Equal Rights for Same-Sex Couples Essays - 1973 Words

Imagine being in love with someone, but never having the ability to make the relationship official. For many same-sex couples across the United States of America this is a reality. Even though great strides have been made in the advancement of gay rights, homosexual couples still face opposition from the Federal Government by being denied the right to a marriage. Same-sex marriages should be constitutionalized. While the Federal Government denies gay and lesbian couples the right to marry, there are some state governments which allow same-sex couples the right to domestic partnerships, civil unions, and marriages. â€Å"Comparing marriage to civil unions and domestic partnerships is a bit like comparing diamonds to rhinestones† (Human†¦show more content†¦These states which grant domestic partnerships and the states mentioned above which allow civil unions are in the beginning stages of trying to rectify the Federal Government’s Defense of Marriage Act. Cu rrently six states and one territory issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples. These states are Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont plus the District of Columbia (Human Rights Campaign). Though these states and Washington, D.C. allow gay marriage, these couples still do not have the same rights and benefits as heterosexual couples. There are many financial benefits received from a marriage which make it appealing to same-sex couples. These rights and federal tax benefits are given to married heterosexual couples, but homosexual couples do not receive them. Such benefits include the couple filing for joint tax returns and â€Å"inheriting money or property from his or her spouse without paying tax† (Zajac, Koova, and Rocks 29). Due to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which states marriage as being a legal coming together of husband and wife (Zajac, Koova, and Rocks 29), marriages for same-sex couples are deemed unconstitutio nal. This means that even though a state may approve and allow a gay couple to be â€Å"married†, the Federal Government prohibits it. Gay and Lesbian couples along with many gay-rights activists strongly oppose the Defense Of Marriage Act. Even the Obama administration,Show MoreRelatedEqual Rights to Marry for Same-Sex Couples2911 Words   |  12 Pagesï » ¿California Proposition 8: Same Sex Marriage The equal right to marry for same-sex couples in the United States has acquired growing public support over time, with a quantity of state-level laws passed and others presently up for debate. Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment that was passed in the November 2008 state elections in California. The measure added a new provision, Section 7.5 of the Declaration of Rights, to the California Constitution, which providesRead MoreThe purpose of this policy brief is to recommend to the State of Florida a policy that will1200 Words   |  5 Pageslegalize same-sex marriage and acknowledge same-sex marriages recognized by laws in other states. This policy is necessary because current laws in Florida that restrict marriage to different-sex couples violate the US Constitution’s commitment to equal protection under the law and because the Due Process Clause protects individuals freedoms of personal choices, which includes their choice to marry and have a family. The benefits of this proposal far outweigh the disadvantages, and ensure equal rightsRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Is A Matter Of Civil Law1270 Words   |  6 PagesSame-sex marriage is one of the most controversial issues in the modern world. In the past, marriage was recognized as a social union between a man and a woman and in most cultures, homosexuality was viewed as abnormal and forbidden. However, today, homosexual relationships are fighting their way towards global acceptance as the LGBT community has been extremely active, advocating for their right to marry since the early 90s. With an increased in tolerance for homosexuality in society, controversyRead MoreThe Amendment Of Same Sex Marriage1441 Words   |  6 Pagesallow same sex couples to marry or have a marriage license. The Fourteenth Amendment talks about the right for Due Process. The Fourteenth Amendment protects privacy rights. Obergefell vs Hodges talks about same sex marriage. Some states did not want to give marriage licenses to the same sex and that was part of the issue in Obergefell versus Hodges. In the 1980s, it was hard to be gay or lesbian. It was considered criminal in some states. The Fourteenth Amendment does support the case of same sexRead MoreMarriage Law : The Legal Union Of A Couple As Spouses1642 Words   |  7 PagesMarriage is defined as the legal union of a couple as spouses. The elements of marriage include: (1) the parties legal ability to marry each other, (2) mutual consent of the parties and (3) a marriage contract as required by law. (Legal Information Institute, 2014, n.d.). In the United States, marriage law is regulated by the individual state. Standards such as age, residency, relation, mental capacity, and gender are requirements regulated on a state-by-state basis. Until recent changes, the DefenseRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legalized . The Same Sex Marriage1723 Words   |  7 Pages Same sex marriage should be legalized The same sex marriage has been widely debated in many countries for a long time. It is an important issue because it concerns basic moral and human rights. People all over the world come to the United States in search of freedom and equality. Being able to marry anyone, no matter the gender, is a freedom of right, but if that freedom of right is taken away from people than there is no equality. Homosexual peopleRead MoreWhy Same Sex Marriage Is Morally Right And Should Be Legally Recognized1648 Words   |  7 Pagescomplications with marriages in today’s society? How does religion plays a major part in marriage? According to Toby L. Ditz, â€Å"Marriage laws have historically withheld and continue to withhold the right to marry and the legal privileges associated with marriage from whole classes of people: slaves, interracial couples, and gay partners (Ditz, 2001,500)†. The way marriage is viewed in this newer generation differs significantly from the past. People’s observations and opinions on matrimony and its true meaningRead MoreSupreme Court Case Study725 Words   |  3 Pageshad made, with a 5-4 majority, a controversial ruling decreeing that denying equal recognition to same-sex couples was in violation of the Equal Protections Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Those on the minority cited concerns of judicial restra int, the connection between marriage and procreation, and whether or not marriage is a Constitutional issue in the first place. Nevertheless, equal recognition for same-sex couples became the law of the land. History James Obergefell and his partner JohnRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal Essay1348 Words   |  6 Pagestoday is that socially and religiously many people feel that same sex marriages are unacceptable and these couples should not be given the same rights as heterosexual couples. Same sex marriage should be legalized because same sex couples should have the same benefits as heterosexual couples, their children can benefit from the benefits of legally married couples, and it will economically and ethically improve the United States. Same sex marriage has been accepted and legalized in many countries aroundRead MoreCreating Capabilities: The Human Development Approach by Martha Nussbaum 1015 Words   |  4 Pagessubjected to be treated equally. We are granted equal rights in order to live as dignified human beings. Although we strive to achieve equality for all, obvious inequality and discrimination still exist around the world. Same-sex marriage still remains to be a problem around the world today and it is one of the many cases of inequalities that needs to be dealt with. Many countries and many states within the United States still have policies prohibiting same sex marriage. Through her novel Creating Capabilities: