why in the u.s. is it illegal for gays to get married?

Question

i thought the u.s. was the land of the equal??

Answer 1

George W. Bush hates gay people. He is a shameless immoral man who brought shame and dishonor to America.

Answer 2

Maybe I am just talking semantics here, but I don't think that it IS illegal. It is NOT recognized by the US government as marriage, but there is nothing illegal about it. I know of many people who have gone through ceremonies. The constitution does not say ANYTHING about same-sex marriages, and that is why, for the most part, judges are deciding for same sex relations. The conservative faction, then, are calling these judges activists, WHEN THEY ARE ONLY ENFORCING THE LAW! They are the ACTUAL activists who want the law to mean something other than what it says! The backlash, of course, is that almost all of the states HAVE written laws that specifically don't recognize gay unions. But making gay marriages illegal will never happen, I don't believe.

I really believe that there will be a time when some court case will come before the Supreme Court in the US and they will decide in our favor. As for when, that has yet to be seen.

If only OUR forefathers had the insight of the Canadians to include a charter of rights with our Constitution, this question would be moot. Because they didn't, this battle will need to be fought through the courts

Answer 3

we're the land of the free not the equal, clearly. The gov has a problem separating church and state and since the church says that a union is between a man and a woman, thats what we go by, and it will be a long time before it is accepted in all of US. is it right? NO but is it reality? YES. I always said that love doesnt discriminate and gays should have the opportunity to share life and the benifits of marriage just as straights.

Answer 4

Yes, but in the words of Englishman George Orwell, "some are more equal than others." And here, the modern-day Puritans are the most "equal" of all.

It may be that the institution of marriage has been so trashed by the heterosexuals (spousal abuse, infidelity, etc) that they need a quick scapegoat for their failings so that, God forbid, they don't have to address any changes in their own behavior.

Answer 5

Oh, it's not just the gay marriage issue that proves this is NOT the land of the equal. I can't say that I know why gay marriage is illegal though.

Answer 6

No we're "The Land of the Free (samples at Wal-Mart), Home of the Brave(s)- as in Atlanta Braves." We're completely commerical and sold out. We're also the worst at giving anyone a fair shot anymore.

Answer 7

It's the land of the free. And the only things we are equal about is that we bleed the same color blood, otherwise we are all different.

Answer 8

It's not necessarily illegal for us to get married as long as it's to a member of the opposite sex.

Otherwise, as has been posted here, some people are more equal than others.

Answer 9

Because there a lot of people out there...powerful people who are afraid of people that different then themselves...like Bush for example. These people are often brought up with a religion that doesn't support it. I am struggling with my sexuality but whether I am or not...its something I feel strongly about. You shouldn't hate something just because you don't understand it or because you are afraid of the possibility that someone might be different.

Answer 10

"Gay and lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protection, whether by marriage or civil union. A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriage."

-Coletta Scott King (wife to Martin Luther King Jr.)