both inequities within the marriage relationship, and inequities between married relationships and other forms of existence. Making a lifelong commitment to another person is something no one shouldbe denied. It is an individual, personal, and probably one of the most importantdecisions two people can make – and it should be made without government interference. Many lesbian and gay Americans are in committed, long-term relationships often taking on many of the responsibilities associated with civil marriage. Unlike legallymarried people, however, lesbian and gay people cannot share in the economic and legalbenefits of civil marriage.The Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution would only be well-meaning promises if people did not fight to protect them. The American Civil Liberties Union is the leading national organization dedicated to defending and extending civil liberties,including same-sex marriage, for all people in this country (About). Solutions Since their founding in 1920, the ACLU has learned that liberty must be defended over and over again. That's why ACLU attorneys stand before the Supreme Court more often than anyone else except for the federal government itself. And for every case they bring before the Supreme Court, they bring hundreds more nationwide to lower courts and school boards (About). The ACLU fights for the rights of all Americans. However, the Lambda Legal Defense exclusively fights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered Americans. They also played a major role in a landmark decision in Vermont this year. On December 20, 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples in that state. Rather than simply legalizing same-sex marriage, the court ordered the state Legislature to craft a solution. In March and April 2000, the Vermont Congress passed a comprehensive “civil-union” bill. Alt...
