Making America Fair and Equal Making America Fair and Equal | Page 3

This past Valentine’s Day a bill was passed which would legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois. Civic and civil rights groups in New Jersey announced a campaign got together last Tuesday to stand up for gay rights and legalize same-sex marriage. Activists in New Jersey announced a campaign on February 17, 2013 to rally for the legalization of same sex marriage; also to counter bullying in the state.

Same-sex marriage is legal in 9 states. New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont legalized it through state legislature. Connecticut, Iowa and Massachusetts have legalized it by state Supreme Court decision. 31 states ban same-sex marriage.

Many more couples like Christy and Rachel are deprived of the right to get married under constitutional amendment or state law. Many argue that it is no one else’s business if two men or two women get married. “I thought America was about equality and freedom, but how can a country say truly say that it is free, if I can’t marry the person that I love?”