Gay rights and same-sex marriage have been a controversial issue for many years now. People believe that if someone loves someone of the same sex then they aren’t human. Although 34 states have allowed same-sex marriage, people still do not approve. And even though those states allow for gay marriage, the couples are not allowed benefits or social security. Judge John E. Jones fully supports same-sex marriage saying, “We are better people than what these laws represent, and it is time to discard them into the ash heap of history.” That statement is entirely true. Having such harsh laws for same-sex couples, makes us look like terrible people, which we aren’t. Why should gays have separate laws just so they can get married anyway? They’re people too and they shouldn’t be treated any differently.

In an article written by Martha Nussbaum, “A Right to Marry? Same-Sex Marriage and Constitutional Law”, she states that when heterosexual couples get married, they get loads of benefits in which unmarried people don’t get. If a homosexual couple gets married, they should get those benefits as well. They’re married, they should have the same rights as a man and a woman that are married. Later on in the article, Nussbaum says, “Marriage is an expressive aspect.” This is America, the land of the free. The Constitution is the law of this country. Just  didn’t know, the first amendment protects the right to freedom of religion and freedom of expression from government interference. Now, let’s just take a look at the last part of that sentence again, “Freedom of expression from government interference.” That doesn’t exactly sound like what’s happening with same sex couples. If the constitution IS the law of the land, then why do same sex couples still have to fight for their right? Why do they have laws declaring if they can get married or not? Doesn’t sound very fair at all, and is VERY unconstitutional.

Sam Smith, an openly gay British singer, doesn’t understand why [him] being gay is a big deal, “I’m comfortable with myself and my life is amazing.” A comment that couldn’t be any more true. If a person is comfortable and happy with themselves, then everyone else should be comfortable and happy. Same-sex marriage definitely should not be as big of a deal as it is. “It’s as normal as my right arm. I want to make it a normality because this is a non-issue. People wouldn’t ask a straight person these questions.” Smith responded with that answer later on in the same interview with E! News when he kept getting questioned about his sexuality. Smith makes an amazing point there. Why should it be different for same-sex couples? Just because someone doesn’t agree doesn’t mean it should be regulated by the government.

People are people. Whether they are white, black, Hispanic, gay, lesbian, bisexual, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim or anything else, they should be allowed to love whoever they want without fear and without breaking laws.

People can’t help who they fall in love with, and politicians certainly should not be able to legislate laws on stopping or preventing love for a certain group of people. If same-sex couples can’t get married in certain places than different sex couples shouldn’t be able to marry either. It’s fair and it’s logical. We need to open our eyes and realize that we are people, underneath all our unique characteristics, we are all the same. We need to start treating people the same. Love is love, that’s something that can’t be changed.

Maybe somewhere over the rainbow, there could be a brighter and more inclusive future for everyone.