Over the course of the last twenty to thirty years, it has slowly become more socially acceptable to admit one's homosexuality. Until recently, gays have typically had to hide their sexuality. Today, mainstream television shows, commercials, sports stars, politicians, etc., have helped increase the awareness of gays and lesbians and made it more socially acceptable. Social acceptance has been one of the first giant leaps for people in this lifestyle. The next step for homosexual couples is their want for a "legal union" between one another so that they can not only be married, but be eligible for the same federal aid offered to heterosexual couples. There has been much debate over the issue of whether or not same sex marriages should be legal and whether or not marriage performed in one state is eligible to be carried over to another state and still be considered a legal sanction, this debate has gone so far that that there is talk of banning it in the federal constitution of the United States of America. Given the importance of this issue, the value of this comprehensive debate may be obvious. Marriage is considered to be much more than a commitment to love one another. Aside from societal and religious conventions, marriage entails legally imposed financial responsibility and legally authorized financial benefits. Marriage instantly provides an automatic legal succession of a deceased spouse's property, as well as pension and law, many other financial and personal benefits. Should the law prohibit their request merely because they are of the same gender?.
"Eight years ago, Congress passed, and President Clinton signed, the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage for purposes of federal law as the legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife." These opening remarks to President Bush's open support for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages has helped gain support to ban homosexual marriages.