Gay Marriage Storms US Political PrimetimeIn the space of a few months, gay marriage in th

Gay Marriage Storms US Political Primetime

In the space of a few months, gay marriage in the United States has been transformed from a margin al issue into one of the hottest topics of the day with crucial legal and political ramifications.

Its importance was underlined Tuesday with President George W. Bush's public endorsement—in an election year—of a proposal to amend the US Constitution in a way that would ban same-sex marriage altogether.

The hugely divisive issue burst to prominence in November, following a landmark ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Court that preventing same-sex couples from marrying violated the state's constitution.

The decision opened the way for Massachusetts to become the first state in the country to legalise gay marriage and laid down the battle lines between advocates, who argue in terms of equal human rights,

and opponents, who warn that the "sacred" institution of marriage is under threat.

Same-sex unions are under judicial review in Indiana, New Jersey and Arizona, and supporters were given a further boost last year when Canada legalised gay marriage, Causing many American couples to make the trip north of the border.

But at home, opposition is strong and highly organised, with family groups and conservative politicians the most vocal in their condemnation of any form. of recognition being extended to same-sex couples. A New York Times/CBS News poll taken in mid-February showed 61 percent still 'oppose gay marriage.

The social divisions surrounding the issue were brought into sharp relief earlier this month when the mayor of San Francisco decided to challenge California state laws by issuing the country's first-ever marriage licenses to gay couples. Some 3,300 same-sex partners have so far taken advantage of the mayor's largesse, despite moves by conservative opponents to get a court injunction preventing the unions taking place.

For couples like Marcye and Karen Nicholson-McFadden, who have lived together in New Jersey for 14 years and are raising two children, marriage would provide legal rights covering a host of issues from reduced car insurance to hospital visits and inheritance.

"These are rights everybody else takes for granted, and which you become so much more aware of when you have kid," said Marcye. "There is no legal connection between us. Our son understands marriage means commitment, and all this makes him feel insecure."

Michael Dimock of the Pew Research Center, which studies opinions towards public policy issues, says resistance to same-sex marriage tends to be strongest among regular churchgoers and older people.

"And then there are a lot of people who are just resistant to the idea of changing the definition (of marriage), and how society operates," Dimock said. "People express concern about its implications for the legal system, and what it's going to mean for the notion of family."

Thirty-eight US states have laws stipulating that marriage is an institution for heterosexuals only. Under the court decision in Massachusetts, the state must begin issuing marriage licenses on request to same-sex partners beginning May 17. Local legislators have so far failed to agree on proposals to sidestep the court by amending the state constitution.

Gay marriage in the United States has been transformed into one of the hottest topics.

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