Alternative Lifestyles & Marriage
Marriage and alternative lifestyles are topics of cultural debate. These discussions revolve around ideas such as the definition of "marriage" and what the role of so called "alternative lifestyles" should be in society. A number of these so called "alternative lifestyles" exist, and the debates around them are passionate and varied.
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Marriage
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Marriage is a union of two individuals on a number of levels. For religion, it marks a very specific point in the life style, and marks certain vows between the two individuals before the deity the couple worships. For the less religious, it is at the very least a legal status so that a couple can save money on taxes, have an easier time passing property on to each other, and have guaranteed visitation rights in the case that one of the two is hospitalized.
Traditional Marriage
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Religious individuals and those that consider themselves to be "social conservatives" insist that the institution of marriage should be limited to a strict definition of a union between a man and a woman. They cite a variety of reasons, ranging from Biblical scripture on the topic to arguments that a model of a man and a woman provides the most stable family situations for raising well-adjusted children. These groups tend to argue and advocate that the legal status of marriage should only be awarded to a union between a single man and a single woman.
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Non-Traditional Marriage
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The target of those who advocate for "traditional" marriage is the topic of same-sex marriage, where individuals of the same sex marry. Those in favor of same-sex marriages, which conservatives refer to as "alternative lifestyles," argue that marriage is much more than a personal event, which should not be restricted to those of a heterosexual persuasion. The advocates of same-sex marriage, both those who wish to enter such unions and others who simply support their right to do so, argue that marriage is a fundamental civil right that the government cannot and should not restrict.
Civil Unions
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As of 2010, in some states in which same-sex marriage is legally prohibited, there is a legal status referred to as "civil union" into which same-sex couples may enter. These unions grant many of the same rights as formal marriage including tax privileges, the ability to include the partner on a health care plan, and hospital visitation rights. However, many couples that seek to obtain same-sex marriages feel that being restricted to civil unions is discriminatory and want the right to a full state recognized marriage.
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References
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