There are many reasons that have been argued as to why LGBT people should be allowed to marry, but those reasons have always been countered, picketed at Pride parades, and quoted from scripture. It is for these reasons that the debate has lasted so long and has been slow moving. Much of the opposition is rooted in the historical doctrine of our World, which is derived from religion and to some, sums of the purpose of creation.

The argument for upholding traditional marriage, which is the belief that marriage should be between a man and a woman, has been touted in regard to protecting the nuclear family and religious liberty. Marriage and the union between a man and woman to some is solely for procreation purposes, and this is often the case why so many states in the past held sodomy laws.

These laws came at a time when sex before marriage was considered to be sinful. To some it still is even in our modern times. The purpose of sex and marriage for some is for procreation, and naturally same sex couples cannot procreate, thus their relations being regarded against the laws of nature. If this is the case then what about heterosexual couples who choose not to have children? Given that argument shouldn’t they not be allowed to marry as well? Some believe that because same sex couples can not procreate that they are not fit to be parents, and that a child should be raised with a both a mother and a father.

It is the belief that LGBT marriage and parenting will only create a downward spiral towards the degradation of family values and the very framework that this world was created for. You hear time and time again that God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. A majority of the arguments against acceptance of LGBT people and marriage equality come from religion.

According to the Bible, homosexuality is a sin, and therefore, gay marriage is a sin. Leviticus 18:22 says, “You shall not lie with a man, as with a woman; it is an abomination.” To challenge that, would be challenging the Bible and written word of God, and the core of religion. However, in Genesis 1:27, the Bible also says “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them,” which if that deems true, God created man, and he created woman, and he created everything that they are, which would include homosexuality. This alludes to the argument that LGBT people are born gay, just like that of a person being born of a different ethnicity, hair color or any other intrinsic characteristic.

Religion is the backbone of America, the forefathers founded it as a Christian nation. But there is a fine line between separation of church and state, and in this case it is entirely up to the States. Those that believe in traditional marriage believe it to be unconstitutional to jeopardize the religious freedoms indicated in the first amendment rights.

Many of these religious liberties don’t play out when same sex couples are allowed to walk down the aisle, if they are. It is when those marriage and wedding practices interject into other spheres where people find their values and beliefs in jeopardy. There have been numerous cases of flower and wedding cake companies coming under fire because they refused to give services to same sex couples on the basis of their religious beliefs. According to The Heritage Foundation, “All Americans should remain free to believe and act in the public square based on their beliefs about marriage without fear of government penalty,” and gay marriage interferes with that.

Denying same sex couples the rights and freedoms to marry are also argued as unconstituti

onal because they interfere with basic human rights. The 14th amendment says "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." With that being said, gay marriage should be equally protected.

Ultimately marriage comes down to the love and commitment shared by two individuals who choose to spend the rest of their lives together. Many LGBT couples are in committed and loving relationships that are as lengthy and as significant as marriages, yet they are not recognized by law. Some same sex couples have been committed for decades, have children, share a home, expenses, property, and a life. That is marrying of two people and two lives.