Here’s the deal: prohibiting same-sex marriage is an unconstitutional discrimination.

Period. Prohibiting someone from doing something that has no negative impact on you or others is simply and utterly outrageous. I’m sure you’ve all heard the same-sex marriage arguments before, but for some reason, approximately 47 percent of the population still isn’t listening. According to a July 2011 poll from CBS News, 53 percent of the United State’s population believes that the government should legally recognize same-sex marriages. When you break down the ages in the poll, it is clear that Americans under 60 are mostly in favor of same-sex marriage while those over 60 are mostly against same-sex marriage. We need to stop living in the past and start living in a place where all people should be granted equal rights.

As of April 2012, six states (Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut,

New York and Iowa) and Washington D.C. have legalized same-sex marriage. Washington and Maryland have passed laws to begin granting same-sex marriage licenses this year. As of February 2012, 10 out of 194 countries have legalized same-sex marriages. The rest of the states and countries need to get on board the equal rights train.

Many religious and political leaders claim that altering the traditional definition of marriage as between a man and a woman would weaken the institution of marriage. According to gaymarriage.procon.org, when Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004, it had the lowest divorce rate in 2008. In fact, the divorce rate in Massachusetts declined 21 percent between 2003 and 2008. On the other hand, Alaska, the first state to alter its constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage, has had a steady increase in its divorce rate since the alteration. On top of that, the seven states with the highest divorce rates all prohibit same-sex marriage. Hmm. . . Does anyone else see the irony?

Many religious leaders have proclaimed that same-sex marriage is an abomination against God. Ah, yes, OK, because there is definitely only ONE religion in the world. Also, there is no law that says that anyone has to follow or be a part of a religion. So why does this argument even apply to outlawing same-sex marriage?

Support for same-sex marriage is highly political. What I mean by that statement is that according to a CNN Research Corporation Poll from April 2011, 64 percent of Democrats and 55 percent of Independents support same-sex marriage while only 27 percent of Republicans are in favor of same-sex marriage. Support or opposition of same-sex marriage can be linked with political parties.

According to multiple news outlets, allowing same-sex marriage can help the economy. It can bring in revenue and create more jobs. Why wouldn’t you want to help the economy escape from the bowels of the crapper it is in? GAH! I’m going to save that can of worms for another day. The good news is that the United States is moving in the right direction. ABC News polled Americans back in 2006, just six years ago, and reported that only 36 percent of the population supported gay marriage. That’s a 17 percent jump, which I think is a dramatic change for public perception on a social issue.

By denying same-sex couples the right to marry, hospital visitation during an illness rights, taxation and inheritance rights, and access to family health coverage will remain available to heterosexual couples only. These only touch the surface of the rights that same-sex couples do not have. If you don’t believe in same-sex marriage, then don’t enter into one. Let people marry who they love. It is not going to hurt your marriage.