The United States Supreme Court has ruled that the Constitution guarantees the right to same-sex marriage. However, same-sex marriage continues to be a hotly debated issue that leaves our society searching for answers. This was very evident during elections when politicians, to distract or influence conservative voters, all took sides and expressed an opinion on the issue of same-sex marriage. The debate was presented on the left as a debate about civil rights, about equal rights. And on the right, as a moral debate, a referendum on homosexuality (Rauch, J. 2004). Everyone has an opinion on whether two men or two women should be able to marry and, in doing so, enjoy the same rights afforded to them by the federal government as are afforded to more "traditional" couples. I believe that gay, lesbian and transgender couples should be afforded the same privileges as any other citizen, including the choice of marriage. Singling out and denying certain rights to any person based on sexual orientation, just like race, ethnicity, or religious background, is discrimination. Furthermore, religious views on homosexuality should have no effect on our laws. By conservative estimates, there are probably about ten million gay men and lesbians in the United States. And they will be there. They will have affairs and have children, no matter what we do in our laws and no matter what the courts say. And the question of whether gay and lesbian couples should have the same right to marry under our state laws - we're talking about state laws here, we're not talking about private religious organizations. (Wolff, 2005) In the past, marriage was something everyone was expected to do. ...... half of the sheet ...... arch 8). Hollywood: a world of wonders. Inalienable rites? Gay marriage in the courts (2005, March 25). Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson [Radio News Program].http://www.hoover.org/multimedia/uk/2934426.htmlLoving v. Virginia, 388 US 1 (1967)Masci, D. (2009, May 21). A clash of rights? Gay marriage and free exercise of religion.http://pewforum.org/events/?EventID=216Masci, D. (2009, July 9). Public Opinion on Gay Marriage: Opponents Consistently Outnumber Supporters.http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=424Rauch, J. (2004, April 1). Can gay marriage strengthen the American family? [Brookings Briefing].http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/events/2004/0401children%20%20%20families/20040401.pdfStrasser, P. M. (1999). The challenge of same-sex marriage: federalist principles and constitutional protections. Westport: Preager Publisher.