Same sex marriages
	Same sex marriages can be defined as a legal relationship between two people of the same sex that enjoy the same legal status as a marriage between two people of the opposite sex.  There are very few states, countries or provinces that permit these marriages.  However these past few years there have been great accomplishments and victories for the gay community.  In the case of Baker v. Vermont, on December 20, 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court decided that under the Vermont Constitution, same sex couples had the right to benefits and responsibilities of marriage as same sex couples.  In April 11, 2000, a two part amendment to the Vermont Constitution was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.  These amendments created a means for the legislature to set up distinctly separate domestic partnerships for couples of the same sex.  However, four years earlier, President Clinton signed the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996, which defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The DOMA, in effect, exempted other states from the Constitutional requirement that the marriage be recognized across state lines, therefore it is unlikely that any states other then Vermont, Hawaii and Alaska (of whom the courts allowed domestic partnerships) would recognize a civil union unless by order of the courts.  Several states since 1996 have passed “mini-domas” that prohibit same sex marriages, and as of June 20, 2000, 32 states have passed anti-gay, anti-marriage laws.
	All this aside, what are the reasons for or against gay marriages here in America.  One of the main arguments for gay rights, is that the public must presume that homosexuals are “just like everyone else,” therefore entitled to all rights and benefits that straight couples are entitled.  A person or persons “sexual orientation” should not be a factor in deciding what they can or can not do.  All homosexuals have rights that can not be infringed because of sexual preference and to do so should be considered a discriminatory act.  The majority of America disagrees, however. 
	The majority of America still has problems dealing with homosexuality.  Many disagree with the “just like everyone else” idea, and say that it should not be considered, on the basis that homosexuality is “unnatural and unwholesome.”  Even Vermont residents have had some difficulty with the new law, and one resident has been noted as saying, “As a married man, it offends me to think that  two women could have the same rights as me and my wife.”  A poll taken after the February law was passed revealed that the state was almost equally divided in it’s feelings with 52% opposition, and 48% supporting it.  However there is one major factor in peoples opposition.
	Religion has always been a big influence on people’s  lives.  The morals and principles a person grown up with, have a lot, if not all to do with their religious values and teachings.  In the Bible it says, First Corinthians 6:9-10 “Neither the sexual immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes nor sexual offenders, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkard nor slanderous nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”  So a person who grows up with these beliefs of course is uncomfortable with the thought of same sex marriages.  It is also a tragedy, if a person begins to feel a tug of sexual awareness for the same sex.  They, in some cases, feel ashamed of how they feel and often times deny who they are.  Although many gay people are of some Christian background, and still consider themselves Christians, the Christian community as a whole, does not acknowledge homosexuals as part of the church.  In the absence of religious support, gays and lesbians have band together and established their own churches that accept everyone, and promote love and understanding.  Many gay and lesbian churches try to take firm roles in the gay community.  However, the Vatican has been against all gay rights legislation, and has not offered it’s support to gay priests, and it’s feelings towards gay churches are not promising to those who worship in them.
	A good reason to allow same sex marriages nationally, is the inheritance benefits given to married couples.  When a person, either male or female, loses their partner, usually, that persons family is entitled to sell and take anything of value that once belonged to the deceased, whether it was given to the surviving partner or not.  This has been done for many years, and if same sex partnerships would recognized, then inheritance and custody (when applicable) battles would be resolved without burdening the survivor.
	Custody, as referred to before, is another big issue.  In a few cases, homosexual couples have children through artificial insemination, surrogacy, or other methods.  Like any relationship, the two individuals could break up or one partner dies.  In either case, the person not biologically linked may want custodial rights to the child on the basis that he/she helped raise the child, and therefore is the equivalent of a parent.  Most of the time, these proceedings are long and difficult to win.  In cases where the partner is deceased, the family that has biological ties to the child will take custodial rights and may deny visitation rights to the surviving partner. This may not be a problem for long, as an article published in The Advocate, a national gay and lesbian news magazine, suggests that “Gay and lesbian couples could be giving birth to babies genetically related to both same-sex parents if current research pans out.”  Which would men, homosexual couples would not longer need a member of the opposite sex to help in giving them a child. Two males, or two females could create a child with modern science.  There is much opposition to this method, however.
	Many people argue that children should not be exposed to gay parents, that it has psychological effects on a growing child’s mind. This is not necessarily true.  A boy or a girl that is raised by same sex parents does not in all instances guarantee that they themselves will be gay, or that they will feel uncomfortable in such a setting.  There has been nothing proven that children are threatened by the teachings and parentings of gay couples.  Of course people still fear the child’s mental health within an environment that is “not normal or strange,” which is why, now in the USA, gay couples in general, are not allowed to adopt.
	In world wide news, in the year 2001, “the Netherlands became the first country in history to allow lesbian and gay couples full marriage rights.  They are allowed to adopt, inherit, immigrate, hospital visitation without the permission of the partner’s family, government pension, and are allowed to make medical decisions.  Here in the USA, only Vermont, California, and Hawaii allow certain rights, although none allow immigration.  So the question that remains is, what happens next, and will the United States finally acknowledge gay marriages as a nation?
		Some say that it is unsafe for the nation to allow same sex marriages.  To do so would pave the way for making such things as multiple and incestuous marriages legal.  It would corrupt the way of life and add more pressure on the  government to pass laws and amendments that would “demoralize” our way of life.  It is another excuse to allow the sick minded and evil spirited members of society to have just cause to demand their own rights, no matter how damaging or unheard of they may be. 
	It is not unusual to think of homosexuality in today’s society, but I doubt many think to the past.  In history, homosexuality has been a part of life, as far back as the ancient pagans who participated in their religious practices.  It has been a part of the beginning civilizations, and throughout the millennia, hundreds maybe even thousands, of famous or influential rulers, or people in history had a tie, or knew of homosexuality.  So it is safe to say, that it has been a long time coming, when gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgenders receive rights that all people have, but are denied because of their personal lifestyle.  Within the new generation, is a hope that we will begin to accept people as they are, and when the next generation is born, we will teach them that all people are the same, it’s just the choices we make, choices only we can make, that make up our differences.  Awareness and respect of a persons habits or lifestyles will be the first step in truly understanding and becoming on nation.  
	As a friend and relative of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals, I feel that same-sex marriages should be allowed, because I believe that if I can get married to someone I love, then they should have the exact same rights as I do.  Many don’t agree with me, but as Derrius Sims says, “It’s their own personal opinion, and I can’t change that, nor can they change me, because I am gay, and proud of it.”  

(Bibliography) Works Cited
 
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Dignity USA. 2002. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics. 10 Apr. 2002 <http://dignityusa.org/index.html>. 
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