On Saturday, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the federal government would be recognizing same sex marriage in six new states. Couples in Alaska, Idaho, North Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming now qualify for the social security and social insurance. This comes just a week after same sex married couples in seven other states received federal recognition. That makes the current number of states with federal recognition of same sex marriage 32. To put the rapid increase of federal recognition into perspective, around two weeks ago, the number of states that had federal recognition was just 19.
Experts believe that it is likely that this rapid increase will come to a stand-still. The remaining states that have not received federal recognition have defended their bans. However, some of the states that have recently received recognition were states that also defended bans. This recent trend of recognition is very promising and I think there is a bright future for same sex marriage, even in states that are currently defending their bans.
While these recognitions are obviously a step in the right direction, I believe there is still a bigger problem. While gay marriage is recognized on the state level, I believe a problem still lies in the local level, where gays are still discriminated against in their everyday lives. Just two days ago, the daughter of the mayor of Houston had trouble receiving her driving license because she listed that she had two mothers on her application.
Questions: Will current trends of federal recognition continue and oppose the predictions of experts? Or will the increase reach a stand-still?
What could be some possible ways to convince states that are defending their bans?
Questions: Will current trends of federal recognition continue and oppose the predictions of experts? Or will the increase reach a stand-still?
What could be some possible ways to convince states that are defending their bans?
3 comments:
I'm certainly excited that a number of states normally thought to be rather conservative have legislated change that allow homosexual couples to have all the same rights as heterosexual couples already have. Additionally, I do agree with the analysis that this stampede of approving same sex marriages will come to an end, because as is common knowledge-many states are not ready/unwilling to make this change and probably will continue to stay that way for at least another few years.
I completely agree with Alex and his concerns about the local level enforcement because although the federal government may instigate change, it's ultimately up to local authorities to promote and enforce the changes. Whatever the law may say, it will not change people's beliefs and opinions-those are things that must be evolved and changed over time. Discrimination against someone because of their sexual orientation is in no way acceptable, and espcially when it affects their loved ones, such as the daughter mentioned or children that are bullied at school for having two mothers or two fathers.
I definitely agree with Miranda that discrimination on any level and to any group is simply unacceptable. Of course dealing with enforcement on a local level is an issue but the real issue isn't changing the culture of discrimination. America is still racist and African-Americans got equal rights over 100 years ago. So, it's a process. Discrimination is not an innate thing, it's learned. In terms of same-sex marriage coming to a standstill, I do agree that the states not yet allowing it are very firm in their beliefs but as soon as we get six more states to legalize it, we will have 3/4 of the states and can make an amendment like the country did with women suffrage. There is hope, and we are close, but we aren't there yet.
While hearing of six new states legalizing gay marriage is terrific, I believe that is still a disgrace that our federal government which has throughout history prided itself on being the "land of the free" has failed to pass a law legalizing gay marriage at a national level. Discrimination is deliberately occurring in many states, and they have no intentions to change their ways. It is the federal governments duty and obligation to protect each and every one of its citizens. As of now it is failing that promise. The federal government needs to step up and complete their civic duty and insure the rights and liberties of all its citizens.
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