- Many adults in the United States believe the definition of marriage should be determined by the people, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 67 per cent of respondents think issues such as same-sex marriage should be decided by voters.

Conversely, 12 per cent of respondents would place the topic in the hands of judges, and five per cent believe elected officials should settle the issue.

In 2004, marriage certificates were issued to same-sex couples by local governments in the states of California, Oregon, New Mexico and New York. In May 2004, the state of Massachusetts allowed gay and lesbian partners to apply for marriage licenses, the first state-sanctioned homosexual weddings in the U.S.

Civil unions—currently available in the states of Vermont and Connecticut—give same-sex partners the same legal rights of married couples such as inheritance, insurance and hospital visiting privileges. A California law grants domestic partners the same legal rights of married couples, with the exception of filing joint income tax returns.

On Jun. 7, a proposal to enact a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage failed in the Senate after a 49-48 vote. On Jul. 18, a House of Representatives effort to constitutionally prohibit any form of marriage other than one "between a man and a woman" fell 46 votes short of the 289 required to pass.

Republican Missouri congressman Todd Akin justified the decision to discuss the amendment, saying, "Marriage is not about love; it's about a love that can bear children. Marriage is about bringing the next generation along, and it works best when it's one mom and one dad."

Democratic California congresswoman Nancy Pelosi criticized the GOP, calling the proposed amendment "a partisan exercise by Republicans to divide the American people, rather than forge consensus to solve our urgent problems."

Polling Data

Who should determine issues such as same-sex marriage?

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