Same Sex Marriage
The controversial debate over whether same sex marriage should be legalized has gained a lot of attention in recent years and there are strong arguments for each side of the issue. There are many different factors that must be looked at when considering same sex marriage. A marriage is not something that is just slapped on a piece of paper to show a couples love, it involves legal, social, economic, and spiritual issues.
As of July 17, 2013, same sex marriage has been legalized in 13 US states and the District of Columbia. 35 states have same sex marriage bans through either bans or constitutional amendments (Gay Marriage). People argue that altering the “traditional definition of marriage” will further weaken a threatened institution and that legalizing same sex marriage may lead to bigamous and inter species marriages (Gay Marriage).
Same sex marriage has been debated in many countries for a long time. It is an important issue because it concerns basic moral and human rights. Nowadays, many same sex couples have come out and expressed their sexuality choices. Although many people are against the legalization of same sex marriage, it should be legalized because 1) it is their civil right which is a separate institution with religion, 2) it encourages strong family values, 3) it leads to the increasing number of child adoptions, and 4) same sex marriage also brings a lot of financial benefits.
While some gay activists sought the right to marry in the early 70's, others rejected marriage as heterosexual and saw it as an outdated institution. The gay liberation movement achieved victory in 1973 when the American Psychiatric Association declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder (Huffpost Gay Voices). Numerous surveys have consistently shown that Americans' support for same sex marriage has been growing steadily for some time now.
A deeply divided Supreme Court nudged the nation toward broad recognition of same sex marriage in rulings...