Statistics and Reasoning to Allow Gay Marriage

Gay marriage is an increasingly debated topic within American society. On November 3, 2009 Maine became the 31^st state to put gay marriage to a popular vote and the 31^st state to have gay marriage voted down in that popular vote. With 601,209 committed same-sex couples living in America as of the 2000 census, it is hard to understand why so many people would oppose this basic right.

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, and Vermont all allow same-sex marriage, and New Hampshire will begin to allow them as well. In addition, New York, California, Rhode Island, New Mexico, and Washington DC will recognize gay marriages which took place in one of the states where it is legal. These states give the partners in a gay marriage the same rights as a married man and woman, but the rights do not transfer from state to state as heterosexual marriages do.

Hawaii has taken a step in the right direction by extending some rights to same-sex couples including inheritance without a will, hospital visitation, and the ability to make health care decisions. Washington, Nevada, and Oregon all offer same-sex couples the same rights as traditional married couples with the offering of a "domestic partnership".

There are 19 states in which gay marriage is banned; however some of these states do offer domestic partnerships, or other rights to gay couples. Domestic partnership's and civil unions are not enough to provide equality though. The federal government provides many benefits to couples based on marital status and these other classifications do not count for them. While a domestic partnership may provide state rights, it does not provide federal benefits.

There are very limited reasons given for not extending marriage rights to gay couples, the main reason being that marriage is between a man and a woman. This view is usually based on biblical writings. Basing laws on religion is a violation of the first amendment to the United States Constitution. For this reason, laws banning gay marriage could be seen as unconstitutional.

Discrimination of homosexuals by preventing marriage should not be legal and will likely change in the near future. In a similar way to how the civil rights movement prevented discrimination based on skin color and how the women's rights movement did so for women, the gay rights movement will soon bring about a change in laws to prevent discrimination against gays resulting in the legalization of same-sex marriage throughout the country.

Works Cited
"11 Facts About Gay Rights | Do Something." Volunteer | Do Something. Web. 13 Nov. 2009. .
"Arguments For Gay Marriage - Pro Gay Marriage - Support for Gay Marriage." Gay Marriage Tips - Gay Marriage Jewelry - Gay Marriage Laws - Gay Divorce. Web. 13 Nov. 2009. .
"Gay Civil Unions - Where Gays and Lesbians Get Civil Unions." Lesbian Life: For Better Lesbian Sex, Relationships and Life. Web. 13 Nov. 2009. .
"Introduction to the principle of separation of church and state." ReligiousTolerance.org by the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. Web. 13 Nov. 2009. .
"Maine Gay Marriage Vote: Voters Repeal Law Legalizing Gay Marriage." Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Web. 13 Nov. 2009. .