Gay marriage in America
Gay Marriage in America America was built on the foundation of equality for all men; however, not until recently have gay and lesbian individuals inherited such civil rights. One of the largest and most pressing issues effecting the gay population is the issue of gay marriage. Marriage is defined as “the relationship that exists between a husband and wife or a similar relationship between people of the same sex” (Websters). Within the past ten years fifteen states have legalized gay marriage. “As of Nov. 13, 2013, gay marriage has been legalized in 15 US states (CA, CT, DE, HI, IA, MA, MD, ME, MN, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT, and WA) and the District of Columbia. 34 states have gay marriage bans through either laws or constitutional amendments or both.” (Procon)
Fifteen states legalizing gay marriage in ten years is a strong the accomplishment however, it is still, and continues to be, a very polarizing issue within the country. The passage and acceptance of gay marriage effects many different diversity categories including but not limited to age, religion, and ethnicity and race, and economic status.
Age
There is a direct correlation between age and the opinion of same sex marriage in America. According to The Pew Research Center, younger Americans are much more accepting and favor same sex unions over older Americans (PewResearchgroup). “Individuals, born after 1980, favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally by a 53%-to-39% margin, while there is less support for same-sex marriage among Baby Boomers --those born 1946 to 1964 -- than among younger age groups. Currently, 38% favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally while 52% are opposed” (Pew Research) These recent poling numbers would suggest a continuing trend from generation to generation; each new generation is more in favor of same sex marriage than the previous. With more Americans favoring same sex marriage than ever before,
Fifteen states legalizing gay marriage in ten years is a strong the accomplishment however, it is still, and continues to be, a very polarizing issue within the country. The passage and acceptance of gay marriage effects many different diversity categories including but not limited to age, religion, and ethnicity and race, and economic status.
Age
There is a direct correlation between age and the opinion of same sex marriage in America. According to The Pew Research Center, younger Americans are much more accepting and favor same sex unions over older Americans (PewResearchgroup). “Individuals, born after 1980, favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally by a 53%-to-39% margin, while there is less support for same-sex marriage among Baby Boomers --those born 1946 to 1964 -- than among younger age groups. Currently, 38% favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally while 52% are opposed” (Pew Research) These recent poling numbers would suggest a continuing trend from generation to generation; each new generation is more in favor of same sex marriage than the previous. With more Americans favoring same sex marriage than ever before,
Cited: “Gay MarriageProCon.org.” ProConorg Headlines. ProConorg, 11 Nov.2013. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. Kohut, Andrew. “Less Opposition to Gay Marriage, Adoption and Military Service.” Pew Research Center for the People and the Press RSS. People Press, 22 Mar. 2006. Web. 06 Nov. 2013 “Marriage.” Marriage. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. Sherkat, Darren, Kylan Mattais De Vrias, and Stacia Creek. "Race, Religion, and Opposition to Same-." Social Science Quarterly (2010): 80-100. EBSCO. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. . Todd, Nathan R., and Katherine S. Ong. "Political and Theological Orientation as Moderators for the Association between Religious Attendance and Attitudes toward Gay Marriage for White Christians." Psychology of Religion and Spirtuality 4.1 (2011): 56-70. EBSCO. Web. 2013. .