Lately one of the most controversial issues across the country has been gay marriage. As I hail from California, I understand I might be more liberal than most, but at the end of the day I really don’t see the big problem.
Currently, Massachusetts and Connecticut allow same-sex marriages.
California did as well, until voters approved a measure to ban it earlier this month.
Both Arizona and Florida amended to their state constitutions defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
The issue of same-sex marriage has been a hot issue in California.
In May of this year, the California Supreme Court overturned the law that banned same-sex marriages. Same-sex couples were finally allowed the same rights as every other tax paying California citizen.
CNN reported that the California Supreme Court Justices cited that one’s sexual orientation “does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights.”
Unfortunately, 52 percent of Californians disagreed.
On the 2008 ballot, Proposition 8 passed with a slim majority, eliminating the right of same-sex couples to marry.
Like myself, opponents of Proposition 8 argue that eliminating the rights of same-sex couples to marry, and authorizing one group of people be treated differently is unfair and unconstitutional.
Discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation is comparable to discrimination based on ethnicity or gender.
Everyone deserves the same rights other citizens in this country enjoy, especially when everyone pays taxes.
Yes, marriage is traditionally a union between one man and one woman, but if two people love each other and want to commit to one another they should be allowed to do so. If we were going by tradition, women and blacks would not be allowed to vote, interracial marriage would be non-existent, and blacks would still be sitting in the back of buses and restaurants.
Locally some students feel the same way.
“I think [same-sex couples] should be allowed to be married and miserable just like heterosexual couples, but personally I do believe gay marriage is a sin,” said Ticara Littles, a sophomore at Florida State University.
It’s sad that some tax-paying Americans don’t have the same rights as others. Even though some may choose to believe in the traditional institution of marriage, including myself, nobody has the right to impose their beliefs on others. Furthermore, nobody should have the right to decide if other tax paying citizens should have the opportunity to pursue their natural right to get married.
Truth is, same-sex couples are going to be together regardless, married or not. Homosexuality is a part of our society.
As college students, most of us probably are friends with, or at least know somebody who is in a homosexual relationship.
If we all just accept this diverse world we live in and stop trying to dictate how people live, especially when they’re not harming anybody, then our country would be a better and less stressful place.
Yalena Fields is a sophomore public relations student from Richmond, Cali. She can be reached famuanopinions@gmail.com