The social issues with gay marriage shouldn’t dictate government ruling.

When it comes down to why gay marriage should or should not be legal, are the reasons expressed by our government’s laws really constitutional or just perverse rules enabled by an outdated way of thinking? It makes little to no sense why gay marriage is still illegal in some states. Laws made by our government are put in place to protect the people against violent or harmful situations, not to prevent kindness and love.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the law constituting a ban on same-sex marriage is due to marriage laws only recognizing the union between woman and man.

Constitutionally speaking, there is a separation of church and state, but does this really hold true? What legal reason is there that marriage must be between a man and a woman?

Tennessee and the states around it are part of the “Bible Belt”, and same-sex marriages are still illegal in most of the states in this region. The role of religion plays a major part in the discussion of the legality of gay marriage, even though it should be a legal issue.

Many members of our government are older in their religious traditions. Amongst a group of tightly knit religious conservatives, gay marriage will continue to struggle. The lack of legitimate laws prohibiting gay marriages should be the downfall of the ban.

The social issues with gay marriage shouldn’t dictate governmental ruling. In the 21st century, with all of the developments our country has made, people should be more understanding of change and growth.

Just because same-sex marriage is against someone’s religion or is sometimes considered “socially unacceptable” does not mean that it should be illegal.