties unless a legitimate state interest can be found to
say otherwise. The Court's broad sense of "liberty" has opened the door for the inclusion of same–
sex marriage to be included in one's personal liberties. The denials of the benefits that come with
marriage have other impacts in the life of the person as they may face tougher medical, economical
and familial situations. Having the right to visit an ailing partner in the hospital, buying property and
filing taxes together, and decisions to raise children and have legal equal access over those children
are just some of the burdens that unmarried same–sex couples face. The only time a liberty is
allowed to be taken away from an individual is if there exists a legitimate state interest. There is no
rational state interest in same–sex marriage. The protection of family values would

Marriage Equality Is Unstoppable Analysis
In the article "Marriage Equality is Unstoppable" Sally Kohn begins by mentioning the historical
event of United States v. Windsor, and its remarkable influences over the progress of marriage
equality. As a result of this event, the supreme court opened the doors for the federal government
and states to approve and recognize same–sex marriage. Later in the reading, she suggests going
back in time and remembering other historical facts to illustrate how during the years this civil right
has been attempting to achieve the right it deserves in our society. However, despite the today day
achievements, Sally summaries that there is still a lot to improve on marriage equality and therefore,
all who agree with it should continue fighting until its fully equally.
The author first uses a very old historical fact to demonstrates that gay coupling has been around for
a long time. She uses an example based on the year 350 B.C where Plato once said "There should be
an army composed of same–sex lovers. According to her, this army that Plato insinuated once, did
exist, and it was the Sacred Band of Thebes, an army characterized by its courage and triumphs.
Then, the author discusses a more recently historical incident based on the year 1972, where the case
of a two–man couple who were denied from marriage in ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
In other words, marriage equality has not fix problems such as the discrimination. She argues that in
many states gay people and transgenders can be fired from their job just because of their sexual
orientation and gender identity. Also, in many states, same–sex couple had been restricted in the fact
of been able to adopt children. There are still no laws that prohibit this type of discriminations.
Therefore, Sally believes that even though we have made great strides, much more remains to be

Inadequate Same Sex Marriage Laws in the United States...
Inadequate Same Sex Marriage Laws in the United States
The institution of marriage has been around for many years. Times have changed and society has
grown as a whole. The United States has laws that prohibit same–sex marriages or do not grant them
the same privileges as "traditional" marriages. You will see how behind this great nation has
remained. As many countries around the world explore less traditional ways of life, the United
States has been left in the dust.
In the United States of America laws require that we be treated as equals. Unfortunately, this does
not apply to the laws of same–sex marriages. How can a country that praises itself on freedom,
equal rights, and the pursuits of happiness not allow someone to ... Show more content on
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(cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church No. 1601)
Not everyone in America follows the catholic religion. This shows that we need to make changes.
We have the freedom to practice our own religion, but whey should that govern us?
In Canada the majority of Canadian adults favor gay and lesbian marriages. In British Columbia
where the polygamous marriages of members of a small Mormon splinter group are known to the
government and allowed to exist. Even though, this is a small step, and with the majority support of
many Canadians, Canada's future of giving equal rights to individuals wanting to participate in
same–sex marriages looks bright. Even though, the federal Canadian government has no plans to
either widen the definition of marriage to include homosexuals, or to create a civil union state with
new legislation. Many court challenges are in progress.
The Danish government made changes to previous laws covering inheritance and tax laws to give
same–sex couples equality with married couples. This law allows rights that were granted to married
couples such as; inheritance, insurance, pension, social security, income tax increases or deductions,
and unemployment benefits.
In France a same–sex married couple can participate in a national health insurance plan, the same
tax breaks, and the same legal benefits. The government in France has even made it easier for
homosexual couples to adopt children. France has really made an

Marriage Equality And Equality, Trust, Acceptance, And...
According to Webster's Dictionary, the definition of marriage is "the state of being united to a person
of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by
law" ("Marriage" def. 1), but is that all there is to it? A marriage should be based upon compassion,
trust, acceptance, and most importantly, love; marriage has nothing to do with your gender, so why
portray it to be? Marriage equality or having only opposite sex in order to have a happy and
successful life has been a controversial issue in America for the last twenty years. Now, one state at
a time, America is finally coming around to realize that everyone deserves love, regardless their
sexual orientation.
Before the sudden twist in marriage equality, it was almost impossible for many people to be
themselves, especially homosexuals. If two girls or two guys were seen walking hand–in–hand, they
were ridiculed simply because it was not something that was seen every day. Many people even
claimed to be "homophobic", just to have an excuse to judge. Morgan Freeman once said, "I hate the
word homophobia. It's not a phobia. You are not scared. You are an asshole" (Morgan Freeman
Hates Homophobes?, 2012) which is honestly, nothing shy of the truth. One person living their life
differently than another does not make one right and one wrong, it makes them both living a way
that makes them happy. Three unhappy same–sex couples decided to take matters into their
Tahseen2 own hands

Pros And Cons Of Same-Sex Marriage In The United States
Same–Sex Marriage
In June of 2015, the Supreme Court ruled same–sex marriage legal in the United States. Justice
Anthony Kennedy wrote, "No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest
ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family." When the justice system was split and
indecisive, Kennedy was the deciding vote for the controversial matter. In 1998, approximately ten
percent of Americans believed [in legalizing] same–sex marriage, [as of] 2016, fifty–five percent [of
the United States is accepting of the matter]. (Gale, para 1) However, there are thirteen remaining
states in the U.S. which have made constitutional or statutory provisions prohibiting same–sex
marriage, and many states suggesting the decision be up to each state rather than the federal
government. According to the Pew Research Center, 2015 was a record high for supporters of gay
marriage, with fifty percent supporting the affair and thirty–nine percent opposing. Marriage is a
moral and legal entitlement to any citizen, even same–sex couples, since marriage is a civil right,
brings financial gain to federal, state, and local governments, and bestows worldwide unity. Civil
rights are a class of rights which protect individuals' freedom from infringement by governments,
social organizations, and private individuals. A few examples of civil rights are freedom of speech,
press, and assembly, the right to vote, freedom from involuntary servitude, and the right to equality
in

Gay Marriage
Running head: LEGALIZING GAY MARRIAGE
Factors In Favor of and Against Legalizing Gay Marriage in the United States
David Vance
May 28, 2012
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Instructor Verhaegh
Argosy University
Factors In Favor of and Against Legalizing Gay Marriage in the United States
Proposal/ Issue:
Gay marriage should be legalized in the United States.
Six Reasons For: Weakest to Strongest 1. Other countries (Denmark, Canada etc.) have legalized
gay marriage. (Bidstrup, 2009) The United States prides itself on being the forefront and a leader in
all things so they should be leading the way for gay marriage as well. 2. The definition of what a
family is has changed significantly in ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
3. Homosexuality is a choice. If gays really wanted to get married, they could choose
heterosexuality and enjoy a traditional heterosexual marriage.(Bidstrup, 2012) 4. Homosexuality
and gay sex is unnatural.(Bidstrup, 2009) 5. The purpose of marriage is procreation.(Bidstrup, 2009)
6. Marriage is defined as being between a man and a woman.(Bidstrup, 2012)
Strongest Reason Against: Marriage is defined as being between a man and a woman.(Bidstrup,
2012). This reason is the strongest because it is based upon the current laws in our country and on
Biblical teachings. Marriage has been between a man and a woman since this country was founded
over 200 years ago. It is a tradition that has been followed for centuries. According to Merriam–
Webster, marriage is defined as "a (1) : the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as
husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2) : the state of
being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage
<same–sex marriage>" (Merriam–Webster, 2012).
While there is no outright definition of marriage in the Bible, according to About.com, the NIV
(New International Version) Bible in Genesis 2:18, 21–24 states, "The Lord God said, 'It is not good
for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him'...and while he was sleeping, he took
one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord

The Inequality of the United States' View on Same Sex...
The National anthem of the United States specified "...And the star–spangled banner in triumph
shall wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!" The United States is reputable for its
right to equality; an icon of hope, independence, and the chance to live a nondiscriminatory life and
to benefit many of the opportunities. This country was founded on equality and the belief that
everyone should have the same opportunities. As a country the United States has seen many protests
when it comes to the with issues of equality, from the Women's Rights Movement to equality for
African Americans, and many still remain. A sense of assurance has been created in having our
rights secured by means of historic documents and laws. However, ... Show more content on
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The line may be blurred when it comes to politic; many conservatives are against same sex
marriage; while liberals are fighting for the right to have equal opportunity. The Christian politicians
are using religious opinions to establish that homosexuality is a disgrace. While this may be their
belief, this country was founded on religious freedom, meaning that people are permitted to worship
how they see fit or to not worship. A ground rule, set up from the very foundation of this country
that states a separation needs to be made between religion and government, so the two shall never be
combined. We may all have a different opinion to what is what we think is ethical, but it might be
safe to reason that we can agree that it's unfair for people to be treated differently for being of
different race, ethnicity, physical traits, and that the government should not discriminate against
residents or visitors in that country because they have what would be considered an "unusual" sexual
orientation. The constitution is considered to be one of the greatest manuscripts written in the
history of the United States. An article of that manuscript requires each State to recognize the public
acts, archives, and litigations of other States. So, as soon as one State legalizes gay marriage, like it
has already happened in California since 2008, other states have to respect the unions taken place
there. That means many

Persuasive Essay On Same Sex Marriage
Marriage is the legal and formal recognition of the union of a man and a woman. This simple
definition has been modified several times.In the past, marriage was allowed only through the union
of the same race, such as a white male and white female, black male and black female, however,
now, it is a battle of allowing the marriage of the same–sex. The fight is not only to help protect
rights for same–sex couples, but, also, to interracial couples, who have been experiencing racism
and discrimination. This battle for marriage equality for same–sex couples started in the late 90s, yet
it is still currently a problem. Although the Supreme Court has given the right to marry to whom
they desire, many still disagree. The Constitution plays a ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
is changing and how, not only the countries constitution expands, but also the states constitution.
Vermont added the "Common Benefits Clause" to ensure that the same benefits that are given to
opposite–sex couples are being given to same–sex couples as well, to make sure no type of person
was seen lower than another based on relationship status.
In addition to this graph, the article by History.com, "Gay Marriage" (2017) states that people have
really changed, in fifteen years. The Pew Research Center created a poll and gave it to people in
2001 and in 2016. When this poll was first given, 57 percent of Americans opposed same–sex
marriage and 35 percent of Americans were supportive. The second time they gave this poll, the
percentages were the complete opposite due to the fact that around 37 percent were opposed and
around 55 were supportive. This shows that many people have changed their views on same–sex
marriage over time, and so has the constitution. Now, it states that it protects the rights of same–sex
couples who want to marry. As the Constitution changes its meanings to support the people, the
people change as well in order to fit society's needs and perspectives. Similarly, a graph is shown of
the year 2015

Gay Marriage Will Harm Children Essay
The Supreme Court of the United States recently ruled that the Constitution guarantees a right to
same–sex marriage. Yet, same–sex marriage continues to be a highly debated issue. If same–sex
couples are allowed to marry they will hurt heterosexuals. If they are denied this right, then they are
hurt. If it is something we have to recognize is that marrying same–sex persons represents itself as a
social experiment that never has been experimented, including by societies that fomented the
homosexuality (for example the traditional Greeks) as it is explained in Rezza encyclopedia. These
societies clearly understood the matrimony as the stable union between a man and a woman with the
possibility to procreate. The original objective of this ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that
marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man
and a woman.'.
The introduction of Defense of marriage act in May 1996 (DOMA) was passed both houses of
Congress by large, veto–proof majorities and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in
September 1996. By defining "spouse" and its related terms to signify a heterosexual couple in a
recognized marriage, Section 3 organized non–recognition of same–sex marriages for all federal
purposes, including insurance benefits for government employees, social security survivors'
benefits, immigration, bankruptcy, and the filing of joint tax returns, as well as excluding same–sex
spouses from the possibility of laws protecting families of federal officers. The Defense of Marriage
act provides the Definition of 'marriage' and 'spouse': 'In determining the meaning of any Act of
Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and
agencies of the United States, the word 'marriage' means only a legal union between one man and
one woman as husband and wife, and the word 'spouse' refers only to a person of the opposite sex
who is a husband or a wife'.
If same sex marriage is legalized in New York State, couples would get 1,324 rights conferred upon
them. "Same sex marriage opponents have

Same Sex Marriage Is A Controversial Point For The People...
Throughout the world love comes in many shapes, sizes, and origins. Although it has never been an
issue in the animal kingdom, homosexuality has become a controversial point for the people of the
United States. As of June 2015, legal marriage is now the constitutional right of all Americans
regardless of their sexual orientation or in which state they reside. Although it is now recognized as
a fundamental right for all citizens across our country, same–sex marriage is still a large controversy
for many in our country. The Supreme Court itself shows this with the fact that the decision came
down to a 5–4 voting split in favor of allowing same sex marriages. Marriage is now and always
will be the right of every American citizen regardless of their race, religion, or sexual orientation.
With the United States Supreme Court's Obergefell v. Hodges decision in 2015, a total of 22
countries around the world have recognized and legalized the right of same–sex couples to marry.
On October 1, 1989, Denmark became the first country to legalize civil unions to same–sex couples.
These partnerships gave same–sex couples many of the rights that their heterosexual counterparts
had always enjoyed thus far, but did not secure the right to adoption or a church marriage among
others. (Krieger) It would be 21 years later, in 2010, before same–sex couples of the nation won
another right, this time in the form of a law giving them the right to legally adopt a child. Two years
later the

The Fight For Equal Rights For Same Sex Marriages Across...
The Fight for Equal Rights for Same–Sex Marriages across the United States Having one loving
parent is good. Having two loving parents is great. Having a mother and a father is traditional.
Having two mothers or two fathers is wrong. This is what we are told to believe but as we learn
from our past and grow as a society, we start to look for positive change in which our values are
challenged and the truth becomes clear. It is not right to take away the basic rights of a person
because of their sexual orientation. It is not right for a homosexual couple to be at a disadvantage
and lack financial security because of who they choose to love. It's true, marriage is sacred but it
does not have to be defined as a union between one–man–one–woman. Truth is sexual orientation
should not be a factor in regards to government protection of the basic rights of the people.
According to the Gallup survey "...approximately .3 percent (.3%) of U.S. adults are married to a
same–sex spouse, a mere .5 percent (.5%) identify as being in a same–sex domestic partnership and,
of the estimated .8 percent (.8%) of the total U.S. adult population that are a part of a same–sex
couple, 780,000 are married." (Morris, "Gallup: Less Than 1% of Adult Population Part of a Same–
Sex Couple"). Why turn the country inside out and overturn thousands of years of human history for
1%? Simple, people have rights that are granted by the government. Any person who is an
upstanding citizen who pay

Dissent In Justice Scalia
Justice Scalia opened his dissent by claiming he had no personal opinion of the concept of gay
marriage, rather he felt he had to write his own dissent in order to "call attention to the Court's threat
to American democracy." In almost every sentence of his dissent he derides his colleagues, using
expressions such as, "ludicrous, absurd, irrational and preposterous." His opinions were nasty, and
personal even though he states same–sex marriage isn't a personal matter to him. Scalia blames the
Court for creating a fundamental right that does not exist, yet the Constitution does not state specific
fundamental rights. The dissent was written with such hatred towards not only the ruling, but also
the Justices who made up the decision. Whether

Same-Sex Marriage Should be Legalized Essay
"So now you see the light, eh!
Stand up for your rights. Come on!
Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!"
Lyrics form the song, "Get Up, Stand Up", by Bob Marley Same Sex Marriage should be legalized
in the United States. There are over 1,049 federal rights and also over 300 state rights (depending on
what state) that couples receive when they become offical married of many of which are denied to
people in civil unions. One of the most hypocritical statements in the constitution is that it
specifically written that marriage is ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Some of the inequalities that the institution of civil union have to face are that other states do not
have to reconize that the gay couple are in a civil union and ,therefore, legal strangers.
Civil unions also have to face the facts that they lose about over 1300 marital rights that, in
comparison, people in civil marriages receive. At all times any where, the 1,049 federal rights for
married couples apply to all states, where the state also has its own 300 or so rights that they apply
to only people married under regular circumstances. This means that, if the state chooses, they can
deny people in civil unions the right even to accompany their loved ones in the ambulance or even
not being able to sue for a loved ones wrongful death. An example of this is a loss of consortium. A
loss of consortium is a suit where the plaintiff sues because his or her spouse cannot "provide
emotional, physical, financial, or even sexual support. The Sharon Smith case occured in Jan of
2001, where a dog brutally attacked Sharon's spouse, Diane, and killed her. Sharon could not sue
because in the state that the couple were living in they were not legally

The Defense Of Marriage Act
Harrison Alley
Richardson
Honors Government
April 20, 2015
Marriage is between a man and a woman. Or, at least, that is how The Defense of Marriage Act
defines it. The act, passed in 1996, attempted to offer closure to Americans who wondered how to
define marriage in the United States. American advocates for gay rights date back to the early 20th
century, but true advancements in equality haven't been made until the past ten years. Opponents of
the act have argued that the decision breeds inequality and discrimination in a country that was
founded to avoid the two. The opponents undoubtedly rejoiced on June 26, 2013 as the Supreme
Court ruled that the wording used in section three of the Defense of Marriage Act was
unconstitutional. Section three of the act stated that marriage was "between one man and one
woman" (Gaynor and Blesset, 2). The Defense of Marriage Act is under constant scrutiny and may
be completely repealed due to increased awareness of human rights among Americans, a drastic
change in American public opinion, and politicians facing loss of constituent support if they do not
support gay rights and the associated legislation. The Defense of Marriage Act, passed on September
21, 1996, was an act that intended to provide a concrete definition of marriage and protect it from
attempts to redefine it. Due to an increased number of citizens realizing that, because of their
homosexual marriage, they would not receive the same benefits of a heterosexual

How United States Are Not Regulating Same Sex Marriage Law
Section I
This paper will examine problem on how states are not regulating same sex marriage law passed in
the United States. I will explains certain areas in the united states where the government has yet to
fully enforced the law for legalization of same sex marriage since its official decision on June 26,
2015 while in fact many states have done everything in their power to prevent homosexuals from
expressing their new constitutional right. In the following I will talk about certain a state and its
government official in power trying to get the legislation to reconsider their current decision. I will
also speak about 2 court cases which give us the current nationwide act of same sex marriage;
Obergefell v. Hodges and United States v. Windsor. Although there are far more cases on the
subjects they have had influences that have not had as major contribution as these two cases have
had. I will recommend three policies that would help the LGBT community regarding their union
right; stricter establishment of enforcing the law, reinforcing the separation of church and state, and
educating the community on the benefits of same sex marriage.
Sections II
Problems after June 26, 2015 quickly arose such as government officials encouraging their people
that the current law will not change their states policies and have the right refuse to give marriage
licenses to homosexual couples as they have always done in the past. Gary gates wrote that
"Drawing on information from four [past]

How To Write A Persuasive Essay On Gay Marriage
Argumentive essay # 1
Gay Marriage
The topic that I would like to talk about is on a controversal subject on gay marriage. Many people
know alot or very little about same sex people getting married. In the United States same sex
marriages are legal except in American Samon. Same sex marriages we're not legal until June 26th
in the year of 2015. Many people would argue that these same sex marraiges would be going against
other jurisdictions and violate equal protection with the United States Constitution. Same sex
mariages were founded in the late 20th century. Same sex marraiges are a big problem in political,
social and religious beliefs. These People called (DOMA) Defense of Marriage Act,were trying to
keep the sacred marrige only between one woman and one man. That changed as well with the
desicion of a few other lower courts and other legistrations. Same sex marriages has helped the
eceonomy grow ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The approval of same sex marriages has changed over the years. The percentage rate has went from
27 to a huge jump up at 60 percent. The other great things that same sex marraiges have are cute
little familes. Same sex couples have been able to give a loving child a home. Same sex marraiges
have a huge success rate of raising a child. Same sex marriages are also able to be a good work force
amost other people and they're not discriminated against. They can be in a union to get the same
benefits as a heterosexual couple. That is great. Now that they can get the same benefits as regular
couples then that mean that they are able to provide for their own

Essay about Same Sex Marriage Controversy in the United...
In a very real sense, it is reasonable to argue that the government should have no say at all in the
processes of marriage, or decide which adults may or may not legally marry. State and federal
governments play a role, of course, in that marriage is a civil union, and provides benefits and legal
protections for the couple. Historically, marriage serves the interests of the society by promoting
stability and future generations of citizens, and governments usually act in ways to promote this
very vital element. At the same time, it is highly questionable whether this governmental authority
should have any voice in who chooses to marry, provided those involved are adults and wish to do
so. This is in fact, at the heart of the same–sex ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As noted, the technical legal question to be addressed is whether the federal government or
individual states have the right to legalize or prohibit same–sex marriage. To claim that this exact
question is increasingly a public concern is to understate the issue. It may be ironic but, as the
controversy has grown in recent years, there seems to be more of a demand from the society that the
issue be settled once and for all, and for that eyes turn to federal authority. This came to a head in
the presidential campaigns of 2013, as same–sex marriage became a "hot button" issue actually
defining voter sympathies as either liberal or conservative (Levendusky 42). In plain terms, the Mitt
Romney campaign directly appealed to conservative populations opposed to, or perceived as
opposed to, gay marriage; the Obama reelection efforts not unexpectedly countered this with an
appeal to more liberal factions, which typically favor same–sex unions. The differences in approach
aside, the clear fact remains that the nation was emphatically looking to its highest leadership to
make a decision, which in turn would lead to federal recognition or denial of same–sex marriage.
This situation was some time in coming, as events in recent years amplified

Same Sex Marriage During The United States
Same–Sex Marriage in the United States
Nora Botros
Political Science 100
California State University, Fullerton
The United States Constitution lists civil rights that everyone should be granted as a citizen of the
United States. However, there has been a struggle over the civil rights of the LGBT community, and
how the amendments of the constitution have been interpreted. This has become common especially
regarding the Fourteenth Amendment. Currently, there is a large focus on the ongoing debate for
legalizing or legalizing same–sex marriage in the United States. This issue has become so large that
there is also a controversy on whether the federal government should be involved in the decision on
whether to legalize it ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Although someone may be affiliated with these political parties does not necessarily mean that they
all hold the same views on same–sex marriage. Liberals, like President Barack Obama, generally
side with the arguments that favor same–sex marriage and believe that it should be legalized.
Conservatives, on the other hand, such as President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush,
believe that marriage should be kept the way it has always been, and generally oppose the
legalization of same–sex marriage. The personal views of each president has been seen in their
policies and legislations.
There are several arguments as to why same–sex marriage should be legalized, which will be
explored in this paper. Those who support same–sex marriage argue that allowing same–sex couples
to marry will not cause any harm to "traditional" marriages and will not ruin the sanctity of
marriage. Another common argument is the fact that marriage is about love and commitment. If two
people of the same sex love each other and want to be committed to each other, why are they not
able to get married? Denying gays the right to marry is often seen as a discrimination based on sex
and a violation of civil rights, which should not be denied to anyone.
Marriage is a civil right and should be granted to everyone no matter their race, gender or sexual
orientation. Gay marriage supporters also believe that allowing only a man and a woman to marry

Equal Protection Clause In America
The Fourteenth amendment of the United States of America has had a major impact on modern
society and has helped continued to progress society forward in the attribute That is the equal
protection clause. This section "prohibits states from denying any person within its territory the
equal protection of laws" (Legal Information Institute). That is what really represents what the
Fourteenth amendment. This doesn't mean that representatives being appointed by the population of
that state isn't important, or that the validity of public debt in the United States Shouldn't be
questioned isn't a respectable law but I feel that they don't do the Fourteenth amendment justice as
the Equal protection clause does. So as a result the majority of this ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The most well known way equal protection clause has shaped modern society has been during the
fight for equal rights of same sex marriage in the United States. Same sex marriage was illegal in the
majority of the states until June 26, 2016. This meant essentially that homosexual couples were
denied the basic right to marry each other and be in an official documented relationship. This
violated the equal protection clause due to the fact that gay or lesbian weren't treated equally
compared to heterosexual couples and denied their right to marriage. The fight for equal marriage
continued further for two to three years until finally in June of 2016 the supreme court issued that
same sex marriage is officially legal in all fifty states across the U.S. solidifying the Fourteenth
amendment as truly far–reaching. One major unresolved issue that the Fourteenth amendment can
aid to is racial equality. A Major problem today is the treatment of African American citizens by
certain law enforcement agencies. often, African American citizens have been violently attacked and
in some cases even killed for reasons that are extremely undeserving. Police forces are violating the
African American community's equal protection of clause and as well as putting their natural rights
in

Religion Should Not Influence Government Essay example
Religion should not Influence Government Research Paper
Religion should not Influence Government If you woke up tomorrow and found yourself part of a
minority group that was treated like a second class citizens and denied civil rights how would you
feel? Every day in the United States minority groups are denied basic rights that ever other U.S.
citizen is grated. These rights are determined by the United States government that is influenced by
religious beliefs, even though our country was founded with the belief of separation of church and
state.
Proposition 8 Violates the separation of church and state. In the state of California Proposition 8
passed. Proposition 8 would deny gays the right to marry, a civil right that is ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Doma or The Defense of Marriage Act was passed in 1996 in efforts to stop same–sex marriages in
fear of the debate in Hawaii. Doma this labeled gays as immoral, perverse, depraved, and an attack
on God's principles. Congress passed Doma defining marriage as between a women and a man for
the first time in history (Stone, 2012). Congress was clearly influenced by religious beliefs in
passing Doma, which makes this unconstitutional. The United states government provides many
benefits to married couples such as federal employees are entitled to medical coverage, the spouse
of an individual covered by Social Security is eligible for retirement and survivor benefits, and
married couples who file joint tax returns usually pay considerably lower federal income taxes than
individuals who file separately (Stone, 2012 p.1). However, gay couples are refused these rights
under law. Gay couples are denied many rights making them second class in the eyes of the
government. If the partner of a gay couple was to be hospitalized the other can be denied rights to
see them because they are not considered family. If the partner was to pass away the family can
come in and make all the decisions even though it might be against the wishes of the deceased. The
family can then take everything away from the surviving partner that dedicated their life and love to.
The

Should Same Sex Marriage Be Legalized in the United States...
Debate Paper
Should same sex marriage be legalized in the United States? In some of our states laws have already
been passed to allow same sex couples the freedom to get married, while other states are still
resisting for one reason or another. As with everything else there is more than one side, more than
one argument supporting and more than one argument resisting the changes being proposed. There
are religious reasons, moral reasons, constitutional reasons and financial reasons being used by both
sides and the debate seems to get nowhere. For every argument for the issue there is always an
argument against it. I have my own opinion about the issue, however I will look at the arguments
themselves on each side to identify which side has ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As for the pro side of the issue, they have plenty of their own arguments. One of them is that gay
marriage will not harm traditional marriage or family values in any way. According to studies done
by the American Anthropological Society there is no support to show that marriage has to be a
heterosexual institution. Another argument is that if marriage was strictly for purposes of
reproduction, then couples in which one or both partners were infertile, or too old to conceive would
not be able to marry. A favorite among homosexual couples is that they should have the same
benefits that heterosexual couples enjoy, including family health plans, social security benefits and
tax exemptions. The final argument that I found for gay marriage is that it is not a religious issue so
it religious beliefs should have no effect on whether or not they are allowed to get married.
I believe that the stronger arguments on this issue are the pro –gay marriage arguments. The
institution of marriage is already weak with almost half of the traditional marriages ending in
divorce, and the studies done by the Anthropological Society show that allowing gay marriage will
not make a difference in the current trends. One of the purposes of traditional marriage is to
reproduce, however not all straight couples are able to do that naturally and they have to use
alternate methods

Stonewall Riots: The Year 1970
Stonewall Riots
The year 1970, When two men tried to get married the university denied them because they were the
same–sex. It was illegal to have same–sex sex at around 1969 which is unfair to all same–sex
couples. All the gay people wanted was to be treated fairly, just as the straights do. And with
complete honesty they didn't want marriage specifically, they just wanted the rights. On June 26,
2015, the U.S supreme court ruled, that gay marriage is a right protected by the U.S constitution in
all 50 states. On May 18, 1970, two university men applied for a marriage license, but they were
denied because they were the same–sex. On June 26,2003, they banned people for being gay (same–
sex) adults, They made it illegal. On July 1989, Court

Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage
Legalization of Same Sex Marriage in The USA
In The USA, there have been many movements supporting same sex marriage, in where some states
legalized same sex marriage but there are still some states that have not or even have banned same
sex marriage. Every human has the right to love, in this case, marriage is a privilege that everyone
should have, the freedom of choosing a partner in their life; therefore the equality of human rights
has to be more reinforced and same sex marriage must be legalized in every state in The USA. (add
essay map)
SAME SEX MARRIAGE IN THE US
According to the National Conderence of State Legislatures, same–sex marriage law was first
brought up for discussion in 1993. The Hawaii Supreme Court was the one who ruled out the laws
denying same–sex couples the right to marry and this violates the state of Hawaii constitutional
equal protection rights (Article I, Section 5) against gender discrimination. 32 states (including
Hawaii) adopted statutory language of law defining that marriage is a relationship between a man
and a woman. Alaska and Nebraska both adopted the defenition and was the nation's first
constitutional provision limiting the relationship of same–sex couples and prohibiting same–sex
marriage. As a result, 40 states had constitutional provisions limiting marriage to opposite–sex
couples by the end of 2000.
EQUALITY OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Since over 200 years ago, the establishment of the United States human rights was founded.
Universal

Recognizing Same-Sex Marriage Legally in the United States
Gay rights is a very popular issue in American politics that asks ask the question "Should same sex
marriage be recognized legally." Some Americans support gay rights and believe all homosexuals
deserve the right of protection from discrimination. They do not believe marriage would devalued
but would allow homosexuals to have same benefits and security as heterosexual couples. Some of
the rights same–sex marriages would be entitled to include: eligibility of health insurance through
each other's employers, visitation rights in hospitals and jails, and the right to sue over wrongful
death of a partner, right to refuse to testify against spouse in court, tax and Social Security benefits.
Opponents of the gay rights movement believe marriage is between one man and one woman. They
believe it is a wrong and unnatural act that devalues the institution of marriage. They believe
marriage is meant to foster two–parent families that are the foundation of our society. Gay rights
have been a controversial issue for many years, but until recently there had not been any real
progress in ensuring same–sex couples have the rights they deserve that are given to heterosexual
couples and crushing the belief that being who they are is wrong or shameful.
One of the most renown cities during the Renaissance, was a extremely wide spread of same sex
relations. (Hall) Even so same sex couples that were caught were often prosecuting, imprisoning,
and fining some of the population. A little after

Persuasive Essay On Same Sex Marriage
Same–sex marriage, exists when two people of the same gender are wed in matrimony. They can be
wed in a civil ceremony or in a religious ceremony in most states in the United States. Public
support for same–sex marriage has grown rapidly over the past decades. In 2007, 54 percent of
surveyed Americans while 37 percent said they were OK with it.. With the engagement from all U.S.
government branches same–sex marriages is a legal right across the United States; the Judicial
branch legalized the right to same–sex marriage, the legislative has introduced bills on the issue, and
the executive signed the legislation into law. In the Judicial branch, the Supreme Court made a
major change to the idea of marriage in America, and gave the right to same–sex couples. The
Supreme Court stated that the claim that "marriage" and "spouse" applied only to heterosexual
couples was unconditional. In the U.S. v. Winsor case, the court struck down a previous ruling and
said that all couples have the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples. The court shot down the
section 3 DOMA and made it unconditional under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
There is now a constitutional right for people of the same sex to get married in the United States.
Intimate associations is enjoyed by both same–sex couples as well as opposite sex couples
The Legislative branch proposed various bills so that same–sex marriage could be proposed.
Congress issued an act called the respect of

Defense Marriage Act Analysis
The Defense Marriage Act is also known as DOMA. This act has been around for decades and
continues to change over the years to shape individuals rights and needs. Individual's perception of
marriage equality is constantly evolving, and the number of government officials that recognize
same–sex marriage is constantly changing (Rodriguez & Blumell, 2014). This act not only affects
the LGBTQ community and their families, but also affects the whole nation. Many have different
opinions on the topic and what should be in the Defense Marriage Act. Some were elated with the
recent decision in the summer of 2013 the LGBT community where included in the Defense
Marriage Act. This arose when the language of section (2) in the DOMA, was defined as
unconstitutional ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The section 2 of DOMA it states to give legal relief to any state from recognizing same–sex
marriages performed in other jurisdiction (Campbell, 2012). Cases such as In re Kandu, a couple
whom married in Canada attempted to file joint bankruptcy petition but were denied and Wilson V.
Ake whom married in Massachusetts had there marriage license denied in Florida. These various
federal lawsuits, some filed alongside of section 3, also challenged section 2. In the case of
Obsergefell v. Hodges on June 26th, 2015 the U.S Supreme Court ruled that the 14th amendment
requires all U.S. state laws to recognize same–sex marriages, this decision left section 2 of DOMA
unenforceable (Campbell,

An Understanding Of The Historical And Worldview Changes...
Learning family advocacy requires students to develop an understanding of contemporary cultural
issues surrounding traditional marriage. The struggle over defining marriage was thought to be
somewhat settled through the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA); however, as this law's
ramifications were realized, greater debate resulted about the moral, philosophical, and civic
repercussions of this legal definition. This paper will provide a better understanding of the historical
and worldview changes that occurred within the United States over homosexuality and same–sex
marriage (SSM). After gaining a better understanding of these issues, the paper will also provide an
exploration of the strengths and weaknesses of DOMA from these differing perspectives. In
addition, recommendations will be offered for further changes of law and advocacy that would
encourage the altering of current thought intent on stifling the defense of traditional marriage.
Historic Position
The Traditional View of Marriage from a Biblical Perspective
God purposefully designed marriage as one man and one woman, because God recognized that "it is
not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him" (Gen. 2:18 NIV). This
companion that God formed came from Adam's side, and her role in Creation was to be a
companion to man who was both a complementary helper and his partner in procreation. At that
point, marriage was instituted, as the man and woman were united together and became "one

Marriage Is a Commitment and Legal Contract Between Same...
Same Sex Marriage Marriage is a commitment between two individuals. The definitions for
commitment differ from cultures to cultures, but in America, marriage and commitment means that
it is a contract and binding between two people together providing them with benefits. The question
that is raise in America today is that is whether or not these rights to these benefits and commitment
should be extended to the people of the same sex. This topic in widely debated in many countries
not only in America alone. It is an important issue because it involve basic human moral and human
rights. The first case of same sex marriage was Baker v. Nelson that was dismissed by the U.S
Supreme Court was in 1972 when a Minnesota couple were denied marriage ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Section 3 of this act basically stated that same sex marriage couples are not considered spouses and
they can not to receive any federal marriage benefits. Under this act, legally married couples can
only file for single taxpayers for federal tax purposes, "they would file their federal income tax
return as single or head of household and submit a joint return for state income tax purposes if
residing in a state where same–sex marriage was legal" (Jackson). In 2011, Attorney General Eric
Holder announced that the Justice Department would no longer enforce DOMA section 3, because
President Obama stated that it was unconstitutional. In 2013, the Supreme Court decided two cases,
which was Windsor v. U.S. and Hollinsworth v. Perry. One case involved DOMA and federal
income tax issues and the other case involve the legality of Proposition 8, an amendment which
prohibits same sex marriage in California. Currently, "13 states grants same sex marriage license"
(Jackson). From 2011 when the justice department announced it would not enforced DOMA section
3 to 2013 when the supreme court struck down DOMA, same sex couples now can file for federal
tax returns legally as married couples.
Many state legislatures have been deeply involved in the debate about how to define marriage and
should it be applied the same way to same sex marriage. In December 2013, the state of Utah

Federalism Is The Division Of Power Between The National...
Federalism is the division of power between the national legislature and the state legislatures. It
helps maintain power over who wants to control what section each legislature or government wants
to take a participation in. Some topics, such as gun control, marijuana and same sex marriage, are
large debatable topics that both governments have to discuss whether or not it is helpful for the
citizens in a certain state and who should have that particular power. Both the powers are important
to maintain any unresolved issues. Since the government is a delegated power, it only has the
powers the constitution provides for the government. The Federal Government only has three
sections of sub powers from the delegated power; expressed powers, ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Guns have been in the government system even before the United States has been a country. But
guns have been used for misconduct in the past twenty years due to school shootings public
shootings and other killings due to guns. There has been a lot of commotion of how guns are
supposed to be handled ever since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. One
reason guns are being part of why gun control is being debated are scenarios that require mass
shootings in both schools and public places. Major school shootings such as Columbine High
School Shooting in 1999, Virginia Tech Massacre in 2007, and Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012,
and major public shootings such as the Tucson Shooting in 2011 and the Aurora Movie Theater
Shooting in 2012 became large factors on what should be done to limiting guns use. But since the
Second Amendment does say that the US citizens have a "right to bare arms", it's harder to put a
restraint on what people in the National and State Governments can do. Since the United States has
the most gun ownerships per capita (almost ninety out of a hundred people own some kind of gun),
it has the most violence coming from the different uses and interpretations on how guns are
supposed to work. Guns in the United States tend to go hand in hand when it comes to violence and
homicide. The Federal Government's role is very poor in what should be done. There are not a lot of
"federal laws" that

Structural Functionalist Perspective On Same Sex Marriage
Same sex marriage has definitely been increasing over the years, especially because of the new law
that recently passed about gay marriage in the United States. Marriage is known as a social union
and it is the commitment between two individuals. The Defense of Marriage Act allowed same sex
couples to be as equal as heterosexual couples, which was passed in 1996. The United States
followed "structural functionalism," which is defined by Kelly Welch (2012) as a "framework that
tries to get families to follow society's norms and rules", in order to fits its needs, same sex marriage
was not very prevalent like how it is currently. Because society followed structural functionalism,
which consisted of a father, mother, and children, it was as if same–sex marriage was completely
isolated and excluded, which makes them feel completely vulnerable and lonely. Majority of the
families in the United States are now "nuclear" and do not necessarily follow the structured family
lifestyle. According to Welch (2012) "nuclear families consist of a biological father, a biological
mother, and children", which is the basic principle. Thus, both frameworks definitely make
homosexual individuals feel a sense of emptiness and they feel as if they are being discriminated
within society.
The article, Same Sex Marriage: Til Death Do Us ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This proves that some Americans have definitely been accepting homosexuals and they have been
finally having a more positive outlook on them, however there are still some Americans who
blatantly think same sex marriage is wrong. Many individuals "feel that homosexual Americans
should be protected from discrimination"(,p.58). Homosexuals are discriminated from jobs, school,
as well as housing, which is a prime example of

The Debated Issue of Same-Sex Marriage
Same sex marriage has been an issue of debate among many countries because it concerns an issue
of basic human and moral rights. According to the United States, a traditional marriage is the union
of opposite sexes, a heterosexual union. One man and one woman unite to bind their marriage. This
has been the tradition for many years until the issue of same sex marriage arose around the 1970s.
The Defense of Marriage Act was passed in 1996 and gave the states the decision on whether or not
they authorized homosexual marriage. It describes marriage as a "legal union between one man and
one woman." Only 17 of 50 states legalized gay marriage which isn't even half of the United States.
Some states are so grounded to their customs that they actually banned same sex marriage. There is
nothing dangerous or unnatural about it and there is no need to try to protect the traditional marriage
because no harm will come to it. Same sex marriage should be legalized by all states because it is
unmerited and inequitable. Many argue that same sex marriage is unconstitutional, but in fact it is
unconstitutional to ban same sex marriage. There is nowhere in the constitution that states same sex
marriage is illegal and should never occur. These marriages should be protected by the constitution's
commitments to liberty and equality. We have civil liberties and one of them is the pursuit of
happiness which in this case homosexuals are not allowed and prohibited. Not only are their civil
liberties

Political Issues of Same-Sex Marriage Essay
Political Issues of Same–Sex Marriage
The political aspects of whether same–sex couples should be allowed to federal and government
recognized marriages are a very complex issue. There are basically two sides to the political
argument of whether same–sex couples should be allowed to marry. On one side are the liberals who
feel that marriage is a civil right that should be denied based on the basis of a person's sexual
orientation. On the other side you have conservatives who feel that marriage is an institution in
which should only constitute one man and one woman. In this report we are going to examine how
the issue of same–sex marriages are affecting our current political environment, how politics is
affecting the movement for ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In order to get a better hold of how the issue of same–sex marriage would affect politics, we will
take a look at the current and proposed legislature that is shaping the political atmosphere of this
issue. We will start with current state and federal legislature that is affecting the issue. The current
major state and federal law that is affecting same–sex marriage is the Defense of Marriage Act , or
DOMA as it also called. The Defense of Marriage Act is a federal law that allows each state to
recognize or deny any marriage–like relationship between persons of the same–sex that has been
recognized in another state and it also explicitly recognizes for purposes of federal law that marriage
is "a legal union of one man and one woman as husband and wife" and by stating that spouse "refers
only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife." When asking the people that I
interviewed what their feelings were towards the Defense of Marriage Act and how it currently
affects the issue of same–sex marriage and the interviewees who were for same–sex marriage felt
that the law was inherently wrong and the person I interviewed who was opposed to same–sex
marriage thought the law was good except for one obvious flaw with it. The problem that she was
referring to was the fact that the Defense of Marriage Act gives one state the right to not
acknowledge a marriage from another state. This could be considered unconstitutional according to

How Did Jesse Helms Influence The Government
Senator Jesse Helms
Charlene Owings
HIS1112, T4, Online
April 29, 2016
Owings 2
In 1972 when Jesse Helms campaigned for the Senate seat in North Carolina, he brought his
experience, policies, and beliefs. Senator Helms became one of the most conservative voices in the
Senate. He always opposed members of the Senate, and this soon earned him the nickname "Senator
No". Senator Helms would not compromise his policies or beliefs. He earned the reputation for
being stable, faith–based and a conservative. He remained steadfast throughout his career, and his
feelings were made clear in this statement, "I want our government to encourage and protect
freedom as well as our traditions of faith and family". During Helms' career, many of his colleagues
in the Senate tried to find compromises on the hard issues. Helms understood the Senate rules and
this permitted him to stand firm in his beliefs, and for this reason, he could block legislation that
violated his principles, values, and beliefs. Helms rejected many laws such as same–sex marriage,
abortion, the Panama Canal treaty, and communism to name a few. I will now explain how Senator
Helms felt about these four laws.
First, Senator Helms ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He promoted his anti–communist agenda, and he fought communism and controlling governments
including Chile's Augusto Pinochet. Chile's military government was commanded by Pinochet from
1974 – 1990. During Pinochet's tyrannical reign, tens of thousands of people under his command
were tortured and killed. Senator Helms challenged those who valued democratic freedoms. Helms
urged everyone to protect the democratic freedoms at all costs and stated, "Communism is far from
dead, and the cruelty of communist governments has not lessened." Through all of these issues, no
pressure ever forced Senator Helms to break his word, go against his values or religious

Same Sex Marriage In The United States
Marriage is an institution governed by societal values. Traditionally, it was defined as a union
between individuals of the opposite sex, but this definition has changed over the years. Marriage
between people of the same sex used to be regarded as unacceptable because it violated family
values. However, this perception changed over time, and people became more open to same–sex
marriage. On June 27, 2015, BBC News reported that same–sex marriage had gained legal
recognition in all U.S. states. The news followed a Washington Supreme Court ruling that declared
same–sex marriage legal across the country. According to Liptak, the prohibition of same–sex
marriage denies individuals their constitutional right to liberty. Furthermore, spouses of ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Johnson argues that the nation recognizes marriage as a unit around which society is built. However,
it is opposite sex partners who bear children, and as children are born, the nation expands.
Same–sex partners cannot produce children, but they can still raise a family. Indeed, they can adopt
children and raise them as effectively as those who conceive and give birth to children do. As
Conger states, a parent's gender does not effect a child's development. This implies that same–sex
couples are as good at parenting as heterosexual couples are. It would be naïve to suggest that
heterosexual unions are always pleasant; however, most people agree that the society functions best
with conventional families (Confessore). The many reasons why maintaining stable and healthy
marriages is difficult are not reasons for abandoning this idea. Conger points out that enacting a
legal change to the conception of marriage is a defining moment for a society, as this bond leads to
the next generation of people. It is not wrong or alarming to proceed with caution regarding the
transformation of the approved structure of the family. In fact, it is responsible and wise.
Gay people face significant health risks. According to Johnson, same–sex marriages do not last as
long as those between members of the opposite sex, because of the health risks related to the
lifestyle, and a lot of money is spent annually on their health care. Hence, it has a

Should Marriage For Same Sex Couples Be Legal In United...

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