Public Opinion on Homosexuality and Marriage Essay

Public Opinion on Homosexuality and Marriage - Essay Example The crux of the homosexual debate revolves around the definition of marriage. The Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defines â€Å"marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman for purposes of all federal laws, and provides that states need not recognize a marriage from another state if it is between persons of the same sex† (Chabot, p.8). In other words, marriage is restricted to a union between one man and one woman and same-sex marriage, even if it is recognized by one state is not recognized by the federal government and therefore federal benefits are denied to homosexuals. This Act has opened a can of worms. Those who support homosexual marriages argue on the basis of civil and religious freedom, financial viability and the principle of love. One writer argues that â€Å"the First Amendment of the Constitution clearly states that a person's religious views or lack thereof must be protected. Marriage by the state is a secular activity; the government cannot start making laws just because a religion says they should† (Messerli, 22 May 2009, p.1). In other words, one religious view should not dictate the view or lifestyle of another. Same-sex marriage is a matter of choice and the state has no right to deny homosexuals of this choice. Another argument states that â€Å"The right to marry the person that you love, have made a commitment to, and wish to live with for the rest of your life is a foundational human right† (Robinson, p.3). He also went on to quote a pamphlet by the National Gay and Lesbian Task which states that, "If legally marri ed, gay, lesbian and bisexual couples would have a greater ability to care for and protect their families.† The financial benefits the pamphlet named included joint tax returns, joint insurance policies for home, auto and health, automatic inheritance on death, secure workplace and other benefits such as annuities, pension plans, Medicare, etc.