Purpose

    

     The passing of proposition eight in California and similar bans on gay marriage in Florida, and Arizona are preposterous infringements of American civil liberties and individual rights. It is important to understand how American’s feel about the issue and what allowed these bans to pass. My project will include a blog outlining the history behind the major legislation in the United States dealing with same-sex marriage and describing the legal standing of the issue, especially in the case of the Defensive of Marriage Act. In addition, I will include a link to the current laws in place on the regulation of gay marriage in the 50 states. Most importantly, I will give an example of what can be done to reverse these rulings and discuss the viability of their reversal due to the likely appointments to the Supreme Court by President Elect Barack Obama.

     My argument will focus on the major documents of our nation’s founding and the jurisprudence that has lead up to our current laws on the subject. I will include arguments sculpted by the congressional research service and other academic sources to educate my audience (which for now will be our class and those who come about my work on the blogosphere) about why our current legislation is not just wrong, but unconstitutional. 

     The main question my project will address is whether or not the government has the right to dictate the definition of a state marriage as a union between a man and a woman. It is important to know the roots of the argument and to look at it from a non-religious standpoint, so that an accurate picture can be developed about whether or not the right course of action is being taken. Overall my purpose will be to use case law in developing a pro same-sex marriage postion.