by Michael Monarrez

Created on: August 11, 2008   Last Updated: January 19, 2009

Marriage should be a sacred institution between only one man and one woman. This one little statement carries with it such strong words that seem to be the cause of so much controversy and a never ending political battle in the United States. What this statement means is that marriage should be a setting up of an organization associated with religion. I for one believe marriage should be more of a legal union between ANY two people who truly love each other and wish to share their lives with one another. Even if it were two men or two women.

In the 1960's there were many states that banned interracial marriage, making it a crime, saying it would, "crumble society, it was not what God had intended, and it was not morally correct." In 1967, the supreme court passed a law making interracial marriage legal. Now in the 21st century many politicians are using the same argument, saying marriage should be only between one man and one woman, and that marriage and family are the basic structures of America; that allowing same-sex marriage in the United States would be a disaster and take away from the moral upbringings many Americans grew up with. Instead of the US moving forward and evolving and living up to its constitution, it is coasting.

It is important for same-sex couples seeking marriage to be given the chance to marry legally so that they may recieve all the rights that heterosexual couples are entitled to. The right to marry is a right ALL Americans should be entitled to recieve. Homosexual couples are denied more than 1,000 rights, privileges, and benefits that heterosexual couples recieve through the act of marriage, 1,138 to be exact, including bereavement leave, assumption of spouse's pension, immigration, insurance benefits, partner-based medical decisions, sick leave in case of partner's illness, Social Security survivor benefits, marriage-related tax breaks, veteran's benefits and discounts, visitation rights if partner is in hospital and conjugal visits in prison, just to name a few.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator to certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness..." It says so on the constitution, "...that all men are created equal..." And yet it seems as if America is not honoring this, and instead ignoring it, and not honoring gay couples their right to marry. Marriage should be open to any couple who wish to make their relationship legal and unite their lives together. That is what marriage is about...for better or for worse; for rich or for poor; in sickness and in health, "...with liberty and justice for all."

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