Extra Credit Paper WOMS201 Laberge Jessica Leibowitz

A widespread issue being covered frequently in the media is the debate over marriage rights and equality. Marriage, in the eyes of the government, is seen as a legal contract and has been controlled as such. The United States federal government currently holds that marriage is limited to heterosexual couples only, deeply affecting the rights of same-sex couples around the country. Gay rights advocates have been working hard at eliminating these restrictions and have made some progress in recent years. This year, our little state of Delaware has joined the small list of states that have legalized same-sex marriage. Previously, Delaware had been one of the few states to allow civil unions for same-sex couples, but with the approval of this bill Delaware will now allow the marriage of gay and lesbian couples. After winning the vote in the Delaware House (23-18) on April 23rd, 2013, the bill legalizing same-sex marriage was approved by the Delaware Senate in a vote 12-9 and was signed by current governor, Jack Marshall, on May 7th, 2013 and will go into effect as of July 1st, 2013. The approval of this bill is a historic success for the government of the small state of Delaware, and a momentous victory for its citizens. The passing of this law signifies the equality of people and the freedom to choose whom you love and share your life with. The passing of this law is especially noteworthy with the current surrounding Supreme Court debates on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) passed originally in 1997. This act defines marriage as a union specifically and only between heterosexual couples, and allows states to ignore the marriage rights of same-sex couples that have been married in

different states. Additionally, it asserts that a fundamental institution of the United States is marriage, encouraging all citizens to be married. In my opinion, the passing of this bill in Delaware is a huge success for Americans everywhere. Despite there still only being eleven states to legalize marriage equality laws, the addition of our small state to this list is just adding to the equal rights momentum gained recently after the legalization of marriage in Maine, Washington, and Maryland, just last fall. One state closer to equality indicates that the United States as a whole is closer to equality. The United States federal restrictions on marriage do much more than leave samesex couples without a marriage certificate. These laws are a huge intrusion by the government into what most people believe to be a private relationship, solely between the two people involved. Opposition against equal marriage rights only suggests an opposition to gender equality and general human rights. The idea that people should only unite with members of the opposite sex implies that we, as men and women, are not equal. Until the laws implying that to be properly gendered we must be heterosexual are lifted, gender equality cannot be reached.