Same-sex marriage should be legal because marriage is a symbol of love and passion for each other, same-sex family life is as good as heterosexual family life, and banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional discrimination. . Homosexuality exists in over four hundred and fifty species, but homophobia (irrational fear or aversion to homosexuality) exists in only one. (Gay Marriage Research Paper) We live in the “land of the free,” but we still have laws that prohibit same-sex couples from marrying. They need the right to marry without resorting to labels like “civil union” or “gay marriage.” (Gay Pursuasive Essay) More than thirty-eight percent of the population of the United States have the freedom to marry, or honor out-of-state marriages of homosexual couples, and more than forty-three percent of the population of United States live in a state that provides some form of protection for same-sex couples. There are seventeen states (not including Washington DC) in the United States that have the freedom of same-sex marriage. These states are: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Washington DC. (Freedom to marry) Marriage should not be a union between a man and a woman, but it should be a union between two people who truly love and care for each other; and plan to spend the rest of their lives together. (Research paper on gay marriage) For example, how would heterosexual couples feel if homosexual couples did not want them to get married? In his book, Homosexual Marriage; Bad morals or civil law, Tricia Andryszewski asked David Brooks; a conservative New York Times columnist in the middle of the article......691987/Gay-Pursuasive-EssayHudson, M. (2013, August). Justice Scalia; Gay marriage is “inevitable”. Retrieved March 24, 2014 from Lesbian News: http://webb.ebscohost.comProCon.org. (nd). Retrieved March 24, 2014 from Gay Marriage: http://gaymarriage.procon.org Rich, A. and Wagner, G. (nd). Retrieved March 26, 2014 from Same-Sex Marriage: An Overview: web.ebscohost.com/Pov/detail?Sid=ffb0c876-35e1-45fd-83d9-6c24c21bb78b%40sessionmgr1108vid=28hid=112&bdata=JnNpdGU9cG92LWxpdmU%3d#db=pwh& AN= 23259475Why Same-sex marriage should be legalized. (2012, July). Retrieved March 11, 2014 from Study Mode.com: http://www.study mode.com/essays/Why-Gay-Marriage-Should-Be Legalized-1049599.htmlWolfson, E. (nd). Retrieved March 18, 2014, from US News: http;//usnews.com/debate-club/should-gay-marriage-be legal-nationwide/without-nationwide-gay-marriage-us-government-descriminates