This document discusses arguments for and against same-sex marriage. It provides background on laws like the Defense of Marriage Act and outlines economic and social benefits of legalizing same-sex marriage, such as tax benefits for married couples and increased acceptance of LGBT individuals. The document also examines objections to same-sex marriage related to traditional definitions of marriage and procreation. It concludes that a federal law is needed to guarantee same-sex couples the right to marry nationwide.

1. Gay Marriage
By Liam Brown
Mr. Abney
English 10H Per. 3A
15 March 2012

2. An Overview of the Issue
Advocates Opposition
Ordinary
activists and others…

3. But First, Some Background Info
Defense of
Marriage Act

4. Here’s Why: Economic Benefits for
Couples
=
These benefits are not
given to same-sex couples
…and many more!
in a civil union.

5. Separate But Equal: It Never Works
The exclusion of gay couples receiving
economic and social benefits given to
heterosexuals prove that while civil unions
and real marriage may be separate, they
are certainly not equal.

6. Here’s Why: Better Acceptance of
Gays and Lesbians
Legalization of gay marriage will help to dispel stereotypes
and anti-gay rhetoric.

7. Examples of Anti-Gay Marriage
Rhetoric
There are
many more
examples.
Rick Santorum Pope Benedict Legalizing gay
XVI marriage will
“Is anyone saying same-sex
couples can't love each other? help avoid
Gay marriage will
I love my children. I love my bigotry and
threaten “human dignity
friends, my brother. Heck, I
and the future of narrow-
even love my mother-in-law.
humanity itself”. mindedness.
Should we call these
relationships marriage, too?"

8. Here’s Why Not: The Sanctity of
Traditional Marriage
The belief…
=
Will same-sex marriage
destroy the institution of
traditional marriage? Well…

9. The definition of marriage has
already changed because gay
However… marriage is legal in many
states.

10. Here’s Why Not: The Importance
of Having Children

11. However…
Gays and lesbians can have children in other ways.

12. And…
If we want to deny
marriage to gays
based on
procreation, we
should also deny it
to:

13. So What Do We Do and How?
A federal law is the only way to
repeal DOMA and give gays
and lesbians the marriage rights
they deserve.

14. It’s Quiz Time!
1. What did the Defense of Marriage Act do to the
institution of marriage?
2. What are some economic benefits that can be granted
to gay couples if same-sex marriage is legalized?
3. What are the ways that gays and lesbians can have
children?
4. Conservatives say that gay marriage will undermine
the sanctity of traditional marriage, but this is not true.
Why?
5. Besides economic benefits, what is another pro of
legalizing same-sex marriage?

15. Answers
What did the Defense of Marriage Act do to the institution of marriage?
Banned same-sex marriages; refused to recognize gay marriages performed
elsewhere
What are some economic benefits that can be granted to gay couples if same-sex
marriage is legalized?
401(k) plans; CalPERS benefits; veterans’ benefits
What are the ways that gays and lesbians can have children?
Adoption; artificial insemination
Conservatives say that gay marriage will undermine the sanctity of traditional
marriage, but this is not true. Why?
Same-sex marriage is already legalized in some states; gay relationships have
become more common
Besides economic benefits, what is another pro of legalizing same-sex marriage?
Acceptance of gays and lesbians

16. Photo Credits
Human Rights Campaign logo. Digital image. International Court System.
International Court Council. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
Freedom to Marry logo. Digital image. Wikipedia. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
Homosexual marriage activists. Digital image. Americans For Truth About
Homosexuality. Americans For Truth. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
National Organization for Marriage logo. Digital image. Wizzard Media. Wizzard
Software Corporation. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
Family Research Council logo. Digital image. Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters.
Blogspot. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
Focus on the Family logo. Digital image. Box Turtle Bulletin. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
Bill Clinton. Digital image. Wikipedia. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
1996. Digital image. Stop Sylvia Browne. Robert S. Lancaster. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
DOMA tearing apart gay marriage. Digital image. Gay Marriage Watch.
WordPress. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.

17. Photo Credits
Gay Couple Married in New York. Digital image. Philly Gay Lawyer. WordPress. Web.
21 Mar. 2012.
401(k) nest egg. Digital image. EagleiOnline. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
CalPERS logo. Digital image. Pension Pulse. Blogspot. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
Gay pride flag w/ hands. Digital image. San Diego Gay and Lesbian News. Web. 21 Mar.
2012.
Bully Free Zone sign. Digital image. Childhood 101. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
Gay youth suicide headline. Digital image. HimHo. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
"No" symbol. Digital image. Forwarded Messages. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
Rick Santorum. Digital image. “Santorum: Left hates ‘Christendom’”. Politico. Web. 24
Mar. 2012.
Pope Benedict XVI. Digital image. “Pope Benedict XVI Condemns Gay Marriage”. The
Inquisitr. Web. 24 Mar. 2012.
Gay man hoisting partner. Digital image. Apt. 17. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
Falling asteroid. Digital image. CanStockPhoto. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
Heterosexual marriage icon. Digital image. GodHungry. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
The State of Gay Marriage. Digital image. The Bent Angle. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.

18. Photo Credits
Kids squashing father w/ mom smiling. Digital image. Kindermusik. Web. 21 Mar.
2012.
Happy family with kids. Digital image. The Maids. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
Gay adoption. Digital image. SodaHead. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
In vitro artificial insemination. Digital image. Albawaba. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
Pregnant Asian woman. Digital image. New Life Pregnancy Center. Web. 21 Mar.
2012.
Elderly couple. Digital image. Walsine Pierce. Blogspot. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
"Childfree" poster. Digital image. Morality of the Childfree. Tripod. Web. 21 Mar.
2012.
Repeal DOMA. Digital image. Allegiance: A New American Musical. Web. 21 Mar.
2012.
Rainbow United States. Digital image. The Advocate. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.

19. Works Cited
Driscoll, Sally and Alexander Stingl. "Counterpoint: Same-Sex
Marriage Is Both A Constitutional And Human Right." Points Of
View: Same Sex Marriage (2011): 3. Points of View Reference
Center. Web. 12 Feb. 2012.
Friedman, Lauri S, ed. "Gay Marriage Will Eventually Be Legal in All
States." 2009. Gay Marriage. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2010. 28. Print.
Introducing Issues with Opposing Viewpoints.
Friedman, "Important Dates in the Fight over Same-Sex
Marriage." Gay Marriage. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2010. 24. Print.
Introducing Issues with Opposing Viewpoints.
Mock, Jan Vaughn. "Legalized Gay Marriage Would Grant Rights to
Gay People." 2008. Gay Marriage. Ed. Lauri S. Friedman. Detroit:
Greenhaven, 2010. 69-76. Print. Introducing Issues with Opposing
Viewpoints.

20. Works Cited
Nayak, Malathi, Peter Henderson, and Dan Levine. "Timeline:
U.S. laws on same-sex marriage." Reuters.com. Thomson
Reuters, 7 Feb. 2012. Web. 10 Feb. 2012.
Persily, Seth. "Chapter 5: Gay Marriage and
Procreation." Arguing Equality. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.
Rauch, Jonathan. “Gay Marriage Strengthens Society”. 2008.
Gay Marriage. Ed. Lauri S. Friedman. Detroit: Greenhaven,
2010. 92-97. Print. Introducing Issues with Opposing
Viewpoints.
Wilson, Brian. “Point: The Attack On Traditional Marriage.”
Points Of View: Same Sex Marriage (2011): 5. Points of View
Reference Center. Web. 11 Feb 2012.

21. Works Cited for Anti-Gay Marriage
Rhetoric Quotations
erkel, Amanda. "Santorum Mocks Gay Marriage: ‘I Love
My Brother. Should We Call This Relationship Marriage
Too?’" ThinkProgress. 22 May 2008. Web. 24 Mar.
2012.
allowell, Billy. "Pope Benedict: Gay Marriage Threatens
The 'Future of Humanity Itself’” TheBlaze. 10 Jan. 2012.
Web. 24 Mar. 2012.