What I Know So Far

What I know, so far, about gay and lesbian rights is what I've learned just by living in Vermont. I know that the gay and lesbian rights is a very sensitive issue in every state in our nation.  Very few states allow gay marriage. These states are Iowa, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Washington D.C.  The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), presented to congress in 1996, defined marriage as between a man and a women. DOMA also said that if a state does not wish to recognize gay marriage as a legal union, then the states do not have to.  I also know that Proposition 8 (or the California Marriage Protection Act) was passed in November 2008. Proposition 8 changed the recognized law, in the state of California, of same sex marriage to "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized."