America today marriage can easily be defined as the legal recognition of a partnership of consenting adults creating the basic family unit. Basic family units exist for virtually all social animals and they existed for mankind before government and religious laws defined them. Throughout history different societies and religions have defined laws of marriage in many ways and that continues to this day.
This legal definition of marriage as a monogamous relationship between a man and a woman based upon Christian teachings has been challenged as unconstitutional by the homosexual community, which is demanding equal treatment under the law. The Massachusetts Supreme Court has already agreed with their argument. I would go one step further.
The Ninth Amendment to the Constitution states, “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”
From a legal standpoint, marriage is about consenting adults entering into a legal partnership to form a family. Every adult has the right of consent and the right to enter into a partnership. I therefore maintain that marriage is a right of the people and as such it is protected by the Ninth Amendment from government intrusions and restrictions. Marriage should be addressed solely by contract law related to partnerships without any other government intrusions.
Arlington
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