Same Sex Marriage

Same sex marriage is the union of two people of the same gender. Unlike civil unions which don't allow all of the same benefits as marriage, same sex marriage would guarantee equal rights for those involved-the same rights that heterosexual couples have. These rights include making medical decisions, receiving pensions and other benefits in the even of a partner's death, healthcare, power of attorney, and full social equality. In recent years, same sex marriage has become a worldwide issue of debate. Since marriage is defined differently by different groups of people, a lot of controversy surrounds the issue. While it's obvious that most gay groups and some civil libertarian organizations would favor same sex marriage, many conservative and Christian groups strongly oppose it. The current debate is whether this type of marriage should be legalized or banned. President Bush has even gone so far as to call for a constitutional amendment to define marriage as "a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife." So far reasons to ban same sex unions have been strongly based on some people's religious beliefs. The question I hope to answer is "Is there a legitimate reason to ban same sex marriages, and if there isn't, why are homosexual couples having to fight for such a basic human right?"