Comparing Politics, Law, and Power: Same-Sex Marriage in US

This essay examines the contrasting approaches of Texas and Vermont to the issue of same-sex marriage, exploring the interplay of politics, law, policy, and power. It delves into the historical, demographic, cultural, and socioeconomic factors that have shaped the states' stances, highlighting the impact of differing political ideologies and religious influences. The essay analyzes how these factors have led to discrepancies in legal frameworks and social attitudes, impacting the rights and experiences of the LGBT community. Furthermore, it discusses the implications of these policy differences, including potential effects on population migration and economic outcomes. The analysis incorporates relevant theoretical frameworks, such as power theories, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding same-sex marriage in the United States.

Running head: COMPARING POLITICS
Comparing Politics
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Comparing Politics, Law, Policy, and Power in Same-Sex Marriage
The following essay will highlight the topic of the stand of same-sex marriage in the
United States. The approaches of the state have changed depending upon the leaders of the
country and their views on this. Various prospects like cultural, religious and socioeconomic are
entirely associated with the approach to the same-sex marriage. The equality rights of all human
beings suggest that all the people in the country will get the right to choose their partners. Still,
the discrepancies have been seen because Presidents in the country have been stern believers of
Christianity and traditional Christianity does not sanction the same-sex marriage calling it
completely unnatural. The distinctions between the sexual orientations might arise, and it is
something biological (Gerstmann, 2017).
Power theories in USA
Power and authority are two of the most critical aspects of society, and it has mostly been
one of the most essential parts for taking the crucial decisions within society. As per the
theoretical ideas, there are some essential things that should be considered (Zivi, 2014). The
legitimate power is the kind of power, i.e. associated with the authority of the rulers. Other types
of skills are coercive power, referent power, reward power and expert power. In the United
States, legitimate power has been used several times to keep away from the implementation of
the same-sex marriage (Gerstmann, 2017). The long history of the same-sex marriage in the
United States can be dated back to the 1970s. The first lawsuits took place in the year 1972 when
the civil rights for acknowledgement of the same-sex relationships and same-sex marriages
(Oppenheimer, Oliveira & Blumenthal, 2014). The central power of the United States wanted to
keep the authority and does not sanction these civil rights to the LGBT group in the country. The

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LGBT movement in the 1970s was thus strengthened in the United States. The legalization of the
same-sex marriages had to go through many stages, and those stages were quite challenging as
well (Bernstein, 2015).
In the recent times, many progresses have taken place regarding the protests and
outcomes have been in favor of the protestors. The LGBT community communities in the
country have marched on to make the same sex marriage legalized and the protests have come to
be larger by all the means. The very first same sex marriage took place in the United States in
2004. Thereafter, the progress in the scenario has taken place effectively.
Laws for same sex marriages
In the year 2004, Massachusetts became the first-ever state in the USA to legalize the
same-sex marriages. This is how the movement for gaining the LGBT rights began to grow and
the situation was slightly turning in favor of the supporters. The danger was not yet gone (Riggle
et al., 2017). After Massachusetts had legalized the same-sex marriage within their jurisdiction,
people against same-sex marriage began to make restrictions in state constitutions. This reform
of laws was to make sure that same-sex marriages could not be performed (Riggle et al., 2017).
Thus the two approaches have always been running simultaneously in the United States. These
contrasts have mainly impacted on the cultural aspects of the situation as well. The theories that
could be attributed to this scenario are theory of equilibrium, theory of the social construction
and theory of multiple systems. The Federal state implemented their supreme power so they
could stop the same sex marriage within the country. The humanitarian critics have very strongly
criticized against the traditional outlook of this scenario indeed; The conservative behaviors
regarding this context dominated the scene until 20th century.

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Causes for different approaches
The approaches towards the same sex marriages are always different in various states.
Critics have identified some reasons that could be handy at the first place. The probable reasons
might be demographics, religious influences, political issues and geographical reasons. It must
be considered the different age groups, religious viewpoints and political groups have different
thought processes regarding this issue.
The case of Vermont could be discussed here. The overall population of the state is more
than 6 million. The average age of people is between 35 and 40. Most people are white skinned
with some of them being black. People belonging to Asian, Hispanic and others belong to this
population as well. The geographical boundaries of this state are Canada in the north and in the
south lies Massachusetts. Around 38% of the people in the state do not have any religious
affiliation. Around 54% of them are Christians and rest of 8% belonging either to Christian or
Muslim community. The state is ruled by the Democrats and they are always more liberal
minded than other political groups. This is why they had already legalized same sex marriages
within the country.
On the other hand, Texas is believed to be a state where Christian population is more than
75%. The overall population of the state is more than 27 million. The average of the entire
population is around 34. Around 44% people in the state are white skinned, 38% are Hispanic,
12% of people are black and 7% belong to Asian or the Native American group. The distribution
of male and female population is almost equal. Texas might be a state with ethnic diversity but
the state is ruled by the Republican Party. Therefore, they have the control over the legislature of

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the state and both the houses at the Parliament. This is the very reason why this same sex
marriage had been banned in the state.
Same sex marriage for migrants
In the year 2015, it could be said that same sex marriage is still legal in all the 50 states of
USA. However, some law experts of Texas are still trying to find some ways so the gaps could
be identified in the verdict. The Texas governor had signed the bill that has allowed the child
welfare groups with the power to reject the adoption requests from gay and lesbian couples. They
said that this would hurt the religious beliefs that have been held for a long time. Some cities in
Texas like Houston and Austin are in favor of LGBT rights but the overall standpoint of the state
is completely against it. So, it has impacted on the migration of LGBT people to the state
because their supporters would have no interest in visiting this city. This is suggested from the
studies of reputed universities that this negative attitude towards LGBT rights would be a loss for
Texas amounting between $964 million and $8.5 billion. It would also cost them with more than
10000 jobs.
On the contrary, Vermont was one of first states that had supported the LGBT rights and
questioned in favor of their rights. They passed the bill in favor of same sex couples and ordered
that social unions of these same sex couples were completely legal. Therefore, it is very true that
Vermont is regarded as one of the safest places for the turnout of the same sex couples. Other
than that, the national surveys have pointed out the fact that Vermont has the largest same sex
population in the country. The percentage is almost 5.3% and it is something alarming because
LGBT members have chosen this place to be a safe zone for them. They would like to visit to
Vermont and stay away from Texas for their safety.

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The society will have to think about the mitigation of this scenario since they must
consider the globalization of the society. Therefore, it will be harmful for the society to stick to
the previous traditional notions of not permitting the same sex marriages. All these marches and
protests by the people of the LGBT community have been quite helpful for everyone to realize
that this kind of marriage between two people of the similar gender is not at all unnatural and it
can be accepted (Conkle, 2017). The government also has realized the effects of this kind of
marriage. Thus, it should be seen from the biological aspect and not from the heterogenic and
religious viewpoints.
Historical contexts for same sex marriages
Texas is one of the states that had to change their laws for same sex marriage when the
Supreme Court of the country had ordered that it is against the constitution to ban the same sex
marriage practices. A kind of verbiage had also been added by the governance authority of Texas
so the marriage or any kind of social union could be stopped among the people of same genders.
After the ruling by the Supreme Court, the clerks of the government were bound to issue the
marriage certificates to the same sex couples. The situation turned in favor of the same sex
couples in a manner that the clerks of the government could even be arrested if they refused to
produce the marriage certificates. The arrests could be done by the contempt of Supreme Court’s
verdict.
In the concluding section, it can be said that the diversity in the society should always be
regarded as a welcome fact. The diversity of same sex relationship and their rights have been
discussed in this paper. The historical factors and approaches of the Federal governments of the
United States have been highlighted. The same sex relationship is legal in the county, but many

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social activists had protested against in the 1970s tagging it as illegal and unnatural. The
significance of the LGBT movement is quite interesting to ensure these people get their rights
within society.

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References List
Bernstein, M. (2015). Same-sex marriage and the future of the LGBT movement: SWS
presidential address. Gender & Society, 29(3), 321-337.
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99-114). Routledge.
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