Shift in American Attitudes towards Gay Marriage

Gay Marriage in the United States Gay marriage has divided the American people for over a decade. Yet such a sharp divide has occurred recently. Only a decade ago, gay marriage was nothing but an afterthought on the plates of many U. S. leaders. Many Liberal Democrats did not even support or condone the idea that same sex couples should be able to marry. However in early times, same-sex marriage was not considered exotic and in many cultures, it was encouraged. It was not until the rise of Christianity that a negative attitude towards same-sex marriage upraised.

The turn of the 21st century has rought a new life and perspective onto this issue, and at this moment in time, a substantial majority of the American people actually supports same-sex marriages (Karaim, 2011). Marriage should be viewed as the union of two people based upon love and commitment. Marriage is an expression of our desire to create a social partnership, to live and share life's Joys and burdens with the person we love, and honoring these desires in all people strengthens society's bonds (Karaim, 2011).

A marriage consisting of two males or two females is Just as natural as a marriage between a man and a woman. After many years of fghting this battle it is time for the U. S. federal government to enact a nationwide law granting civil right to marriage for everyone including the homosexual community. State legislatures have been deeply involved in the public debates about how to define marriage and whether the official recognition of marriage should be extended to same-sex couples. Sixteen states and the District of Columbia currently have laws that allow same-sex marriages.

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While other states are facing court challenges to keep same-sex marriages banned or to ban gay marriage from happening. In 2013 seven U. S States all through legislation and federal court decisions adopted the "Freedom to Marry' and now allow same-sex couples to marry. These states are Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, Delaware, Minnesota, Rhode Island and California. Out of the sixteen total states that recognize same-sex marriages, ten states and the District of Columbia have acted through legislation, five through court decisions, and one through public initiative.

The debate for same-sex marriage became noticeably public in the late twentieth century; it was not until 1993 during a case in Hawaii, that the issue became national news. The ruling of the case stated that the restriction of marriage and its benefits to opposite-sex couples were unconstitutional. The Hawaiian case, declared that no state would be required to recognize a same-sex marriage from another state, and also defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman" (Axel-Lute, 2002, p. l).

By the end of that same year, a majority of states passed laws prohibiting same-sex marriage. Since then, states have defined their own definition of marriage, the Defense of Marriage Act stating a marriage is between a man and a woman has been struck down as well. On a more recent note Hawaii's House of Representatives heard 56 hours of public testimony over five days. And on November 1 lth 2013, the House passed the marriage y a 30 to 19 vote . This made Hawaii the titteentn state to legalize same sex marriage in the Unites States.

Earlier this year this same-sex marriage bill hit legislative roadblocks. It wasn't until the U. S. Supreme Court ruled in June that the federal Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional. Governor Neil Abercrombie then called this piece of legislature back into special session to pass a compromise easure that added rights for religious figures who oppose same-sex marriage. The most influential reason against same-sex marriage is based on religion, and the "traditional" marriage is known as the social contract between a man and a woman.

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