Story: The Legal Debate Over Same-sex Marriage, 8/13/03
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec03/gay_8-13.html

Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the current law concerning gay marriage in the United States?

2. Who is opposed to the law and why?

3. What federal Act currently defines marriage?

4. What state offers gay couples an alternative to marriage?

5. What clause of the Constitution may offer gay couples a legal loophole to fight the current laws against same-sex marriage?

6. How does President Bush feel about same-sex marriage?

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. What other issues can you think of that force lawmakers to balance Americans' right to pursue happiness with the diversity of cultural and religious beliefs?

2. If the state of Massachusetts votes in favor of gay marriage, explain how a lawyer representing a gay couple in another state might argue that the "Defense of Marriage Act" is unconstitutional based on the "Faith and Credit Clause" of the Constitution.

3. Research the origins of the idea of "separation of church and state." How does this concept relate to the legal debate over gay marriage?

Write a 300-500 word essay on either of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org]. Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.