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Top Reasons to Allow Gay Marriage  
INFORMATIVE 

Tags: gay marriage, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, equality, rights, hrc

The majority of states still do not recognize marriage between gay, lesbian, bi, and transgender couples. Here are the reasons why it should be made legal as provided by the Human Rights Campaign.

	MOVE CIVIL RIGHTS FORWARD. Marriage equality would build on America’s tradition of moving civil rights forward and erasing the inequities of the past.
	MORE THAN 10 NATIONS ALLOW SAME-SEX COUPLES TO MARRY or to enter federally recognized domestic partnerships.
	IT'S AN AMERICAN TRADITION TO ABANDON DISCRIMINATORY LAWS, EVEN IF POPULAR – as were bans on interracial marriage and Jim Crow laws segregating the races in everyday life.
	Marriage protects couples nationwide. Unlike civil unions and domestic partner registries, which aren’t portable, marriages are recognized across state lines, under the Constitution’s full faith and credit clause.
	SEPARATE IS NOT EQUAL. As American history has proven, a separate but equal system does not ensure real equality. And nothing short of marriage would provide same-sex couples with the more than 1,000 benefits, responsibilities and protections afforded under federal law on the basis of marital status.
	PUBLIC SUPPORT IS GROWING. In August 2003 a poll showed that 50% of registered voters support or accept granting marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples as long as religious institutions do not have to recognize or perform these marriages.
	GLBT PEOPLE DESERVE EQUAL ACCESS TO THE AMERICAN DREAM. We know from anecdotal evidence that after same-sex couples have a commitment ceremony, their friends and family treat them differently – as a married couple. Shouldn’t they, too, have the legal security that goes along with that?
	MARRIAGE PROVIDES FAMILIES STABILITY & SECURITY. One thing that both sides of the marriage issue can agree upon is that marriage strengthens families. Children are more secure if they are raised in homes with two loving parents who have a legal relationship with them and can share the responsibility of parenthood. Without establishing a legal relationship to both parents, children of same-sex couples are left without important protections, such as Social Security survivor benefits. These children should not be penalized just because their parents are gay.
	STATE LAWS PROTECT MARRIED COUPLES IN IMPORTANT WAYS, such as allowing hospital visitation, the right to inherit without a will and the right to make decisions in a medical emergency. Furthermore, same-sex couples – who pay the same taxes and work just as hard as other couples – should not be forced to pay higher taxes and high legal fees just because of whom they love.
	THE CONSTITUTION PROMISES LIBERTY & JUSTICE TO ALL AMERICANS, NOT JUST THE MAJORITY. The Constitution has been used in American history to ensure, protect and expand the individual liberties of Americans. It has never been amended to single out a class of people for unequal treatment
	No religious institution would be required to perform a ceremony. Just as no religious institution can be required by the government to marry an interfaith couple, no religious institution should be told to marry a same-sex couple.
	THERE ARE 1,049+ PROTECTIONS, BENEFITS & RESPONSIBILITES EXTENTED TO MARRIED COUPLES UNDER FEDERAL LAW. Gay and lesbian couples in lifelong relationships pay higher taxes and are denied basic protections under the law. They receive no Social Security survivor benefits upon the death of a partner, despite paying payroll taxes. They must pay federal income taxes on their employer’s contributions toward their domestic partner’s health insurance, while married employees do not have to pay such taxes for their spouses. They must pay all estate taxes when a partner dies. They often pay significant tax penalties when they inherit a 401(k) from their partner.

Lister: ListAfterList Wiki Contributors
Source: Human Rights Campaign

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Comments: To give support go to hrc.org Comment by: buccicone.2