Whether You're Straight or Gay

Since the beginning of 2009, two states have passed bills or upheld court rulings legalizing gay marriage. In the United States, there are currently six states that have passed legislation allowing some form of same-sex marriage. Twenty-eight states have passed laws specifically prohibiting gay marriage. On the other hand, in the European Union there are fourteen countries that allow some type of civil union or same-sex marriage out of the twenty-seven total. While equal rights activists support the growing trend of legalization, there are still many conservative or religious groups that adamantly oppose the idea of same-sex marriage. Their arguments stem from the idea that marriage is defined as between one man and one woman. However, does the government really have the right to decide what marriage is defined as (in regards to human race, at least)?

Gay equal rights took center stage in 2004 when President Bush announced his support for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man in a woman. Gay rights was not a major issue in the 2008 presidential election, taking the back seat to more pressing issues such as the economy and the handling of the Iraq war. However, moving into 2009, gay rights once again rose to the surface in April when Iowa upheld citizens’ right to same-sex marriage. A state court rejected the state law that banned gay marriage to begin with. New Hampshire recently followed suit by passing a same-sex marriage bill in June. Most recently, the state of Massachusetts sued the U.S. government stating that DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act), passed in 1996, violated equal rights. The state of Massachusetts claims that the act prevents the state from “[defining] and [regulating] marriage as it sees fit.” The state also declares that this act requires the state to violate citizen’s rights by treating homosexual couples differently than heterosexual couples in matters such as Medicaid.

Overall, the allocations against gay marriage are numbered. However, the truth of the matter is that by preventing gay marriage, the government is infringing on the rights of citizens. Just as stated in the law suit against the U.S. government by Massachusetts, Congress “overstepped its authority” creating an “overreaching and discriminatory federal law.” Although the act was passed thirteen years ago, there is a reason that now it is being challenged. As the rest of the world changes to give rights to homosexuals, the U.S. will eventually have to change with it. Whether conservatives and religious groups like it or not, it is the right of an individual to be able to share their legal rights with whomever they choose. Same-sex couples need to be able to have joint taxes, property, and the like. Without these rights, heterosexual couples are treated better than homosexual couples from a government standpoint. As in the past, the government must change its laws to allow for equality amongst all its citizens, straight or gay.