2008 Woodie Awards
Gay marriage still faces uphill battle
Issue date: 12/7/06 Section: News
(U-WIRE) STORRS, Conn. -- For over a decade, the Republican Party controlled Congress. Now, the Democrats are in control and people wonder what will be in store for controversial issues such as the war in Iraq and abortion rights. One of the most controversial issues is gay rights and legalizing gay marriages. Will the election results have an impact on this issue?
According to an article recently published in The Boston Globe, the election results will have little effect on gay rights and marriages. Massachusetts, since November 2003 is the only state that allows gay marriages. However, two days after the election, Massachusetts's lawmakers planned to convene a constitutional convention to consider a ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage, according to the article. As of right now, Massachusetts' lawmakers are backing down and leaving the issue of same-sex marriage alone for now, according to an article from The New York Times.
Another crucial event concerning this issue is Arizona's rejection of a ban on same-sex marriages.
"There is growing support for same-sex marriages," said Stephanie Marnin, director of the Rainbow Center. "The fact that Arizona is the first state that rejected the ballot measure for banning same-sex marriages and six other states retained it by much less numbers of vote than last year, shows that there is growing support."
Marnin also mentioned that she wasn't sure whether or not the Democratic Party will have a huge effect on same-sex marriage and gay rights. According to her, it is a positive change to have the Democrats in control of Congress but she doesn't know what that will mean for same-sex couples.
"I suppose if the federal government wanted to make a change, it could create a legislation banning amendments of sexual preferences," Marin said, "but overall it's a state issue."
On May 7, 1996, a Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was introduced to Congress stating that no state is required to recognize same-sex marriages. It also defined the word marriage for federal purposes. According to Marnin, in order for Congress to allow same-sex marriage, it would have to lift this act but "it still wouldn't be a big change," she said.
According to an article recently published in The Boston Globe, the election results will have little effect on gay rights and marriages. Massachusetts, since November 2003 is the only state that allows gay marriages. However, two days after the election, Massachusetts's lawmakers planned to convene a constitutional convention to consider a ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage, according to the article. As of right now, Massachusetts' lawmakers are backing down and leaving the issue of same-sex marriage alone for now, according to an article from The New York Times.
Another crucial event concerning this issue is Arizona's rejection of a ban on same-sex marriages.
"There is growing support for same-sex marriages," said Stephanie Marnin, director of the Rainbow Center. "The fact that Arizona is the first state that rejected the ballot measure for banning same-sex marriages and six other states retained it by much less numbers of vote than last year, shows that there is growing support."
Marnin also mentioned that she wasn't sure whether or not the Democratic Party will have a huge effect on same-sex marriage and gay rights. According to her, it is a positive change to have the Democrats in control of Congress but she doesn't know what that will mean for same-sex couples.
"I suppose if the federal government wanted to make a change, it could create a legislation banning amendments of sexual preferences," Marin said, "but overall it's a state issue."
On May 7, 1996, a Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was introduced to Congress stating that no state is required to recognize same-sex marriages. It also defined the word marriage for federal purposes. According to Marnin, in order for Congress to allow same-sex marriage, it would have to lift this act but "it still wouldn't be a big change," she said.
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