In the Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln spoke about "a government of the people, by the people, for the people". (Dye p. 15) The United States is a country where people from all around the world are able to fulfill their dreams. American Citizens are free to equally live and believe however they please, as long as it does not cause harm to those around them. With such beliefs as these, the marriage between two men or between two women would not seem like such a problem. .

             Gay marriage has been a frequently discussed topic throughout the history of our country. Same sex marriage can be looked at in many ways and can affect people personally, religiously, politically, emotionally, rationally, legally, and even constitutionally. Many people, including the Obama Administration, argue that it is unconstitutional to discriminate against same sex marriage. Now the constitution is put to the test as the Supreme Court decides whether or not California's Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act are unconstitutional. .

             With the United States divided on the issue of same sex marriage, it has become another Civil Rights struggle. Those with a traditional viewpoint of marriage believe that same sex marriage should be between a man and a woman. Others believe that everyone is entitled to have an equal chance on how to live their lives. With the up rise in same sex relationships and people coming out in public, the topic and legalization of same sex marriage is of greater importance now than it has ever been. The Constitution's First Amendment of separation of church and state" and the Fourteenth Amendment that ensures equality for all are going in front of the Supreme Court in order to decide if it is unconstitutional to ban same sex marriage. .

             Opinions of Gay marriage have drastically changed over the past decades. In 1977, when the first survey was conducted, only 28 percent approved of gay marriage, while 59 percent were opposed.