Americans live in a democratic society, in which the U.S.Constitution gurantees the rights of living in freedom of religion and freedom of expressing their own ideas. Due to these rights, sometimes there are conflicts between people's beliefs and life-styles. Homosexuals are one of those groups enjoying freedom of speech under U.S.Constitution since laws protect them to safely live on their land. However, they have been subjects of discrimination on military, employment and marriage. Gays and lesbians in America start protesting for one of the basic rights guranteed in the constitution - marriage. America, the country of free speech is divided into two sides again on this issue.
Trational American Puritans and Christians who believe bible under god's name strongly believe homosexuality itself is a serious sin. ¡°Male and female created He them¡± (Genesis 1:27). The human race was to be perpetuated through sexual union (Genesis 1:28). Those are just two of the sentences from bible supporting puritanical means of marriage as only sexual union between a man and a woman. Following their argument, the human species' marriage is divinly difined by god. Chritians consider homosexuals as extremely unnatural species. By means of the religious freedom, they have rights to live in the society, in which they can keep their religious belief. Legally accepting homosexual marriage as same kind of marriage with heterosexual marriage is betrayal to their faith in god.
The other side of American is very generous about homosexual marriage. The Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits states from denying any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Liberals interpret objects of the 14th amendment include homosexuals. Following their argument, as blacks and women got their basic rights from the constitutional amendment, homosexuals also need to get have their rights. They consider homosexuals as one of the minorites to be protected by laws. They strongly support for spousal benefit for gay people.
Both sides are arguing for the 14th amendment, but they have conflicting view on the constitutional amendment. Both sides agree on the law that minorites such as blacks and women should not be discriminated aganist by the U.S. laws. For religious side, the law doesn't apply to homosexuals. When the amendment was passed, the main purpose of this law was to protect minorites having inherited qualities such as skin color or gender. The definition of 'inherited' should be 'cannot be controlled quality'. Homosexuality is a behavior, which can be contorlled by human will. Liberal side claim that homosexuals are human being. They consider homosexuals as one of the minorites. The 14th amendment applies to homosexuals. Although homosexuals have different life-style and opinion, that cannot be a reason for discriminating against homosexuals since all Americans have same basic right of free speech.