Same Sex Marriages

So, why can homosexuals not practice their own right for privacy? Why can they not get married and have a legal union according to the laws of the constitution? By not legalizing same-sex couple's marriages we as a society are withholding the constitutional rights that every American citizen is "guaranteed" from birth, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. During the nineties, the states of Hawaii recognized that all couples, whether gay or straight were entitled to the basic constitutional rights. In their Constitution, Article I, Section 5, reads: "No persons shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor be denied the equal protection of the laws, not be denied the enjoyment of the person's civil rights or be discriminated against in the exercise thereof because of race, religion, sex or ancestry." Unfortunately without the legalization of same-sex marriages, partners are denied rights that affect their lives in regard to matters that are essential. Gay men and women are citizens, entitled, like everyone else, to equal protection. Not any special rights, but the ones created in The Declaration of Independence. The unalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness are guaranteed to the citizens of the United States. Civil liberties that have always been inherent in the lives of heterosexual couples have always been forfeited by our government for couples of the same gender. The denial of legally raising children, and receiving health benefits are aspects of the on going issues of committed gay and lesbian couples who desire the same civil liberties that mainstream married couples obtain. Many people in our society do not believe that homosexual couples are entitled to raise children because it is immoral and will have a negative impact on their children.
             Gay couples are capable of loving children as straight couples.