Assignment 5

1) The article states there is a narrow majority supporting gay marriage with 45% . The rest either did not support or had no response. This poll shows a big change from only a 25% support in 1996.


2. Proposition was California bill to ban same sex marriage in 2008. This has been a fight ever since it was passed. In August 2011 a judge ruled that Proposition 8 violated the equal protection rights. In February 2012 it was ruled that Prop 8 violated the Constitution and 14th amendment and discriminated against gays and lesbians.


3. The Defense of Marriage Act considers marriage "only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word `spouse' refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife."


4. North Dakota passed a constitutional marriage amendment in 2004 and adopted the defense of marriage act. In Florida they passed a amendment banning gay marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships. They already adopted the Defense of Marriage Act. Both North Dakota and Florida have adopted the Defense of Marriage Act. Florida has a separate act banning all types of gay marriage as well.


5. The passing of gay marriage will affect the wedding industry in many ways. More weddings will create more jobs for many different people. An estimated 31 billion dollars will enter the tourism industry. 66,000 couples will marry in the next 3 years. 


 The rate of straight couples is 90% and gay couples is 65%. Lesbians are more likely to marry. Many gay couples are not marrying because they want the definition of marriage to be changed first.