Position Paper Topic: Same Sex Marriage

This week, we were asked to write a blog introducing our "Position Paper" topic. The paper, due in nearly a month, is an open ended assignment in which the writer, members of the AP Government class, present a current, relevant topic on which to offer their "position", related both to their political party and the committee(s) that they belong to. For my paper, I have chosen to take on the touchy topic of same-sex marriage.

Same-sex marriage is, as of now, a topic of contention left solely up to the states. It is in the state legislatures, state referendum votes, and state supreme courts that final decisions on the topic of same-sex marriage lie. The federal government's sole involvement in the issue to this point has been to pass an act nullifying the "full faith and credit clause" found in article IV of the Constitution in terms of gay marriage. This article states that states are to give "full faith and credit" to other states, and honor other states decisions on certain matters. Whether it relates to a topic as social as gay marriage is questionable, and the legislation is in many ways considered a clarification, just like this drawn out and unnecessary explanation.

The states are split over the topic of gay marriage, with contentious debates occuring in many state's various branches of government. Some allow gay marriage, some civil unions, and some prohibit any form of legal recognition for gay couples whatsoever. Much of this has to do with political parties. As the names would imply, conservatives would like to keep things the way they are and liberals would like reform.

This is an extremely broad and far-reaching topic, and I look forward to condensing a plethora of information into a concise, opinionated piece of writing. I only hope that the end result accurately represents both my own feelings and those of my political party, and possibly reconciles my ideas to those of people with opposing viewpoints.