Legalization of Same Sex Unions Spreading
Maria Del Russo
Issue date: 4/22/09 Section: Op Ed
On April 5th, Vermont legislators overrode Governor Jim Douglas' veto of a bill, giving same-sex couples statewide the right to marry. After a similar victory on April 3rd in Iowa, many believe that it is only a matter of time before other states begin legalizing same-sex unions. So why not jump on the bandwagon, New York?
The issue of whether or not same-sex couples should be allowed to marry has been a heated topic of debate for years. The victory in Vermont was monumental because it was the first time a state legalized same-sex marriage through legislation, not a court ruling. These back-to-back victories in Vermont and Iowa are likely to spark new legislation in other states, as there have been at least nine other legislators who are considering the issue of same-sex marriage. New Jersey, Maine New Hampshire and New York are some of the states that are considering these measures.
New York should definitely follow through with legislation to legalize gay marriage. According to the 2000 Census, New York has the second most same-sex couple households in the country; second only to California. New York City is home to the oldest Gay Pride Parade in the nation. With such a large LGBT (lesbian, day, bisexual, transgender) community, it seems only natural for New York to legalize same-sex marriages.
However, there is immensely strong opposition to the legalization of same-sex marriage. The biggest resistance comes from people who quote their religious beliefs. Many religions believe that homosexuality is a sin and because of this, same-sex marriages should never be legal. But what about the idea of the separation of church and state?
While the term "separation of church and state" never actually appears in the Constitution, it does claim that congress is not allowed to pass a law that caters to a certain religion. There's the separation. The problem is, for some reason, religious-types seem to have a deep interest in running for office, so we end up with a bunch of conservatives running our legal system. If government officials want to act fairly and justly in passing legislation, they should be able to separate their religious views from what is best for the country.
There is no reason as to why same-sex marriage should not be legalized in New York. Homosexuals are not trying to recruit anyone to their way of life. They are just looking for the same rights as heterosexual couples. If New York allows same-sex couples to marry, we would be setting a president for the rest of the country to become more open-minded and accepting.
The issue of whether or not same-sex couples should be allowed to marry has been a heated topic of debate for years. The victory in Vermont was monumental because it was the first time a state legalized same-sex marriage through legislation, not a court ruling. These back-to-back victories in Vermont and Iowa are likely to spark new legislation in other states, as there have been at least nine other legislators who are considering the issue of same-sex marriage. New Jersey, Maine New Hampshire and New York are some of the states that are considering these measures.
New York should definitely follow through with legislation to legalize gay marriage. According to the 2000 Census, New York has the second most same-sex couple households in the country; second only to California. New York City is home to the oldest Gay Pride Parade in the nation. With such a large LGBT (lesbian, day, bisexual, transgender) community, it seems only natural for New York to legalize same-sex marriages.
However, there is immensely strong opposition to the legalization of same-sex marriage. The biggest resistance comes from people who quote their religious beliefs. Many religions believe that homosexuality is a sin and because of this, same-sex marriages should never be legal. But what about the idea of the separation of church and state?
While the term "separation of church and state" never actually appears in the Constitution, it does claim that congress is not allowed to pass a law that caters to a certain religion. There's the separation. The problem is, for some reason, religious-types seem to have a deep interest in running for office, so we end up with a bunch of conservatives running our legal system. If government officials want to act fairly and justly in passing legislation, they should be able to separate their religious views from what is best for the country.
There is no reason as to why same-sex marriage should not be legalized in New York. Homosexuals are not trying to recruit anyone to their way of life. They are just looking for the same rights as heterosexual couples. If New York allows same-sex couples to marry, we would be setting a president for the rest of the country to become more open-minded and accepting.