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| COURTNEY CURTIS / Scroll Photo Illustration |
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• Blue states- admit civil unions or like partnerships
• Red states- amendment pending against gay marriage
• Green states- No law either way
• Every other state-Law against it |
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Monday, March 6, several gay rights activists scattered stickers exclaiming “Heterosexuals Only” on drinking fountains and bus stop benches all over Boise.
For the past several years, gay marriage has been a hot-button topic in the United States. Politicians have debated it, voters have rallied for and against it and talk show hosts have discussed it. And the debate has left the country divided.
How should the issue of gay marriage be handled? Everyone seems to have a different opinion.
As of February, the state of Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage, while several other states, including California, New Jersey and Hawaii recognize the civil union of same-sex couples.
On the other hand, 27 states have statutes defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and 16 states have amended their constitutions to bar the recognition of same-sex marriage. Idaho, until this point, has been numbered among the 27, with several laws defining marriage. However, lawmakers have recently opened the door for Idaho voters to take the law one step further.
This November a constitutional amendment that could bar same-sex couples from marriage will appear on the Idaho ballot.
The amendment states “a marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized.”
So what would a constitutional amendment do that a normal law can’t?
“The courts say it is unconstitutional to make gay marriage illegal,” said Jeremy Erb, a junior in political science from Visalia, Calif., “but if you change the constitution then the law prohibiting it is no longer unconstitutional.”
This pending change has managed to stir up discontentment among Idaho’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities, as can be seen from the organized protest in Boise.
The 150 stickers with bold, black lettering on white placed in the state capital were intended to bring back memories of the past when black Americans were discriminated against.
The date, March 6, was also significant, it being the anniversary of the Civil Rights march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.
The activists in protest have remained anonymous, in fear of punishment for littering or defacing property. However, officials say the stickers were easily removed and did not remain in the city for very long.
“[BYU-I students] ought to be wise, study out both sides of this debate, make a decision and definitely vote,” said Professor Gary Marshall of the History, Geography and Political Science Department. “That is an obligation.”
