Gay Marriage

"Because marriage is a basic human right and an individual personal choice, RESOLVED, the State should not interfere with same-gender couples who choose to marry and share fully an equally in the rights, responsibilities, and commitment of civil marriage." The Marriage Resolution, by the Marriage Project of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund

In the United States, Massachusetts is currently the only state which recognizes same-sex marriages. As everyone know Same-sex marriage is very important with gay couples in today's society. Many people are in favor of equal rights for homosexuals. "They say that yes, gays should have the same rights in housing, jobs, public accommodations, and should have equal access to government benefits, equal protection of the law, etc" (Bidstrup). Same-sex marriages should be legalized and recognized because our government guarantees equal rights for all citizens.

The government says that every citizen of the United States shall receive equal rights. But why did they pass out the defense of marriage act?

The Defense of Marriage Act prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages; in my opinion this act is immoral and unfair because it restricts the rights of gay and lesbian citizens. This act should not have been passed because there is no important reason why it should have been passed in the first place. The Defense of Marriage Act has caused many different confrontations with the people who are for and against same-sex marriage laws.

The Defense of Marriage Act comes out as a respond to the court battles in the state of Hawaii. Three same-sex couples filed a lawsuit against the state of Hawaii claiming that current marriage laws preventing same-sex couples from marrying violated the couples' right to privacy and equal protection (Say and Kowalewski 87). Although the case was dismissed, it was held because the law disobeys equal protection. "Even though the case was dismissed in trial court, the Hawaii State Supreme Court held that the case had advantage and should be heard because the current law does disobey equal protection under the state's constitution" (Say and Kowalewski 88). The judge of the Hawaii State Supreme Court ruled that the state must issue licenses to the three couples on the grounds of no convincing evidence. "On December 3, 1996, the judge ruled that the state of Hawaii must issue marriage licenses to the three couples because the state had provided no convincing reasons to reject them. The case in now on appeal"(Say and Kowalewski 88). While this was going on, Hawaii passed a law establishing beneficiaries a state