Same-sex Marriage

6 Pages 1455 Words

Same Sex Marriage… Agree or disagree? The controversial subject of legalizing same sex marriage in each of the states is getting more and more attention in the legislature. While each state has it’s own determination on whether or not same sex marriages should be recognized, many states do not view a same sex marriage as a legal union. The unanswered question is weather same sex marriage should or should not be legalized.
Jonathan Rauch, journalist for The Atlantic, believes that banning same-sex marriage is discriminatory. Marriage is a basic human right and should not be denied to any individual. At various times in U.S. history, other minorities have been prevented from marrying African-Americans for example. Interracial marriage was also legally prohibited in various states until the Supreme Court ruled such bans unconstitutional in 1967. (U.S News) Jonathan’s farther examination of marriage discrimination concluded that banning gay marriage cut same-sex couples off from a host of tangible advantages such as; health and retirement benefits, life insurance, income tax, estate tax, wrongful-death benefits, and spousal, dependent support.
On the other hand, marriage benefits cost money. If same-sex marriage were legal gay couples would become eligible for federal benefits and tax breaks. Placing an additional burden on an already strained federal treasury. Taxpayers would end up subsidizing a lifestyle of which many disapprove. To address that issue, the bill introduced on Capitol Hill by Representative Bob Barr, a Georgia Republican, would allow states to ban gay marriage and make it clear that for federal purposes marriage means married heterosexual union. But supporters say that taxpayers benefit from same sex marriages. It puts legal force behind the promise to care for a loved one “in sickness and in health.” Homosexual partners bound by law to care for one another are less likely to ask for government assistance when...