Gay Rights
Wilson 1
Tatiana Wilson
Mrs. Woolley
AP NSL
Pd.3
26 October 2013
Gay Marriage Rights Although some states in the U.S. have allowed gay marriage, many homosexual couples are not given the same legal and economic marital benefits as a heterosexual marriage and are constantly discriminated against. If a same-sex couple is in a domestic partnership or a civil union (a ceremony celebrating the affirmation of a partnership shared by a same-sex couple or a couple who choose not to marry) none of the marriage benefits under federal law will apply to them even if the state allows them to heterosexual couples which has caused controversial outrage throughout the U.S. As for same-sex marriages, the U.S. Office of Personnel and Management look to where the marriage was performed to determine whether or not they are eligible for benefits. For example, a same-sex couple may not file joint federal income tax returns with their partner, file for joint adoption, insurance coverage, and Social Security death benefits. Liberals believe that prohibiting same-sex marriages from marrying denies them of their civil rights, however, conservatives believe allowing the same benefits to same-sex couples would offend and violate the religious beliefs of Christians, Muslims, Jews, and others who believe marriage is between a man and a woman.
Wilson 2 Barrack Obama, our current president, has stated, “I believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. I’ve always believed that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated equally and fairly . . . what I’ve come to realize for loving same-sex couples, the denial of marriage equality means that, in their eyes and the eyes of their children, they are still considered less than full citizens. Where states enact same-sex marriage no federal act should invalidate them. I am not willing to have the state deny American citizens a civil union that confers equivalent rights no such basic matters as hospital visitation or health insurance
Tatiana Wilson
Mrs. Woolley
AP NSL
Pd.3
26 October 2013
Gay Marriage Rights Although some states in the U.S. have allowed gay marriage, many homosexual couples are not given the same legal and economic marital benefits as a heterosexual marriage and are constantly discriminated against. If a same-sex couple is in a domestic partnership or a civil union (a ceremony celebrating the affirmation of a partnership shared by a same-sex couple or a couple who choose not to marry) none of the marriage benefits under federal law will apply to them even if the state allows them to heterosexual couples which has caused controversial outrage throughout the U.S. As for same-sex marriages, the U.S. Office of Personnel and Management look to where the marriage was performed to determine whether or not they are eligible for benefits. For example, a same-sex couple may not file joint federal income tax returns with their partner, file for joint adoption, insurance coverage, and Social Security death benefits. Liberals believe that prohibiting same-sex marriages from marrying denies them of their civil rights, however, conservatives believe allowing the same benefits to same-sex couples would offend and violate the religious beliefs of Christians, Muslims, Jews, and others who believe marriage is between a man and a woman.
Wilson 2 Barrack Obama, our current president, has stated, “I believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. I’ve always believed that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated equally and fairly . . . what I’ve come to realize for loving same-sex couples, the denial of marriage equality means that, in their eyes and the eyes of their children, they are still considered less than full citizens. Where states enact same-sex marriage no federal act should invalidate them. I am not willing to have the state deny American citizens a civil union that confers equivalent rights no such basic matters as hospital visitation or health insurance
Cited: “Marriage Rights and Benefits”. Nolo. 2013. Web. 27 Oct. 2013. Wilson 4 Paul Ryan Says Gay Marriage Is Not An ‘American’ or ‘Universal Human Value’. TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. 2013. Web. 27 Oct. 2013.