What is marriage? Marriage is defined as the legal union of a man and a woman. According to Psychology Today, marriage is the process by which two people who love each other make their relationship public, official, and permanent. Although the definition of marriage and the majority of society makes same-sex marriage almost impossible; Psychology Today recognizes that “any” person who loves each other can come together and unite. In 1970, in Minnesota, the first gay couple to apply for a marriage license in the United States was Jack Baker and Michael McConnell and they were not allowed to marry. However, in May 2013, Minnesota finally legalized same-sex marriage and the law would take effect in August 2013. They had to wait over 40 years to finally be happy with the marriage they wanted and become legally married. In 1975, two men from Phoenix, Arizona, obtained a marriage license from the county clerk. However, marriage is still prohibited in more than half of the United States of America. Why is same-sex marriage banned in most of the United States? Although elected officials have not legalized same-sex marriage, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) reports that gay and lesbian couples want the same rights as married couples and that more than half or a majority of Americans believe they should have a legal agreement that gives them these rights. rights. (History of state constitutional marriage bans, 2011-2013). Many elected officials are against same-sex marriage while the President of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama, is the first American president to support same-sex marriage. Traditionally, same-sex marriage is wrong, and morally as well. However, we can say that there are many American traditions that are broken and that...... middle of paper ......ter. Gale of wind. Chicago City Colleges. October 12, 2013 Dinno, Alexis and Chelsea Whitney. “Same-sex marriage and the perceived assault on opposite-sex marriage.” Plos ONE 8.6 (2013): 1-8. Premier Academic Research. Internet. October 12, 2013. Hallett, Stephanie. “History of Gay Marriage in the United States (INFOGRAPHIC).” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, July 15, 2013. Web. October 12, 2013. “History of State Constitutional Marriage Bans.” » Human Rights Campaign. Np, and Web. October 12, 2013. “KidsHealth.” Sexual orientation. Np, and Web. October 12, 2013. Rich Mkhondo. “Gay families are the same as traditional families.” Opposing views: gay parenting. Ed. Beth Rosenthal. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale of wind. Chicago City Colleges. October 12, 2013 “Traditional marriage? Faith in America. Faith in America, nd Web. October 12. 2013.