The legalization of same sex marriage has been a topic of debate for decades in the United States. Gay marriage has redefined how the institution of marriage is perceived in the 21st century. Gay marriage will be viewed at through the lenses of the Functionalist Perspective, the Conflict Perspective and the Internationalist Approach.
Movements to gain marriage rights and benefits for same sex couples only began in the 1970s. In 2008, Proposition 8 in California amended the Californian Constitution outlawing same-sex marriage. Just recently, as of January 2013, nine states have legalized same-sex marriage. Those starts include: Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Washington. This week in (whatever) newspaper reports the latest battle for same sex couples. WEBSITE people are suing the state of califonia stating that proposition 8 is unconstitutional and in violation of their basic amendment rights. They state that California is violating due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th amendment. Arguments against same sex marriage include the violation of the traditional idea were only a man and a woman should get married; moreover the teaching and promotion of homosexual lifestyle in public schools. The case was victorious for same-sex couples in California and Prop 8 was deemed unconstitutional. On March 26, the case was taken to the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court. Oral arguments were made amend the national constitution of Prop 8 to determine not only if, but how soon gay marriage will be legal throughout the entire country.
FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE
The functionalist perspective is one of the major theoretical perspectives in sociology. According to the perspective each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to the stability of society as a whole. In a way, society is only the sum of its parts. These different parts are mainly institutions the institutions of society, each of which...