Gay Marriage – What’s the Big Deal?

Tuesday, April 7, 2009, marked a cornerstone for gay rights in Vermont, as the state legislature overrode Gov. Jim Douglas’s veto of a bill allowing gay couples to marry. This adds Vermont to one of four states permitting gay marriage, the other three being Massachusetts, Iowa, and Connecticut. Though many celebrated the Vermont legislation, strong opposition still weighs heavily in many states. Take, for instance, The National Organization for Marriage, a big-time supporter of fighting same sex marriage in California. The organization has launched a $1.5 million ad campaign to slow, or halt, gay marriage legislation in other states. The theme of the ads fight the argument of gay marriage supporters of, “It doesn’t affect your life, so why do you care?” The organization argues gay marriage directly conflicts with religious beliefs, therefore directly imposing on many people’s lives – gay or not.  Meanwhile, UCLA reported gay marriage could actually benefit the economy, as reported by The Huffington Post. The study estimated same-sex couples would add $684 million to California’s wedding industry, and 2,200 jobs would be created from the spike in weddings.  Whether or not gay marriage is enacted in more states, one fact remains clear: the debate will always continue to rage on. Whether its religion, legal, or economic reasons, every argument has an equally grounded counter-argument.