Marriage Inequality in America

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Marriage Inequality in America

• Keaton Belli
• ENGL 1101 - P6
• Dr. Andrea Wood
• September 28, 2009

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Everyone is familiar with this,
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and this,
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but what about this?
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On September 21, 1996 Bill Clinton signed the
Defense of Marriage Act into Law.
The law states 1. No state (or other
political subdivision within the United States)
needs to treat a relationship between persons of
the same sex as a marriage, even if the
relationship is considered a marriage in
another state.
2. The federal government defines marriage as a
legal union exclusively between one man and one
woman.
(Defense of Marriage Act)
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Currently, only six states issue marriage
licenses to same-sex couples.
Iowa
Maine
Vermont
Massachusetts
Connecticut
New Hampshire
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There are thirty-four more states that do not.
That is 88 of the states,
which take into account 94.7 of the U.S.
population.
U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division
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Despite these statistics, marriage in the
United States has come a long way.
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June 12, 1967
Loving v. Virginia
the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of
another race resides with the individual and
cannot be infringed by the State. - Court,
Loving v. Virginia
(Loving v. Virginia)
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What are the inherent differences between
interracial marriage and same-sex marriage?
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laws and institutions must go hand in hand with
the progress of the human mind as that becomes
more developed, more enlightened, and new
discoveries are made.
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Institutions must advance also to keep pace with
the times.
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We might as well require a man to wear still the
coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized
society to remain ever under the regimen of their
barbarous ancestors. -Thomas Jefferson
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There are 1138 provisions where marriage is a
factor for determining rights, benefits, and
privileges.
spouse immigration benefits
joint tax filing benefits
family visitation rights in jails and hospitals
domestic violence protection orders
spousal privilege in court
joint filing for loan applications
next-of-kin status for emergency medical decisions
and 1131 more
(Equality Matters)
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(No Transcript)
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February 12, 2004
After 50 years of being in a committed
relationship, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon were
married in San Francisco, CA and became the first
same-sex couple to be married in the United
States.
(Belge)
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(No Transcript)
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Since then, California has ceased issuing
same-sex marriage licenses due to the instatement
of Proposition 8 in November 2008.
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(No Transcript)
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People across the country, both straight and gay,
are speaking out in support of legalizing
same-sex marriage in their own state.
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Atlanta, GA
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San Francisco, CA
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Atlanta, GA
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If children can understand the universal concept
of love, why not our elected government
officials?
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Atlanta, GA
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San Francisco, CA
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Something to think about
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Works Cited
Defense of Marriage Act. Pub. L. 104-199. 21
Sept. 1996. 100 Stat. 2419. Belge, Katie.
Lesbian Couple First to Marry in United States.
n.p. Lesbian Life. About.com, n.d. Web. 28 Sept.
2009. lthttp//lesbianlife.about.comgt U.S. Census
Bureau, Population Division. Population
Estimates. n.p. U.S. Census Bureau, 31 July 2009.
Web. 28 Sept. 2009. lthttp//www.census.govgt Loving
v. Virginia. 388 U.S. 1. U.S. Sup. Ct. 1967.
Learn the 1138 Reasons Equality Matters.
Equality Matters, n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2009.
lthttp//www.equalitymatters.orggt
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Photos (in order of appearance)
http//www.top100.org.uk http//www.topsthecake.co
m/ http//www.weddingcollectibles.com http//www.5
0states.com/ (6 photos of states) http//www.freak
ingnews.com Original http//cedarlounge.wordpress.
com/ Original http//radicalrags.com http//miamih
erald.typepad.com http//arionthedaily.files.wordp
ress.com Original Appropriated from Katie
Craft Original Original Appropriated from Katie
Craft