I think marriage is the ultimate way to say “I love you” to a significant other. Marriage is more than what it’s often portrayed in the media to be (white dresses, lavish parties, and flowers, anyone?); it’s an everlasting bond between two people. Sounds mushy right? Well, I believe everyone has a soul mate out there for them.

In the United States, the power of marriage is upheld by individual states. This means that each state can have their own rules pertaining to marriage based on what’s written in the state constitution. In many states, the constitution bans the recognition of civil unions or gay marriage. The US Supreme Court is currently fighting a national battle regarding whether or not to give gay and lesbian couples the right to marry as well as provide them with the same benefits as a heterosexual couple is entitled to.

In 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act (also known simply as DOMA) to officially define marriage as a “legal union between a man and a woman”. So where does this leave gay and lesbian couples? They can’t be recognized as legally married in most states (aside from: Washington, Vermont, New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Iowa, Washington D.C., and Connecticut).

I think everyone should be treated equally and have the right to happiness and marriage with whomever they love. I also believe that benefits provided by the national government (such as health insurance and social security) shouldn’t be taken away if a person chooses to be in a same-sex relationship.

-Christina