Gay Marriage: Does it really matter?

Apparently Isiah isn't the only one
in support of equal marriage rights...

If you're a current events junkie (or even just a social media fiend), there's no way you could ignore the buzz today when the 9th Circuit Court in California struck down the voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage. Celebs from Corey Monteith to Olivia Munn were literally a-twitter as the news broke across the country and throughtout various social media-spheres. In fact, today's ripple effect of support for equal marriage rights begged the question; if so many are in support, have the unsupportive lost their voice?

Perhaps the most memorable quote in recent history surrounding this issue came forth today through the words of Judge Reinhardt who stated that, "Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples."

On conservative website, Truevalueexperience.org, writer Reid Guy suggested that since this issue is now going before the Supreme Court that, "the judges decisions could possibly change the landscape of America as we know it. This decision could go down in history as one of the most important since Roe v. Wade." Well, Dear Mr. Guy, we think so too.

Tara's "calling" out anyone who is standing in the way of gay marriage.

But as monumental as this decision is, what changes will it bring with it? Obviously it will enable those who are gay or lesbian to participate in the institution of marriage much like their heterosexual counterparts but what about other social implications? Reid Guy said "the landscape of America" would change right?

Wrong.

In case you haven't figured it out by now, you are either part of the American population that could run off tomorrow to get a marriage license in any state or you're not. You either identify as one sexual orientation or you don't. That isn't going to change. What will change is that every other American will have that opportunity too. Its not a crisis. In fact, its the opposite of a crisis.

In Hillsborough County, Florida, the cost of a marriage license is $93.50. According to Wikipedia, there are approximately 2.5 million weddings a year in the United States. If just 25% of those weddings are between gay and lesbian couples, that's $58,437,500 in revenue a year! Economically speaking, equal marriage rights would be a smart decision for America but that's not the only reason Prop. 8 was rightfully overturned.

With an economic boost and happy neighbors, society will soon see that allowing gay and lesbian couples to tie the knot is about as disastrous as allowing gays to serve in the military, sharing schools with students of a different skin color and permitting women to cast their votes in a ballot box. As history has shown, sometimes a little re-working is in order for us to progress as a civilization. Its time to recognize that the day is soon coming when "...one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of it's creed..."

So we ask to those who are still in opposition, when it comes down to it, will it truly have a negative impact on your life? Does it really matter?

What do you think? Do states have the right to ban same-sex marriage? Leave your thoughts below, on Facebook or on Twitter by following our new name, @citygrlthoughts

We look forward to hearing from you!