Same sex married is one of the issues dividing the Americans. But lately the Americans support to same-sex marriage here been growing considerably. In spring 2012 U.S. president Obama announced his support for same-sex married. In January 2013 nine states have legalized same-sex marriage.
The public opinion
The support to same-sex marriage has been increasing over the last years. In May 2009 only 40% supported, while 48% of Americans feel that society would change for the worse if same sex marriage were legalized. In November 2012 Gallup found 53% of Americans supported and 46% oppose. The consequence off the increasing support has lead to legalizing of same sex marriage in nine states. In the southern states and especially in the Bible belt the voters is still opposing against same-sex marriage.
Source 1:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_opinion_of_same-sex_marriage_in_the_United_States#Older_polls_.28prior_to_2010.29
We do!
The homosexuals in the southern states has started the campaign “we do” to achieve equal rights. On January 17, they are planning a March for the couples in Arlington that have been denied licenses. The march will end at the Jefferson Memorial there a homosexual couple from North Carolina, Mark and Tim; will be wed under D.C. law.
David Blankenhorn
David Blankenhorn has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies from Harvard University and he is the founder off the Institute for American Values, a nonpartisan think tank. The proponents of California Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage, presented Blankenhorn as an expert witness in Perry v. Schwarzenegger. In June 2012 he wrote an article in the New York Times recanting his opposition to same-sex married. His opposition in his book and his trial testimony was founded on the belief; “that children have the right, insofar as society makes it possible, to know and to be cared for by the two parents who brought them into this world “. Blankenhorn does still belief that marriage is a gift society gives to children to protect them and he had hoped the same-sex debate would be mostly about the children, but it has been more about accepting homosexuals as equal citizens. He was also hoping, as a marriage advocate, the debate about same-sex marriage would lead to more heterosexual would have a matrimony cohabitation. Blankenhorn hopes same-sex marriage could make marriage more popular to the heterosexuals, because he believes it is important to get married before having children and over the last years there has been an increase in the number off illegitimate children. Even though he does not believe opposite-sex and same-sex couples is the same, he do believe they deserve equal rights and that it is time to stop the denigration and stigmatizing.
The politicians’ opinion
Same-sex marriage has always been an issue dividing the Americans. The first movement for same-sex marriage and benefits for same-sex couples started in the 70s. But it was not prominent in U.S. politics before 1993 when same-sex couples argued against Hawaii’s prohibition of same-sex marriage. Today many politicians are supporting same sex marriage, but most of the supports are democrats or independents. Republicans | 18% | Democrats | 52% | Independents | 43% | source 2:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_opinion_of_same-sex_marriage_in_the_United_States#Older_polls_.28prior_to_2010.29
President Obama
President Obama was the first sitting U.S. president to publicly declare his support to same-sex marriage. For nearly two years he had not given a clear answer on his stand on same-sex marriage, but said what his view was “evolving”. But on May 9, 2012, in an interview with ABC’s Robin Roberts he declared his support. His exact words were; “At a certain point, I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married,”
- President Obama. President Obama called upon his Christian faith in explaining his decision. Obama used “the golden rule” - treat others the way you want to be treated.
The Republica Party
The republican Mitt Romney, who was the Republican Party’s nominee of President in the 2012 election, opposes same-sex marriage, because he thinks marriage should only be between a man and a woman. But he is “in favor of recognizing domestic partnerships that include the opportunity for shared health benefits and rights of survivorship”. Mitt Romney is against same-sex adoptions, he thinks every child deserves a mother and a father, which is one of the reasons why he is against same-sex marriage. He claims that his opposition to same-sex marriage has nothing to do with his religious beliefs.
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[ 1 ]. Today USA/gallup
[ 2 ]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Blankenhorn
[ 3 ]. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/us/politics/obama-says-same-sex-marriage-should-be-legal.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
[ 4 ]. http://mittromneycentral.com/on-the-issues/same-sex-marriage/
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