Marriage Equality, Its Just Right.

I am who I am only because of the nurturing received from both of my parents and their marriage. Great parenting and the guidance given not only served as my gateway, but the union my parents formed represented something beyond words. Something beyond words that everyone; no matter their race, sexual orientation, or background, should be allowed to engage in. Ive always believed that having healthy children begins with a strong family, with parents who are nurturing, caring, and loving. Parents who instill the lifelong morals and values that will prepare our future leaders for the days of tomorrow. Parents should be judged by their parenting efforts, not by their age, race, religion, gender, disability, or sexual preference. We know that children from married homes tend to do better in school and are less likely to have disciplinary problems. The effect marriage has on childrens education is just profound to say the least, but education is not the only aspect affected. They are more likely to attend college, healthier; both physically and emotionally, drug and alcohol use declines, and are less likely to be raised in poverty. The happiness and strong foundation that marriage brings is an opportunity that all of our children, straight or not, be permitted to enjoy. Marriage offers 1,138 Federal benefits and responsibilities, not including hundreds more offered by every state. Imagine your partner being in the hospital in critical condition, but you are not allowed to see or make any decisions on their health because you all are not married. And you all want to get married, but cannot because you all are of the same sex. The law provides certain automatic rights to a persons spouse regardless of whether or not a will even exists. Marriage is something more than just two people, and should be afforded to more than one pair of persons. In the last decade, the District of Columbia and nine states have acknowledged same-sex marriages. A sign of change, we are making progress and there is more work to be done. But we must ascertain that in America freedom is freedom. There isnt any partial freedom. A law denying gay and lesbian couples the opportunity to marry is simply unconstitutional. There does not stand any legality in the restriction of any fit person to marry. Lets look at the California case, all of the responsibilities and rights of a civil union mirror that of a marriage. What was missing was the title of marriage. In any other situation someone would consider this discrimination without a second look. We as Americans do not discriminate, especially because of ones race, sexual orientation, or background. America today does not stand on one culture, race, or background. We are who we are today because of a plethora of different ideologies and people from a multitude of backgrounds. From Segregation to Ellis Island, civilly we have made tremendous progress, after all the progress yielded, now is not the time to regress. We must continue to strive forward. Together, we must ascertain that equality does not exist to the majority but it exists for our great nation as a whole.