English 2010 Hailey Stokes Stephanie Suarez

1. English 2010 Hailey Stokes Stephanie Suarez

2. Problem • DOMA (Federal Defense of Marriage Act) which was adopted by congress on Sept 21, 1996, defines marriage as a legal union between a man and a woman.

3. The words “Spouse” and “Marriage” • No other States are required to recognize other states rulings.

4. The Opponents Views Education Adoption Religion • Tax Rights (religious institutions)

5. Education • Educating our children on what is going on around them, will allow for more cultured and well rounded young adults. • We don’t need to teach what is “right” or “wrong” but we do need to teach the facts • “Family health and child development, including the legal and financial aspects and responsibilities of marriage and parenthood.” • – California Education Code Nothing there about defining marriage.

6. Adoption • Some same sex couples are more fortunate than heterosexual couples and can provide a wonderful life for a child in need • Children need homes!

7. "Applicants should be assessed on the basis of their abilities to successfully parent a child needing family membership and not on their race, ethnicity or culture, income, age, marital status, religion, appearance, differing lifestyles, or sexual orientation.“ -Child Welfare League of America • Existing research comparing lesbian and gay parents to heterosexual parents, and children of lesbian and gay parents to children of heterosexual parents, shows that common negative stereotypes are not supported (Patterson, 1995). Likewise, beliefs that lesbian and gay adults are unfit parents have no empirical foundation (American Psychological Association, 1995). 

8. Religion Bible is OUTDATED What happened to the SEPARATIONof church and state? We are a country based on FREEDOM

9. DEUTERONOMY 22:13-21 it says: "If it is discovered that a bride is not a virgin, the Bible demands that she be executed by stoning immediately." • DEUTERONOMY 21:8 • It says ““If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father, his father shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders. They shall say, this son of ours is stubborn and rebellious he is a profligate and a drunkard. Then all the men of this town shall stone him to death”

10. Religious institutions will not be affected by the passing of this bill. No religion will be asked or to change it’s views on the topic, or be expected to perform religious ceremonies which would make them go against the teaching of their doctrine. • This can be compared to the Mormon Church only allowing those members that are “endowed” and hold a current temple recommend to enter into marriage through a temple ceremony, and not allowing others that are not to view or be a part of that ceremony. Many institutions have worship areas that are not open to all the public. These instances are not considered hate crimes. • In the California ruling issued on May 15th the Supreme Court actually issued a statement protecting those rights. Tax Exemption

11. “When the government withholds same sex marriage as an option for homosexual men and woman, not only are they infringing on our constitutional rights, but there are many other things that are affected by that decision. For example; currently legislation has it set up that if a loved one, or a partner in this case, is ill or sick in the hospital only family members are able to see or attend to that person. Because that is the current rule, no same sex partnership qualifies. This is a ripple effect that spans farther than just freedom. It affects our everyday lives, and relationships.” –Jaymes Myers

12. Inheritance • Visitation in case of medical emergency • The right to make funeral arrangements, or the ability to be named guardian if the partner is deemed incapacitated.

13. Same Sex Marriages in the U.S. • Same Sex Marriages are only legal currently in 6 states/Districts. • They are: • New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and Washington, D.C.

14. Legalize Same Sex Marriage • Change the DOMA Act by instituting that “spouse” and “marriage” is defined as a legal partnership between two individuals either male and female or same sex couples • Remove section in the act that says states do not need to recognize other state marriages • Eventual legalization of marriage in all 50 states • Long process (interracial marriage took 45 years to legalize)

15. What can we do??? • Education • Rally together and write your congressman • Insist that same sex marriage is put on the ballot in your state

16. Works Cited: Michael A Jones. The best quotes from Prop 8’s ruling. Para 2. http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/the_best_quotes_from_todays_prop_8_rulingAdam (Eric). Pride in Utah. Various blog entries including 1, 2, and 3. http://prideinutah.com/Thomas Jeffereson. Declaration of Independence. Opening Paragraph.Rev. Mel White, co-founder of Soulforce. What the Bible Says And Doesn't Say About Homosexuality. Found (Sept 21,2010)http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality-bible-gay-christianSame Sex Marriages, Civil Unions, & Domestic Partnershipshttp://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_marr.htmPersonal Interview. Jaymes Myers. Position Statement on Parenting of Children by Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults http://www.cwla.org/programs/culture/glbtqposition.htm Christine Vestal . Gay marriage legal in six states. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 08, 2009 . HTTP://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=347390 Kathy Beldge. Where can gays legally marry? Here’s a list of countries and states.http://lesbianlife.about.com/cs/wedding/a/wheremarriage.htm Proposition 8 Decision Respects Religious Liberty, Says AU’s Barry Lynn. Para 12. http://www.au.org/media/church-and-state/archives/2010/09/proposition-8-decision.html