are impossible. Homosexual relationships like this do exist, but there are also similar heterosexual ones. It is not until society develops an accurate picture of what gay relationships honestly are that true equality and gay marriage can occur (Bidstrup 1). As the debate on the legalization of gay marriage continues, the justifications being offered by society to deny homosexuals this basic human right must be examined. With the majority of America opposing this act, do relevant reasons exist? To deny gays the right to legal marriage is an infringement upon their basic human rights without adequate justifications of the harm society will endure as a result.
             Many people ask why gays are demanding marriage. Can they not just cohabitate? Why is marriage so important to them? There are two main reasons why homosexuals are fighting so hard to participate in the union of marriage. The first argument is based on civil rights and the principles of justice and fairness. Here, marriage is addressed as a legal state that provides tangible benefits to those who participate. Such benefits include tax breaks, advantages when it comes to inheritance, property ownership, and employment benefits. Since family law limits such benefits to marriage, and marriage is restricted to heterosexual couples over the age of consent, this discriminates against homosexuals who under current law will never enjoy such rewards
             simply due to their sexual orientation (Schulman 35, 36). Examples of this are visible in emergency situations where gay partners do not have the right to make medical decisions for each other. Hospitals are forced by law to go to the families to make a decision, even for those who may have been estranged for years. If a family is hostile and wishes to exclude the gay partner from the hospital they may legally do so. Similarly if one partner is arrested the other may be compelled to testify or provide evidence against them. ...