The idea of marriage should not be limited to the traditional idea of a bond between a man and a woman. Many people get married in churches and by a priest, but this is not the only way to legally tie together two people’s lives, emotionally and monetarily.
The argument about whether or not same-sex marriage should be legalized has been one of hot debate in recent years. Although its legality is still determined on a state-by-state basis, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a section of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional in June.
In what was the first federal and national act toward giving the LGBT community the rights it deserves, it allows legally married same-sex couples all around the country to have the same joint federal tax return benefits as legally married heterosexual couples, regardless of what their state laws say about marriage.
Keeping up with our wonderful reputation of having ignorant and conservative ideals, our good friend Gov. Bobby Jindal and his administration are making sure to complicate the process Louisiana same-sex couples have to go through in order to receive those federal benefits.
Although the state may not recognize nor officiate same-sex marriages, this doesn’t mean that already legally married same-sex couples in Louisiana are exempt from this nation wide ruling dealing with federal tax benefits.
Jindal, Republican lawmakers and conservative citizens turn to their traditional roots to deem that marriage should only be between a man and a woman, but let’s take a moment to reflect on this idea.
If the idea of marriage being between a man and a woman stems from traditional and religious ideals, then why are same-sex couples exempt from having non-religious and purely lawful marriage ties?
This is where my favorite argument of the opposing side comes up. Marriage is defined between a man and a woman because men and women can have sexual intercourse that may lead to offspring.
It’s an argument with the solidity of a fishing net.
I’ll list a few groups of people who can have sexual intercourse without the possibility of it leading to offspring: elderly couples, infertile people, those who use birth control, those who choose to artificially make themselves infertile, and same-sex couples.

The largest study of this that’s ever been done was by the Australian Study of Child Health in Same-Sex Families at the University of Melbourne in Australia. It studied 500 children and the results showed no difference between them and children of traditional families in self-esteem or the amount of time spent with their families. They did however score higher in overall health and family cohesion. This study is one of many, all yielding that these children do just as well as, if not better, than their peers who come from traditional families.
If the argument about marriage being between a man and woman is based on its archaic meaning, that is all more of a reason for it to be redefined.
The world is constantly progressing. Individuals holding on to the long-expired and outdated idea of what marriage “should” be are stuck in the past and need to accept that the world is progressing past their views.
There should be two ideas of marriage — one which is under the law and one which is religiously affiliated. Although they will be performed differently and hold different meaning to the individuals involved, they will both yield the same governmental benefits.
Louisiana needs to check itself because change is coming, whether the state is ready to accept it or not.
Mariel Gates is a 20-year-old mass communication sophomore from Baton Rouge.