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The simple answer is that the politicians will tell you that it is "the will" of their constituents and they are passing the legislation in response to popular demand of the voters. HOWEVER, it is much more complicated than that and this is an an opinion and discussion question that cannot truly be given a definitive answer on this venue. Suggest you might want to pose this question on a chat-room, blog, or other "discussion-type" location. People who favor legislation that allows same sex marriage see it as a civil rights issue: equal rights under the law. Marriage in the United States and elsewhere bestows a multitude of civil rights upon the happy couple. Advocates believe that same sex couples in a committed relationship should have available to them the means to form a legal civil union that bestows those same rights.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoGay and lesbian couples want to marry the person they love, make a lifetime commitment, provide stability and protect their families. Attempts in the past to create marriage-like legal unions have failed to provide the same protections as legal marriage. Marriage provides a platform on which to build a committed relationship that can be, and must be, recognized by the community. Legalizing same sex marriage is a way to extend civil rights to all our citizens. Marriage bestows a host of legal rights that are not available to committed partners otherwise.
As with any marriage, a gay or lesbian marriage affects no other marriage but their own. It harms no one. Gay and lesbian couples share the same values as heterosexual couples. For all these reasons and the reality that thinking people are finding it harder and harder to justify discrimination against committed same sex couples, same sex marriage is rapidly becoming a norm in the United States.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoSame-sex marriage is legal in the United States because the United States Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoBecause the Supreme Court voted 5-4 that the ban against same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.
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What is the effect on states where same-sex marriage has not been legalized?
States that have not legalized same-sex marriage are affected by the legalization of same-sex marriage in nearby states as follows:Non-marriage states loose tourism dollars to marriage states.Politicians in non-marriage states are subjected to increased pressure to address the issue (think of Rhode Island being the only state in New England that has not legalized same-sex marriage).Some gays and lesbians choose to move from non-marriage states to marriage states. These are usually the most wealthy, best educated young people who have the most to contribute to a state's economy over the course of their lives. Poor, uneducated older folk stay put.Businesses complain that a patchwork of domestic partner and civil union laws make managing Human Resources more difficult and legalizing same-sex marriage would ease this burden.Businesses claim that the legalization of same-sex marriage makes it easier for them to attract and retain highly qualified workers. One can assume that banning marriage has the opposite effect.
Are same-sex civil unions legal in the United States?
Yes. The following states permit registration of civil unions:New Jersey;Hawaii;Illinois;Delaware;Rhode Island; and,Colorado (effective May 1, 2013)In addition, many of the states that have legalized same-sex marriage recognize a civil union from one of these states as being a legal marriage.
What is the definition of 'marriage' when same-sex marriage is legalized?
I believe the definition of "marriage" would stay as it is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary: (1) : the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2) : the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage
Why did Congress stay that gay people already had equal rights prior to gay marriage being legalized?
Prior to (and during) the gay marriage movement, which began in full force after 2000, many people in Congress believed that gay people could form private legal contracts and get the same benefits of marriage, which was not true.
When will same-sex marriage be legalized?
The answer to that question depends upon where you live. In many places in the world it has already been legalized, although in most places it has not. The rate at which new places legalize it seems to be accelerating, with 2013 being the top year so far. The truth is that same-sex marriage is probably inevitable in all of North America, most of South America, and most of Europe and Oceania. There is almost no progress being made in Asia and Africa.
When will slifer be legal?
It is currently uncertain when slifer will be legalized. However, Obelisk The Tormentor and The Winged Dragon of Ra have legalized versions, so the chances of Slifer being legalized as well are good.
How do you stop same-sex marriage from being legalized?
You vote for anti-gay candidates. You vote in favor of anti-gay referenda. By doing these things, you may be able to temporarily obstruct the right of gays and lesbians to marry.
How many states have legalized casinos?
20 states have legalized commercial casino gambling, that being non-Indian owned casinos: Colorado Delaware Illinois Indiana Iowa Louisiana Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Mississippi Missouri Nevada New Jersey North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Dakota Washington West Virginia Two US territories have also legalized commercial casino gambling: Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands
Will same-sex marriage be legalized in Botswana?
There no reason to believe that it will not, as the arc of history appears to be moving in that direction. However, Botswana is likely to be one of the last places it will be legalized. One important obstacle to overcome first is the criminalization of homosexuality in that country.
What year was same-sex marriage first legalized in the United States?
Same-sex marriage became legal in all of Canada on July 20, 2005, when the "Civil Marriage Act" took effect. Before that, several provinces began legalizing same-sex marriage on their own, the first being Ontario on June 10, 2003.Other provinces legalized gay marriage on the following dates:BC, 8 July 2003Quebec, 16 March 2004Yukon Territories, 16 July 2004Manitoba, 16 September 2004Nova Scotia, 24 September 2004Saskatchewan, 5 November 2004Newfoundland and Labrador, 21 December 2004New Brunswick 23 June 2005In 2003, the Ontario Court of Appeals upheld a lower court verdict making same-sex marriage legal in Ontario. Ontario was the first jurisdiction in North America to have same-sex marriage legalized, leading the way for the eventual passage of the federal Civil Marriage Act (defining marriage as a "union of two persons") in 2005 making Canada the fourth country in the world and the first in the Americas to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide.
What is being done about same-sex marriage?
Progress is being made with more and more countries and states legalizing same-sex marriage, and greater and greater percentages of the populace approving its legalization, and more and more judges ruling in favor of it.
How many states legalized gambling?
20 states have legalized commercial casino gambling, that being non-Indian owned casinos: Colorado Delaware Illinois Indiana Iowa Louisiana Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Mississippi Missouri Nevada New Jersey North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Dakota Washington West Virginia Two US territories have also legalized commercial casino gambling: Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands
