Remember when segregation was demolished? How about when women were finally treated as equals to men? Yet another equality issue has sparked in our nation today, Homosexual couples are being denied the same rights that Heterosexual couples are granted. As of right now same sex marriage is only legal in select states. These states are Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Iowa and Vermont, as well as the District of Columbia. This is a very small number of states that have legalized marriage and in the future I would like to see the rest of our nation legalize same sex marriage. Equality plays a role in this situation, along with rights being denied. As does religion, and the economy. Since the mid1900’s, certain groups have been fighting for equality. As our society progresses the fight for same sex marriage is hoped to grow stronger. Our country has overcome discriminating against a certain group of people, and same sex couples are no different. Our country needs to stop discriminating and same sex marriage needs o be nationally legalized.
In the 1900’s through the 1920’s women fought for their right to vote, and eventually they were granted their right. In the 1950’s to the 1960’s the Civil Rights Movement took place, segregation was overturned and differences in skin color didn’t affect where you could sit, where you could eat, or even where you could get a drink of water. Now, Homosexual couples are being denied their right to marry, which in turn, denies them of other federal rights that are guaranteed with marriage. These rights are mainly related to money… but one of the major differences between marriage and a civil union, which is the highest form of relation in most states for homosexual couples, is that if one of the women or men was to need hospital attention and cannot make decision for themselves, their partner cannot make any of those decision for them. The hospital would have to go through that person family when the partner may be sitting right in the hospital. In a “marriage” the spouse can make any of those decisions for the other spouse. "Nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." This section of Article 14 of the American Constitution states that every person is given equal protection of the laws. This shows that same sex couples should be granted the same right to marry as Heterosexual couples. Religion is another large factor in this situation, but in many people’s opinion, it should not be.
In the US we do not have a nationwide religion, and many peoples opinion this means that we cannot base decisions in court n religious values. “You can’t base a law on religion alone.” State Tom Little at CVU Panel Day. David Zuckerman, also a CVU Panelist, mentioned that there are different religions. If there are different religions, then we cannot base one religion’s beliefs on a law. Maryanne Hageman, a Mormon Panelist at CVU Panel Day, mentioned the separation of church and state and that it was a personal decision if you were in favor of or against same sex marriage based on your religious beliefs, but she also believed that church and state should remain separate, and religious values should not be used in a court of law. Along with the fact that we do not have a nationwide religion, religious values of Christianity, or any other religion cannot decide whether or not same sex marriage should be legal in a state or not. Another interesting reason that same sex marriage should be legalized is because of the economy.
Marriages and weddings bring in a lot of money. Legalizing same sex marriage would further increase that amount of money. During an Interview with my neighbors Susan Diane, a same sex married couple, Diane brought up this interesting point that I would have never even thought of if she hadn’t mentioned it. When you think of a wedding, what do you think of? Is it simple, or extravagant? Whatever it is you thought of, it most definitely cost the families and the couple a lot of money. This money will help the economy of any state that the wedding is in. As Diane also pointed out in the interview more people are coming to Vermont and also the other states that same sex marriage is legalized in to get married. Additional weddings in states would be a great source of income for states; this is yet another reason showing that same sex marriage will not affect a state negatively.
The Civil Rights Movement, the Suffrage. These are two great examples of how our nation has overcome discrimination and has moved forward. As of now, five states have legalized same sex marriage, along with the District of Columbia. A select few allow civil unions. This number needs to be increased to all fifty states allowing same sex marriage. Not allowing same sex couples to marry is a form of discrimination. By not being allowed to marry, same sex couples are being denied federal rights and protections. Most of these rights are related to money, some are related to health care, amongst other things. Religion is among the defenses of the groups who are not in support of same sex marriage. The United States of America do not have a nationwide religion; therefore defending Heterosexual marriage with religion does not make any sense. Religion cannot be the only defense in a court of law, there needs to be a separation of church and state. Lastly, the economy would boom with the marriages that would occur if same sex marriage was legalized. Weddings would be happening in all the states for the same sex couples that have been waiting to be married. Same sex couples deserve the right to be married, and our country needs to stop discriminating against them. Homosexual marriage needs to be nationally legalized for the discrimination to stop.
