Same-Sex Marriage: The Birthright Of Love

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Same-sex Marriage: The Birthright of Love Throughout time, countless people have been persecuted and killed because of other's closed-mindedness. Husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and grandchildren were cut-off from their beliefs and hope of equality. The U.S. has a history of segregation and discrimination, but has consistently changed laws to support the founding principle that all people are created equal. Currently, the U.S. is continuing this trend of promoting equality for homosexual people. As a result of same-sex marriage being a current civil rights movement we can see the obligation to dispose of any discrimination and injustice against homosexuals in the U.S., the positive benefits that come with accepting same-sex couples into society, and how the influential words written 226 years ago in the Constitution are being interpreted as supporting this cause. While many feel that same-sex marriage is wrong due to religion, thoughts that it will harm society, and that it is not how they believe marriage has always been, our laws, definition of marriage, and rule of equality in the U.S. demand same-sex marriage be accepted.
Background Information The Gay Rights Movement, which has been going for over 100 years, has had many difficulties. In the early 1900’s, gay citizens started inquiring about their rights (The American Gay Rights Movement: A Timeline). People formed various opinions about homosexuals, which were generally negative. Gay rights have remained in the public eye for several years, and currently there are three primary points of view, as shown by politicians in Massachusetts, Secretary of State John Kerry, and former President George W. Bush. Many Democrats in Massachusetts have been the leaders of gay rights and believe all people have the right to marry whomever they want: “The Democratic Party supports the full inclusion of all families in the life of our nation, with equal respect, responsibility, and protection under the law, including the freedom to marry… and oppose[s] discriminatory constitutional amendments and other attempts to deny the freedom to marry to loving and committed same-sex couples” (Democrats: Say I Do).
Alternatively, John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State, doesn’t agree with homosexual relationships, but believes all people are born with the right to marry. Kerry states, “I don’t think it hurt the things I thought it would: lesson learned… You evolve with these things. You see through experience what happens” (Epstein). His opinion of gay marriage has evolved over time and he now supports the idea. Furthermore, as former President George W. Bush said, “Marriage cannot be severed from its cultural, religious and natural roots without weakening the good influence of society” (Bush Calls for Ban on Same-sex Marriages). George W. Bush’s belief is same-sex marriage is wrong and should not be legalized. There are three distinct points of view, one that wholly supports the idea, one that shows how opinions change over time, and one that disagrees with it . The countries and states that support the rights of homosexual couples include Connecticut, Massachusetts, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland (and 12 others), Spain, Sweden, South Africa, Canada, and many others (Boles and ProCon 17 States...). The legalization of gay marriage can occur by court decision, state legislature, or popular vote. States like Connecticut and Massachusetts implemented the law by court decision, where a court ruling has taken place and upheld equal rights for gays. In Delaware and Hawaii, two-thirds of the House of Representatives and Senate approved the law, or in other words, a decision by state legislature was determined. Finally, a popular vote, which occurred in Maine and Maryland, is when a majority of the population voted to allow same sex marriage. There are still over 30 states that do not support gay marriage (Boles). A major event in the Gay Rights Movement,
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