Same Sex Marriage

Gay Marriage: what is it about?

During the past two years, a week can hardly pass without a series of news or reports regarding the same sex marriage on the television or newspapers. From the mayor of San Francisco, to the governor of New Jersey, to the presidential debate, most of the news were either about gay couples or were somehow related to it. Opposing or supporting gay marriage or civil union was the question that every body should have an answer for it. The topic was so hot that president even asked for an amendment to constitution to legalize the position of the government. But for most of the people that were not directly involved with the issue three questions raised that were very rather difficult to find answers for. What is civil union and how does it differ from marriage? Who opposes them and why? And why is it so important?

According to the Gay and Lesbian Advocate and Defender organization "A civil union is a legal status created by the state of Vermont" to provide legal protection for same sex couples. The argument behind the necessity of such an act is that beside the religious and social sides of the marriage, there are several civil rights involved that same sex couples have been so far unable to benefit from. Rights such as: inheriting the property of the spouse, gaining custody of a child, or simply visiting their partners in hospital. As same sex households are now a reality in this country, surly the needs for recognition of this kind of households are obvious. So what are the differences between Civil Union and marriage? Beside some legal technicality, the main difference between Civil Union and marriage is its recognition by the federal government and hence by other states. Up until now, a civil union license is only recognized by the state of Vermont, and people who have this license can not claim their rights in other states or in front of the federal government. For a person involved in a civil union, the simple act of filling... [continues]

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