Gay Rights & Marriage

One of the most contemporary issues in today's society concerns how the United States will officially treat homosexual relationships. In the past, the nation has ignored them. The military has frowned upon the public knowledge of such lifestyles and currently has a "don't ask, don't tell" policy where a gay person may be a part of the Armed Forces as long as he or she does not openly express this. Just this past year, the legislature of Hawaii passed legislation giving gay couples more rights than they had previously enjoyed. @ A significant influence throughout all of this, even with the country's philosophy of separation between church and state, has been the Catholic Church. It has openly and repeatedly condemned the gay community. This has affected much of the country within its realm of influence.

Jon's Opinion Marriage is specifically defined in the dictionary: "the institution whereby men and women are joined in a special kind of social and legal dependence for the purpose of founding and maintaining a family." It does not mention men and men, nor women and women. Additionally, outside of adoption, they cannot found a family, because two individuals of the same sex can't procreate! It's just wrong!

Alan's Opinion I believe that all people should be treated equally, with little or no regard given to their sexual preference. If the couple consists of two men instead of a man and a woman, what's the big deal? It's simply an alternative lifestyle, one of many that is currently available to today's population. I feel that the real reason some people oppose these relationships is that they fear what they do not understand. If I were in a similarly comparable position, I would hope that whomever controls the rules and regulations governing my life would be as fair and tolerating as I would be in their position.