Even though 27 states prohibit same-sex civil marriage by constitutional amendment or state law, three by constitutional amendment only, and five by state law only, same-sex civil marriage has made it through yet another barrier as New Jersey, at Midnight Oct. 21, has officially voted to end the ban on same-sex marriage.
Gov. Chris Christie, who is up for reelection next month, had previously vetoed a bill that would effectively legalize same-sex marriage in The Garden State. New Mexico is hearing arguments on same-sex marriage in their higher courts, and is currently the only state without any laws or amendments banning or allowing same-sex marriage.
Students respond to same-sex marriage with the typical, “of course!” or “Yeah, I guess I support it. I mean, that one guy made a song about it, right?” But sometimes there are students who have much gusto about their opinion, such as junior Lexi Barry.
“I see no reason why human beings can’t love and be with the people that make them the happiest,” Barry said. “‘All humans are ‘equal,’ right?” Barry has been affected on a more personal level than most, as she has close family and personal friends who Missouri’s ban on same-sex marriage affects.
“I would legalize [same-sex marriage] as soon as I could. My family and I have a lot of close friends who are with the same sex,” Barry said. “They always talk about wanting to get married and have their love be legal, but they can’t.”
Senior Alexus Carson and her sister, sophomore Ashlee Carson, who are both personally unaffected by the laws, feel negatively toward the laws but positively towards homosexual people and their cause.
“A person shouldn’t be discriminated against because they aren’t the same as anyone else,” Ashlee Carson said. “Love shouldn’t be determined by a person’s gender. A person can’t change who they love.”
Her sister Ashlee said, “If I could make the ultimate decision, I would grant them all the same rights that heterosexuals have. People would argue that it is immoral and goes against their deeply rooted beliefs in religion, but in the end, these people deserve their civil rights.”
By Sam Mitten
What do you think about same-sex marriage? Place comments below.
Vaughn O'Gorman • Nov 13, 2013 at 3:43 pm
Relpy to jake walters the united states government is not based on any one religion but on the belief that all men are created equal.
Devesh Kumar • Nov 13, 2013 at 1:25 pm
I like what Whitney said. I don’t believe in same-sex marriage and I don’t like it. I also don’t think that the government should do anything about that. It’s up to the people. I really don’t like the idea of it.
Jimin L • Nov 12, 2013 at 11:31 pm
I am not neither a supporter for same-sex marriage nor a hater. If they do not affect on me, I do not care. Difference is not wrong.
Sarah Kinney • Nov 10, 2013 at 4:40 pm
I am all for same-sex marriage. Although much of the US is Christian, the US has no official affiliation with the religion and its views. It’s unfair for US citizens to be denied basic human rights.