1. Richard Reimuller Victoria Ryan Akshay Sharma Natalya Komlev

2.  We chose to investigate this topic because we believe that it is a very serious issue in the United States.  It causes a huge debate and will be an ongoing controversy.  Each state’s opinion on the matter and reasoning behind it was very interesting to us.

3.  Some people think that everyone should have the right to marry whoever they want and some people disagree.  Different states have various viewpoints on the issue based on their beliefs and laws.

4.  As of November 2012, nine states in the USA have legalized same sex marriage.  These states include New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Washington, and Vermont.  The remaining 41 states in the U.S. remain against same sex marriage in some way shape or form.

5.  Mainly headed by religious extremists believe due to the bible Leviticus 18:22 “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”  With the passage of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996, a marriage was explicitly defined in federal law as a union of one man and one woman.  Also believe Homosexuality is either a choice or a disease.

6.  Gay and straight alike believe homosexuality is not a choice it is a genetic predisposition  They believe the bible has no right in legislature as defined by the separation of church and state and the basis of religious freedom and liberty the nation was founded on.  They believe that they should be entitled to equal rights of straight couples.

8.  In May of 2012, President Barack Obama had come to the conclusion that same sex marriage should be legal. He also stated that it is going to be left to each individual state to make the final decision despite his own belief.  Sarah Palin believes that same sex marriage should be illegal everywhere.  TV show host Glenn Beck was quoted “I believe what Thomas Jefferson said. If it neither breaks my leg nor picks my pocket, what difference is it to me?”

9.  Same-sex marriage is recognized only at the state level, as the federal Defense of Marriage Act does not allow the federal government to recognize such marriages.  On May 8, 2012, North Carolina voters approved, 61–39%, a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage as well as all other types of same-sex unions. North Carolina already prohibited same-sex marriages by statute.

10.  Discussing this topic is very important because it is a serious issue in the United States.  Based on each state’s laws, it determines whether or not same sex marriage is legal.  Everyday citizens’ rights are being taken away from them based on their orientation.

11. Anti Gay marriage advocates make many of the same arguments that were made against inter-racial marriages.

13.  Mataconis, Doug. "Glenn Beck: Gay Marriage No Threat To Me, Or America." Outside the Beltway. 12 Aug. 2010. Web.  Wiki. "Same-sex Marriage in the United States." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Oct. 2012. Web.  Goldberg-Hiller, Jonathan. The Limits to Union: Same-Sex Marriage and the Politics of Civil Rights. Google Books. Web.  Spilsbury, Louise. Same-Sex Marriage. Google Books. Web.