Title: Why and How Marriage Equality Needs to be Reached in America
Intro/Thesis:
The lack of marriage equality in this country affects millions of Americans. It is an omnipresent issue in the news today, as the battle between gay rights activists and those who deny marriage as a fundamental right presses on day by day. President Obama has made his position clear, which is that same sex marriage should be a state regulated issue. This proposal is the most logical one, as opinions vary by the different parts of the country. Although it would be ideal, the prospect of tackling the entire country on this issue is unrealistic and too final if it fails. Gay marriage needs to be legalized in a state-by-state effort using the resources of organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign. Groups such as the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) who try to pass laws preventing marriage equality from ever happening need to be stopped. Any argument against the effort to provide marriage to all couples can be easily dismissed because when it comes down to it, no one has the right to say two people who love each other cannot get married. America has foundations that trace back to an effort to reach equality; it is in the Constitution. It is time the county reaches full equality.
1. The issue of marriage equality in America and its importance
a. Statistics on number of gay couples in United States to show how many people are affected by the lack of marriage equality everyday
b. Show states where it is legalized and states where there are amendments banning same sex marriage
i. Why it works in the states it is legalized (ProCon.org)
c. It is a national debate that Americans who regularly watch the debate cannot escape, and therefore needs to be resolved
i. Many Democrats want the legalization of same sex marriage on their platform
d. Discuss why legalization is important as it relations to hospital visitation rights, decision making, and insurance benefits
e. Segway into next paragraph by brief discussion of the HRC and the work they do
2. State by state effort to legalize same sex marriage is the best way to get the job done
a. Use efforts of HRC as a guideline for what needs to be done
i. Raises money to fund localized efforts and raises national awareness of issue
b. Ways to stop the National Organization for Marriage who tries to push for laws that ban recognition of any same sex marriage in a particular state
i. Expose their strategies that many deem inappropriate
1. Use propaganda to create gaps between gay community and blacks and Latinos
3. Why this is the best way for same sex marriage to be legalized and why other strategies or positions are invalid or will not work
a. While a national effort would be nice, it is unrealistic due to the strong variations in opinions across the country.
i. In addition, if it fails the result is too final and will be difficult to come back from
b. Same sex marriage needs to be legalized because equality is a fundamental right protected by the Constitution
i. Equal Protection Clause
c. Any argument against the legalization of same sex marriage can be easily dismissed
i. Religion should not be brought into policy making as it goes against separation of church and state
d. This country is known to be above par at adapting to new things and when it comes to this issue it should not be any different
Conclusion:
Clearly, the victory of marriage equality will not be achieved overnight. However, if supporters take the right steps at the right times, then America will reach the day of full equality. With victories state by state, the country will ultimately progress to the goal. Steps that one can personally take to help progress this process include looking into one’s own state laws, donating to the Human Rights Campaign, and making direct phone calls or emails to one’s state legislators. If everyone who supports same sex marriage in this country gets behind the issue whole heartedly, then full victory will not be as challenging as it seems on the surface level. It is only a matter of time before marriage equality is reached, so the country might as well continue the heavily push process sooner rather than later.
