Same-sex marriage has been a growing topic throughout the United States. It's what some of us might consider one of the most important topics of discussion in this time period. So far, 17 out of 50 states have declared same-sex marriage legal (States, 2013). Same-sex marriage should be legal throughout the United States because same-sex couples have the civil right to marry, along with the right to have access to the same benefits as heterosexual couples and to be treated equally without fear of discrimination . it is a civil right. In 1958 a couple named Richard and Mildred Loving were arrested at their home for interracial marriage in Virginia, which was illegal at the time. They received a 1-year prison sentence, which was suspended on the condition that they leave the state together and not return for 25 years (Gay Marriage Legal, n.d.). In 1967 the United States Supreme Court declared interracial marriage illegal and declared that the freedom to marry belonged to all Americans. They have gone so far as to define marriage as one of our “vital personal rights,” which coincides with our right as citizens to pursue happiness in this country (Gay Marriage Legal, n.d.). The NAACP also called same-sex marriage a civil rights issue of our time in May 2012 (Gay Marriage Legal, n.d.). On the flip side, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has three key features of what it includes and covers when it comes to civil rights. These are long-term discrimination, the United States disadvantaged, and immutable characteristics of someone over time (Gay Marriage Legal, n.d.). However, it does not include sexual orientation. However, this contradicts what the Supreme Court said when it defined marriage as one of our “vi...... middle of paper ......nard, T., & Lieber, R. (2009, October 2). The high price of being a gay couple. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/03/your-money/03money.html?pagewanted=allCompare the translations of 1 Peter 2:18. Retrieved from http://www.biblestudytools.com/1-peter/2-18-compare.htmlFinding Happiness. (2014). Retrieved from http://findinghappinessmovie.com/find-happiness/happiness-quotes/Santos, F. (2014, February 26). Arizona governor vetoes gay denial of service bill. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/27/us/Brewer-arizona-gay-service-bill.htmlShould gay marriage be legal?. Retrieved from http://gaymarriage.procon.orgStates. (2013, December 20). Retrieved from http://www.freedomtomarry.org/states/.Treybig, D. (1997, May). Lessons from first marriage. Retrieved from http://www.ucg.org/sex/lessons-first-marriage/