Same-Sex Marriages/Civil Unions

The issue of marriage benefits is one of the most important reasons why same-sex marriages

should be legalized. A same-sex couple can be together for five decades, yet if one of the couple becomes sick, the partner may not be able to visit the other in the hospital, or inform the hospital staff of the other’s medical wishes. A heterosexual couple that is legally recognized has the right to involve it’s spouse and children into its health plan, adopt a child, have bereavement leave when a spouse dies, and even receive tax breaks for no other reason that just being legally recognized. Without the legal right to marry, same-sex couples do not have rights like family health coverage, medical and bereavement leave, child custody, tax benefits and pension plans. The basic question is whether any couple who has met, fallen in love, decided to form a committed permanent relationship, and applied to the state for a marriage license should be: routinely given a marriage license, and should subsequently be granted the 500 or so benefits and responsibilities given by the state government to all married couples; or whether such benefits and responsibilities should be restricted to opposite-sex couples as they are now; or whether a parallel system of civil unions should be created with all of the advantages and obligations of marriage, but called by a different name. In this way, a man and a woman could be married, two men could be civil unionized, and two women could be civil unionized. All would receive equivalent recognition by the state.

Many moral and legal issues come with the controversial subject of same-sex marriages and civil unions and do add weight to the argument. The decision to marry another person, regardless of sex, is a personal decision and should not involve anyone but the two faced with the decision. Morally you should have the right to be able to marry whom so ever you choose, providing neither they nor you are currently engaged in another marriage. Nothing states in the Constitution says otherwise. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled marriage a fundamental right under the Constitution. Also found under Article IV. Section 2 Clause 1, the Constitution states, that, “The citizens of each state shall b

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