Gay marriage has been a topic of discussion among many people. It is talked about for better or for worse, because of a person's beliefs or even just their general opinions. The topic has been around for many years. Over the years, many things have improved regarding the rights of same-sex couples. It included difficult times for these couples. They had to fight for their rights. They had to fight people who didn't believe they had these rights. According to Ronald Bailey (page 1), same-sex marriage impacts traditional marriage. He also stated that this undermines or disparages the conventional marriage of heterosexual marriage. The divorce rate among same-sex couples has decreased. After decades of decline, the marriage rate and fertility rate have slowly increased, and the divorce rate is still declining. The divorce rate between different-sex couples has decreased due to the increase in same-sex marriage. In 2003, the divorce rate in Massachusetts was 2.5 per 1,000 people. Then in 2004 the marriage rate increased by 15%. Lesbian couples were 3 times more likely to divorce than heterosexual couples. Gay couples also have children. Nearly 20% of same-sex couples' homes have children. Nearly 84% of them have biologically related children. Journalists in Los Angeles said that 37% of same-sex couples have already had children in their homes. According to the National Survey of Family Growth, by the time children reach age 17, 55 percent of lesbian couples are separated compared to 36 percent of heterosexual couples. Unlike divorce between heterosexual parents, children of divorced homosexuals do not experience social or psychological problems. When they divorce, 75% of lesbian couples share custody. In heterosexual couples (page 2) 65% of mot...... middle of paper ......ame the first state in the United States to approve the legalization of same-sex marriage, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed this bill. Then, 3 years later, on June 16, 2008, California began allowing same-sex marriage licenses. Proposition 8 was then passed, Proposition 8 was passed to deny the rights of same-sex marriage. Then, in 2009, Maine Governor John Baldacci signed a freedom to marry bill, which had the support of both houses of the state legislature. While both legislatures gave support, there were also opponents. These opponents also gained support from national organizations that launched a referendum to ban same-sex marriage. Voters reserved the Legislature in 2012, which again allowed same-sex marriages in Maine. There were also out-of-state weddings in New Mexico and Rhode Island. For many it is a civil right to be the person of their choice.