Law v. Culture: Deconstructing Arguments Against Same Sex Marriage
Travis T. Proulx
McNair Summer Research
In the United States, people of color were once denied the right to marry a white person and vice versa. Native Americans were also denied marriage rights, as well as slaves. These laws have since changed, which leads us to the new controversy of the current battle over same sex marriage. Despite the many laws and regulations regarding marriage in the United States in the past, there has been no extension of complete marriage equality for same sex couples.
Marriage in the United States is a fusion of law and culture. Couples receive many benefits as well as responsibilities when they are legally united in marriage. Many couples unite in a religious ceremony while others do not, which leads to why opponents of same sex marriage often oppose the marriage of two homosexuals - because they first oppose the act of homosexuality and see homosexuality as immoral and against their religious beliefs.
Supporters of same sex marriage, on the other hand, support the opportunity of all couples in the United States to have the same rights and responsibilities; both heterosexual and homosexuals are tax-paying citizens. Many supporters also do not believe religious beliefs should determine legal rights.
These two opposing views have come to blow through such recent legislation, proposed and/or passed, as the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996, Civil Unions, Canada's ruling to allow same sex marriage, and the Federal Marriage Amendment.