Should Same Sex Marriage Be Legal?
August 24, 2006 by
The debate over whether or not people in same sex relationships should be allowed to marry, or even enter into civil unions is no new fight. In fact, movements designed to legally protect civil unions began in the fun-lovin 70's. Denmark legalized 
same sex marriage in 1993, Israel followed suit in 1994, and the following year Sweden did the same. Same sex couples can also marry in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Canada. In December 2006, South Africa plans to start performing it's first legal same sex unions.
In the past two years, the United States has intensified it's position on same sex marriages. The twenty-first century has prompted much intra-debate within world powers when it comes to whether gay couples should have the same legal right to marry as heterosexuals. Aruba, Australia, Austria, China, France and the United Kingdom are some of the other countries at odds over gay marriage.
The United States is a different case, same sex marriage is legal-or it's illegal-or it's illegal and civil unions are used in lieu of same sex marriage, it all depends on where you go. Massachusetts performs gay marriages across the state, but travel a little further south to New York and Dave and Doug'll find it a bit more difficult to register for a bridal shower. Of course that didn't stop New Paltz, New York mayor Jason Paltz from performing dozens of marriages in 2004.
California, Washington, DC, Maine, New Jersey and Vermont all offer same sex couples the option of civil unions. Civil unions were designed to offer life partners some of the same privileges of a "traditional" marriage-although it techinically isn't a marriage.
So, what says the opponents of gay marriage? There's the oh-so original "God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve" argument. Most opponents are more concerned with what they describe as the salvation of marriage. Changing the face of one of society's oldest institutions diminshes the validity of a healthy hetero marriage.
In the past two years, the United States has intensified it's position on same sex marriages. The twenty-first century has prompted much intra-debate within world powers when it comes to whether gay couples should have the same legal right to marry as heterosexuals. Aruba, Australia, Austria, China, France and the United Kingdom are some of the other countries at odds over gay marriage.
The United States is a different case, same sex marriage is legal-or it's illegal-or it's illegal and civil unions are used in lieu of same sex marriage, it all depends on where you go. Massachusetts performs gay marriages across the state, but travel a little further south to New York and Dave and Doug'll find it a bit more difficult to register for a bridal shower. Of course that didn't stop New Paltz, New York mayor Jason Paltz from performing dozens of marriages in 2004.
California, Washington, DC, Maine, New Jersey and Vermont all offer same sex couples the option of civil unions. Civil unions were designed to offer life partners some of the same privileges of a "traditional" marriage-although it techinically isn't a marriage.
So, what says the opponents of gay marriage? There's the oh-so original "God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve" argument. Most opponents are more concerned with what they describe as the salvation of marriage. Changing the face of one of society's oldest institutions diminshes the validity of a healthy hetero marriage.
There will come a time when laws against same-sex marriage will fall to the same rationale as those barring mixed-race marriage.
By Jim Stillman | Published 12/29/2007 | Read more »
Herein, I put gay marriage and same-sex civil unions in a different perspective. We need to respect the 'copyright' the Church has on marriage...
By EthanaelD | Published 8/10/2006 | Read more »
Having heard discussions in Congress regarding a constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage, I am bothered by the way both parties are approaching it.
By N.K. | Published 7/15/2006 | Read more »
In stodgy New England, there is a less than stodgy law in place in Massachusetts. Why is it that the Bay State leads the way in same sex marriage.
By Lima | Published 7/9/2007 | Read more »
Same-sex marriage is an issue--because we make it an issue. But whose business is it? Marriage is embraced by cultures around the world by different-sex couples. So, why should gay couples face legal and religious roadblocks to marital bliss?
By Jotworks | Published 1/6/2008 | Read more »
Read the facts on same-sex marriage law throughout the world and in the USA.
By Ron Carver | Published 7/10/2006 | Read more »
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