Gay Marriage in New York?

In America, marriage isn't simply a ring on a finger. Marriage rights include insurance coverage for spouses, visiting rights in hospitals, tax benefits and many consumer benefits. For committed gay couples in many states, these rights aren't an option. Same-sex couples in the majority of the country aren't allowed to sign a piece of paper, pay a fee, and gain the privileges of marriage. However, in New York, they soon could. According to Governor David Paterson, New York state legislators will vote on the issue before the end of the year.

Many people in modern America accept homosexuality, but there are still those who believe that it is morally wrong. This issue asks people to question the definition of the word "marriage" and consider the rights of their friends and family members.

Youth across America are widely affected by the gay marriage issue, including students at Jamesville-DeWitt High School. Some are gay or lesbian themselves. Some have gay parents. Some, like seniors Rachel Robinson, Nina Hylen and Talia Harrison, have friends and family who are homosexual.

Some students, like junior Joe Hall, have personal connections to the issue. "I'm gay, and I want to get married someday," he says. "I respect others' opinions about same-sex marriage," but personally, he hopes for the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York and the entire country.

Junior Chris Yu believes that this is a matter of human rights. "We're all people. We should all be able to marry whomever we love. It doesn't personally affect me, so why should I limit someone else's rights?" Yu says. Junior Kelsey Cook agrees; "All people are equal, so they all deserve the same rights, regardless."

Since many teens have friends who are homosexual, their views may be influenced more by their friendships instead of their political or religious opinions.

Yu is one who has formulated his views on his own. "I follow the news and figure out my own view on [the issue]." Cook also developed her opinion individually, but she recognizes that some people may come to a conclusion because of religious beliefs.

Harrison, Hylen and Robinson believe that their homosexual friends should be
able to marry someday. "It doesn't matter who you love, you should be able to express that," says Robinson. Harrison adds, "Everyone deserves to be happy. It doesn't matter who makes you happy." Hylen agrees. "If you love someone, you should be able to marry them." Hylen would be proud to have same-sex marriage rights in New York.

Sophomore Chip Weber is in favor of civil unions for same-sex couples, but he is not in favor of same-sex marriage. Civil unions allow for many rights that married couples have, but they aren't technically considered marriages. Weber emphasizes that people shouldn't be "persecuted" for their sexual orientation, but he believes that marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman.

Currently Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont allow same-sex marriage. New Jersey allows for civil unions. California and Maine previously allowed same-sex marriage rights, but both states repealed that right in highly publicized state elections. There is still a strong gay rights movement bubbling in California a year after Proposition 8 passed in California and repealed same-sex marriage rights. Maine's same-sex marriage rights were repealed this November, on Election Day, and movements across the country are fighting these results.

The states of Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York and Washington have same-sex marriage bills in front of their 2009 legislatures. In New York, Governor Paterson is pressing to pass the bill on gay marriage. Paterson cannot guarantee the approval of the bill, but he will sign it if passed. He has supported this bill from the start, and believes that it will successfully become a law.