Gay MarriageGay marriage is one of the most controversial issues facing this country. Many argue that it violates religious principles and morals; however, this should not be the justification for prohibiting same sex marriage. From a legal standpoint there is no justification in the Constitution for a law that would prohibit all unions except between a man and a woman. However, there is a federal law, the DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act), which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. There are financial, economic and other special rights granted to married couples, however these rights are denied to gay marriages.Marriage is the highest expression of love between two people, how can we allow the government to decide whom we can and cannot love? If we were to ban same sex marriage we would be taking a huge step backward in civil rights. Not allowing two men or two women to marry is one step above not allowing interracial marriage. In the early 20th century a black man marrying a white woman was unnatural and serious crime. In the early 21st century a man marrying another man is still a crime in most places and is considered to be an immoral and unnatural act. Hartinger in his essay A Case For Gay Marriage asserts that, "The question is whether, in the absence of a compelling state interest, the state should be allowed to supercede the individual's choice" (Hartinger 527). And over time it became accepted for different races to marry and the idea that "he [God] separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix" passed out of acceptance (Hartinger 527). History tells us that society evolves and to try and stop its evolution is more of a crime than the so-called offenses described by the intervening laws. To impose ones religious or ethical beliefs upon another group of people is wrong. Especially when it does not harm anyone and it concerns the highest level of intimacy. President Bush is two-faced on the issue of gay marriage, and as a result he is causing more harm than good. In a recent interview President Bush asserted that, "'marriage is between a man and a woman, and I think we ought to codify that one way or another'" (Bush). It is because of this closed mindedness that the nation is having trouble moving forward. The most state governments have taken steps in not recognizing gay marriage, however, some have taken this a step further by attempting to dictate what people can and cannot do in the bedroom.In a recent Supreme Court case a Texas law that prohibited individuals of the same gender from having sex. The law stated that, "A person commits an offense if he engages in deviate sexual intercourse with another individual of the same sex." (John). Two men were found by a police officer having sex; they were arrested charged and convicted. They appealed their case on the grounds that they were denied Equal Protection as granted by the 14th Amendment. Their appeal to the Texas Supreme Court was denied and...
