New York State, the 3rd largest state by population, is the latest state to allow same-sex marriage. The addition of New York to the handful of states that recognize marriage equality is a significant victory for gay rights and LTGB issues. We must never forget that civil rights are fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and by subsequent acts of Congress, including due process, equal protection of the laws, equal treatment, and freedom from discrimination.
Nevertheless, same-sex marriage is still extremely controversial and the largest as well as loudest proponents employ religion or a sense of religious morality as justification to deny equal treatment to a subset of American citizens. However, marriage in the United States is a secular contract so the question of religion has no bearing on it, at least legally. You can have a marriage ceremony preformed by any priest you want, or a rabbi, a preacher, of any faith but if you do not have a marriage license issued by a state government you are not legally married in any state in the union. Besides, the government does not care about sexual orientation when it comes to collecting taxes.
The Maddow blog posted a video of the New York Senate passing same-sex marriage but the question remains whether a large state like New York allowing same –sex marriage without a residence requirement will have any significant implications for other states in the union. Only time will tell. Do you believe same-sex marriage is a civil rights issue and what impact will New York’s acceptance of marriage likely to have for the rest of the nation?
–TERRANCE MULLINS
