Marriage Inequality: The Right to Marry

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Marriage is defined as “(1) the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2): the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage ("Marriage," 2003, p. 659). Despite the latter definition’s addition to dictionaries in the past decade, this definition of marriage is still debated. Being a touchy subject in both politics and religion today, it’s been very hard to come to an agreement. There are two main sides to this argument regarding the nature of marriage. Some stick to their conservative and/or religious beliefs, while others state that marriage is a civil right (Kim, 2011, p. [Page 38]). However, same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in North Carolina and thirty-two other states at this time ("Defining Marriage: State Defense," 2014). Homosexuals have been denied many of the rights given to those that are heterosexual. Same-sex couples are not able to receive other benefits as a heterosexual couple would. The lack of benefits is extremely unequal and unfair. This unacceptable treatment is unconstitutional and should not continue. Great progress has been made over the years in the LGBT community. Until a few decades ago, there were no laws protecting any citizens from hate crimes. Years before, racial hate crimes were committed in during the civil rights movement. Victims could not be helped, whatsoever. Many years later, anti-LGBT hate crimes were still being committed and were still being overlooked. Investigators were unable to assist homosexual citizens and couples as they were not covered under federal law ("Hate Crimes Law," n.d.). October 7th, 1998, 22 y... ... middle of paper ... ...ober). Marriage Inequality: Same-Sex Relationships, Religious Exemptions, and the Production of Sexual Orientation Discrimination. California Law Review, pp. 1169-1238. Newton, D. E. (2010). Same-sex Marriage : A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood Publishing Group. Nussbaum, M. (2009). A Right to Marry? Same-sex Marriage and Constitutional Law. Retrieved March 25, 2014, from Dissent Magazine website: http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/a-right-to-marry-same-sex-marriage-and-constitutional-law An Overview of Federal Rights and Protections Granted to Married Couples. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2014, from Human Rights Campaign website: https://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/an-overview-of-federal-rights-and-protections-granted-to-married-couples Survivors Benefits [Pamphlet]. (2013). Social Security Administration. http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10084.pdf

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