the classmate name is Gilbert Truong.

Federal government to expand recognition of same-sex marriage
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-nn-same-sex-marriage-federal-20140208,0,7240056.story#ixzz2t5ElH8em

Texas couples go to court to overturn same-sex marriage ban

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/11/us-usa-gaymarriage-texas-idUSBREA1A1LH20140211

Kentucky must recognize same-sex marriages from other states: judge

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-usa-gaymarriage-kentucky-idUSBREA1B22M20140212

In the LA Times article, it states that Attorney General, Eric H. Holder Jr., will issue a directive expanding government recognition of same-sex marriages to all federal courtrooms and prisons as well as some federal benefit programs. This would mean that legally married same-sex couples will be recognized nationwide in federal cases and may qualify for marriage benefits such as prison visitation and death benefits to surviving spouses of police officers and firefighters killed on duty. This directive will go into effect even instates that do not recognize same-sex marriages that legally occurred in other states, or have a ban on same-sex marriages. In Texas, two same-sex couples are heading to the courtroom seeking to overturn the state’s amendment in its constitution that bans same-sex marriages. One of the couples comprised of two military veterans who were married in Massachusetts in 2001, were not able to adopt a child because the state did not recognize their marriage. In Kentucky, however, four same-sex couples challenged the state’s decision to void their marriages, but did not target the state’s ban on their marriages. This came on the same day that other same-sex couples challenged Missouri’s ban on same-sex marriages.

It is very apparent that across the nation, policies and views on what marriage is and should be are changing or being questioned. There are two very polarizing sides to this argument of marriage and it seems that both sides are not ready to back down any time soon. This has caused a very harsh split in the country on this topic and has stopped the people’s ability to communicate calmly and sincerely. Because of this lack of communication, the two sides have the behavior like a child—preaching the “my way or the highway” mentality. This mentality has affected the lives of everyday Americans and veterans, who just want to live their lives, which has caused them to result to the country’s judicial system. In my opinion, because I believe that there is no difference between homosexual marriages and heterosexual marriages, I think it’s sort of discouraging to see how many people are so discriminatory towards other human beings. I agree that everyone has a right to have their own opinion of things, however, when one person’s opinions are enforced and affect a lot of other people, it has to be reviewed and questioned constantly to see if it is still valid for this day and age. With the legalization of same-sex marriage, this will not affect heterosexual couples at all. Even though there are some who may feel offended, it is not a reason to say that something is morally wrong. With legalization of same-sex marriage, those couples will be able to file taxes together and have visitation rights in the hospital amongst many other things that a marriage contract allows. Whether I think that the couple is “not natural” or “offensive” should not give me the right to regulate what gender of human being an individual wants to spend the rest of his/her life with.