Marriage as generally defined is the union between a man and a woman. However, a recent debate over same-sex marriage has sparked a nationwide debate that has reverberated in the halls of Congress, the White House, dozens of courts and state legislatures, and is even becoming a talking point for electoral campaigns both nationally and internationally. and state levels. While debate rages on this controversial topic, the American religious community's views on the matter remain deeply divided on the issue and the morality of homosexuality in general. Granting the right to legal marriage to gays and lesbians would primarily change the idea of ​​marriage, ignore the child's right to have a mother and father, and expand government control of marriage. Although people in favor of same-sex marriage will argue that they want to gain the legal right to same-sex marriage because they want to have stable, caring relationships and want to start a family with someone. I think their argument can be considered flawed for the simple reason that they are unable to provide convincing reasons as to how same-sex marriage will not only benefit them, but will impact children and marriage in society . as a whole. If legal rights to same-sex marriage were granted to gays and lesbians, it would undermine traditional family values. Marriage is considered the building block of our society and traditional marriage between man, woman and children is what makes our society strong and keeps it going. Because marriage is an institution that all states inherited rather than created, states should therefore not create new or different laws for an institution that predates even the creation of America… middle of paper… . .. allows same-sex couples to adopt a child, certainly as long as the birth parents of the offspring are unwilling or unable to raise the child, I am not opposed to child adoption by same-sex couples. However, I still believe that heterosexual couples should be able to adopt the abandoned child rather than same-sex couples. This is because heterosexual couples are more likely to better simulate the heterosexual union that produced the child. My argument is not based empirically on whether heterosexual couples are necessarily better at raising children than same-sex couples, but I am arguing for the concept of what is right and in the best interests of the child. Works Cited http://www .thepublicdiscourse.com/2009/06/259http://pewforum.org/Gay-Marriage-and-Homosexuality/An-Argument-Against-Same-Sex-Marriage-An-Interview-with- Rick-Santorum.aspx