According to the 14th amendment, “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Does this law not say that a state shall not deny a person the rights that they have as a resident of the United States? Doesn't everyone in the United States have the right to marry? I guess not. Some states make it illegal for same-sex couple to marry or to have a civil union. I do not see that as constitutional.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Editorial
Why Same-Sex Marriage Should Become Legal
April 11, 2011
Ryan Allen
There is a difference between marriage and a civil union. In a marriage, the government fully recognizes your relationship with your spouse. For most of the U.S. though, it is only the heterosexual marriages that are nationally recognized. For many same-sex couples, a civil union is as close as they’ll get to being married. They will not experience the same rights as their married heterosexual counterparts. They will not be recognized as a spouse in a medical emergency. If their spouse passes away, they will their spouse’s families’ permission if they can keep certain possessions. They may not be allowed to adopt. There are many reasons why same-sex couples should be allowed to marry and have the same rights as married heterosexual couples. I will talk about why it is legally right to allow same-sex marriage, why people are advocating for same-sex marriage and equality and how people in the community feel about same-sex marriage. After reading this, I hope you will want to advocate for equal rights for same-sex couples.
There are many people who believe same-sex couples are sinful, I ask you, how so? These people are no different from you or me. Doesn’t the Declaration of Independence say that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” To me this means that we all have the right to happiness, that what ever make you happy in life, is what you should get. That we have a right to choose how we want to live and that we have the liberty to live it any way we want. When it says that all men are created equal, is it really saying that only some people are born equal, while others not included? If we stop for a minute and look at same-sex couples and think, “Are they really that different from us? Don’t they want what I want? A family, a nice job and just to be happy?”, we will find out that God did create everyone equal.
“No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” says the 14th Amendment. This amendment is saying that everyone is should be considered equal. That a state cannot enforce a law that deprives a right of a citizen. So when a state makes a law saying that same-sex marriage is illegal, is that legal in itself? Aren’t they denying the right of life and liberty? When people create laws prohibiting the rights of a group of citizens, that is discrimination and unconstitutional. Same-sex couples should not be discriminated against, and they should be an equal part of our society.
For people who believe in same-sex marriage, it is a better change for society. When I interviewed my pastor, she talked how before Vermont decided to allow civil unions, we as a community had to change. We could not go to sleep one night, then the next morning be able to accept same-sex couples. By changing as a community, we become more accepting for people ideas and beliefs. People against same-sex marriage believe that by allowing same-sex marriage, we change the whole point of marriage, having children. When a man and a woman have a kid, they help the evolution of the human race. By allowing same-sex couples, you stop evolution. I do not believe this to be true. Yes, same-sex couples do not have a biological child from both their DNA, but they are giving a life the support it needs to grow and be part of the gene pool.
We had three panelists come in on Monday the 15th of March. One of the panelists, David Zuckerman talked about how his daughter has a friend who has two moms, and for his daughter, it is just a normal part of life. For my generation, same-sex marriage is not that weird, it is just a normal part of life. When another panelist, Tom Little, was talking about when they were deciding if civil unions should become legalized in Vermont, he talked to his children who were in their late teens. They thought it was no big deal to allow same-sex couples to have civil unions. For many people in our community, same-sex couples are just a regular part of our world.
Same-sex couples are wonderful people, they are just normal people trying to live their lives. They do not bring society down, they help change it so that it becomes a more accepting place. I believe that peoples views on same-sex marriage are changing for the better. We are helping a group of people get more rights that they deserve.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Issue Explanation
Today the United States is not questioning if African Americans should have rights, but whether same-sex couples should have the same rights as heterosexual married couples. There are two sides to this debate, people who are pro gay, including gays and people who are against gay marriage or gay in general.
There are many reasons why people are against someone's chose of being gay. Whether it be for religion or for personal reasons, people are against being gay. In the Bible, it says that marriage shall be between a man and a woman, not a man and a man or a woman and a woman. Because some churches preach the message that gay marriage is wrong. they will take that message with them into their lives. People also fear that with same-sex marriage legal, their society will change.
People who favor same-sex marriage believe it is everybody's right to the pursuit of happiness. If some one loves some one else who is the same sex, what should stop them from being happy? Also, same-sex couples make a more diverse community.
In most of America, gay marriage is not recognized legally. A Civil Union is a union of a same-sex couple. While it is not a marriage, it does have many of the rights that a marriage has. Same-sex marriage is recognized in Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire.
Current Interpretation
As of right now, there are five states that allow same-sex marriage; Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Iowa and Vermont. The District of Columbia also allows same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage was legal in both California and Maine, but got overturned by voters. California had same-sex marriage from 2004-2008 when it was voted again by the people. Proposition 8 would make it so that only heterosexual couples could marry in California. The bill was passed, and same-sex marriage was illegal in California, leaving people who had same-sex marriages in California in a weird limbo. Some states allow Civil Unions or Domestic Partnerships, which has many of the same rights as a married heterosexual couple. Other states just ban it all together.
http://www.frcblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Existing-State-Law-Homosexual-Relationships.gif
"Same-Sex Marriage." Current Issues: Macmillian Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 25 Mar. 2011.
Court Cases
Baker Vs. State
Three same-sex couples sued three different towns for the right to marry. Each couple had been in a commited relationship for a reasonable time, ranging from 4 years to 25. Two of the couples raised children. The towns were Milton, South Burlington and Shelburne. Only one of the towns took on the case. When the case was finished, the legislature decided that it same-sex unions would be allowed because under the Common Benefits Clause it states that the government should make laws for the overall good of the people.
Proposition 8
On May 18th, 2008, same-sex marriage was legalized in California under the idea that marriage is a fundamental right under Article 1, Section 7 of the California Constitution. Proposition 8 was introduced as a way to reverse the court ruling of 4-3. It would reinstate the words "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." This would make the people who were married legally in California be in a weird limbo state, like Inception. The goal of Proposition 8 was to return the idea of marriage to between a man and woman, to overturn the Supreme Court decision and to protect our children from being taught that same-sex marriage is the same as traditional marriage. People in favor of Proposition 8 supported the ballot. People who were against the proposition thought that it discriminated against one group of people, that Proposition 8 teaches children that God did not create every one equal and that it doesn't matter if your parents are straight or gay, they will have a stable family. Proposition 8 was passed with 52% of the voters voting yes.
http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/should-california-pass-prop-8
Click here for one of Digital Army's videos on voting yes on the ballot.
Click here for one of Digital Army's videos on voting yes on the ballot.
Panel Day Reflection
On Monday, March 28th, we had three panelists come in from the community. One came from a religious perspective, Marry Anne Hegemen, one came from a legal stand point, Tom Little and the other came from a personal and political view, David Zuckerman.
Mary Anne Hegemen had a religious view on same-sex marriage. She believes that god created woman for man, not man for man. I did not agree with her views, so I did not enjoy listening to her. I want to go on terrible rants about her and her religious views, but I won't.
David Zuckerman was a state representative for 14 years. He came from a personal and legal stance. I liked him the most because he had a s Snapple and some pretzels from the cafeteria. He defiantly supported same-sex marriage. He told us about his daughter who has a friend who has two moms. For his daughter, having a friend who has two moms or two dads is just normal.
Tom Little came from a legal stance on same-sex marriage. He supports it. I cool thing I remember him talking about was that when they were voting on same-sex marriage, he was talking with his kids about it, and they just thought that it was no big deal. If someone loves someone of the same-sex, they should be allowed to marry them.
Stake Holders
People against same-sex marriage believes that changing the meaning of marriage is more than just changing a law, it is the changing the idea of marriage. People against same-sex marriage believe that marriage's main purpose is to have children. When they have children, they help evolve the human species. Also, children should have their parents be the ones who brought them into this world, not just a dad or a mom who is in a same-sex relationship. They believe that children have the right to know who their biological parents are. Their main belief is that by changing the meaning of marriage, you take away the right
People who are in support of same-sex marriage believe that marriage is a right to everybody, and that means everybody. If we take away that right from some people, wouldn't that be discriminating against a group of people? Should we discriminating against two people because they love each other? Same-sex couples do not have the same rights as heterosexual couples, and for many people, that seems unfair. Why can't two people in a committed relationship not be allowed to have the same rights as people who are in a heterosexual marriage? For many people, they see same-sex rights as a no brainier, they should have the same rights as everyone else.
My Interview
I interviewed my pastor Joan. I interviewed her knowing that she supported same-sex marriage, and that our church is welcoming to everybody, no matter what their race or sexual orientation is.
- I first asked if when a community allows same-sex marriage, does it change that community? She told me that she believes that before people can allow same-sex marriage, the community had to first go through changes that would make it a more accepting place. That is true for most things, the school tells the students that they are going to have the school painted by preschoolers that summer, so that way when the students come back next year, they aren't in total shock.
- The next question I asked was about God and the bible, how their word is interpreted. She told me that she believed in an all inclusive God. She then went on to tell me about how the bible has many misunderstandings. Things like slavery and a woman committing adultery have a very different perspective today then they did 1,000 years ago. She also told me that in the book of Leviticus, the passage that says a man shall not sleep with another man is near the part where it says you shall not eat shrimp. I thought this was interesting because it showed how people have selective reading.
- We went on to talk how different churches interpreted the bible differently. She told me that Catholics fallow the Pope infallible. For example, if the Pope says that same-sex marriage is a sin, than that is what the people will be preached about. Protestants on the other hand, have people from their community talk about what is acceptable. That the people have a voice in interpreting the bible.
- The next thing we talked about was the role of religion in marriage. She talked about how marriage is more of a legal thing than it is religious. That it shouldn't be up to the church to decide who can and cannot get married. When people get married, they are saying that God is part of their life.
- My last question was if she thought that same-sex couples affected the church community. Her answer was that they affect the community as much as any other family, a single person, divorced. traditional family and same-sex families. When we accept people, we let God into our lives.
So as interviews go, mine was pretty easy. I have a good relationship with my pastor, and it was easy to talk to her. I think the hardest thing was to keep up with her talking for taking notes. My favorite part of the interview was learning about that thou shall not eat shrimp, is near a man shall not lay with another man. This was a fun interview, because Joan is a fun person to talk to and she has good insight into things.
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