Same Sex Marriage

1
Same Sex Marriage
Christopher Vassallo CIS55 Section 608
Same Sex Marriage should be federally legal
2
Introduction and Terms

• Civil Union a legal partnership agreement
  between two people
• introduced in the UK
• Purpose is to give rights close to those of
  married heterosexuals
• creates unequal status
• DOMA Defense of Marriage Act
• no state is required to recognize a law of any
  other state in regards to a same-sex marriage.
• defines the words marriage and spouse for
  Federal law purposes

3
Our Nations History

• Separate but Equal sound familiar?
• Blacks had to struggle through protest and much
  effort to be recognized as equal citizens
• Women did not have voting rights and womens
  suffrage was not granted until 1919
• Immigrants went through hard times as well and
  were often not even recognized as citizens at all
• Notice a pattern here?

4
Arguments NOT In Favor

• Homosexuality is not natural
• Homosexual parents will raise homosexual children
• Will lead to other inappropriate behavior such
  as an owner marrying his/her pet
• It will destroy and taint the name of marriage as
  a sacred institution
• Marriages are for procreation

5
Arguments In Favor

• Would allow same-sex couples to receive all the
  benefits of marriage, not just the limited ones
  of a Civil Union
• Recognized as equal
• Health benefits
• Economic benefits
• Does not hurt anyone in particular
• Form of Minority discrimination otherwise
• Allow same-sex couples to exercise the same
  rights as hetero-sexual couples to show and
  expand their love through marriage

6
Pew Research Center for the People the Press
Public Life Survey
7
Stand of the U.S. Government and Its Actions Today

• Pass a Constitutional Amendment banning Same-Sex
  Marriage
• Protect Marriage as union of man and woman as
  husband and wife
• Get ratification from all states
• State legislatures free to make own choice
  defining legal arrangements other than marriage

8
Foreign Nations

• America, if anything is behind
• Places like Northern Ireland, Holland, Belgium,
  are giving marriage rights to same-sex couples in
  one way or another

9
Same Sex Couples United

• Rosie ODonnell girlfriend Carpenter
• have four children together
• happy to be married
• offended by President Bushs call for amendment
  banning gay marriage

10
Same Sex Couples United

• Elton John David Furnish
• obtained a civil union the very first day passed
  in England and Whales
• 700 other couples joined that same day

11
References

• "12 Reasons." Gator Gay-Straight Alliance. 18
  Feb. 2004. 11 Nov. 2006
• lthttp//grove.ufl.edu/ggsa/gaymarriage.htmlgt.
• Bush, George W. "President Calls for
  Constitutional Amendment Protecting
• Marriage." The White House. Feb. 2004. 13 Nov.
  2006
• lthttp//www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/02/
  20040224-2.htmlgt.
• "Rosie O'Donnell Marries Girlfriend in San
  Francisco." CNN. 27 Feb. 2004. 12 Nov. 2006
  lthttp//www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/
  TV/02/26/odonnell.ap/gt.
• Schulman, Ronca. "Pew Research Center." Law and
  Civil Rights. 19 July 2006. 10 Nov. 2006
  lthttp//www.pollingreport.com/civil.htmgt.
• "Seinfeld." Brandon's Ultimate Sound Page. 12
  Apr. 1998. 13 Nov. 2006 lthttp//www.geocities.com
  /Hollywood/Hills/4211/seinfeld.htmlgt.
• "Stars Pack Elton 'Wedding' Party." BBC News. 22
  Dec. 2005. 09 Nov. 2006 lthttp//news.bbc.co.uk/2/
  hi/entertainment/4546670.stmgt.