Gay Marriage

I accept this. Since my opponent has not defined any terms, I will be netural and make this a BoP shared debate. In this round, I will post my argument affirming the resolution of gay marriage and attack my opponent's case in round two with a conclusion in the final round. I. Economic BenefitsThe legalization of gay marriage provides many economic benefits to its country. One, it provides benefits directly to the economy through increased consumption: "And if you count everything purchased within 6 months before and after the wedding, we’re talking over $120 Billion. Now, you numbers people – tack on 5%-10%."[1]Tacking on the average value, 7.5 percent, and that's an additional nine billion in spending just on the wedding and wedding proceedings. This doesn't even take into account the fact that married couples can produce various complimentarities such as increased output and spending. And two, it provides benefits to the government: In addition, the Congressional Budget Office has concluded that if all fifty states and the federal government extended the rights and obligations of marriage to same-sex couples, the federal government would benefit by nearly $1 billion each year.[1]II. Reduced Risk of AIDS The proven evidence shows us that the negative statistics in the homosexual community, ranging from the amounts of sexually-transmitted diseases shared among homosexual patrons to the drug and alcohol abuse and suicide rates, have all been shown to be caused as a result of intolerance against the homosexual community. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention writes on homophobia and AIDS rates: "Stigma and homophobia may have a profound impact on the lives of MSM, especially their mental and sexual health. Internalized homophobia may impact men’s ability to make healthy choices, including decisions around sex and substance use. Stigma and homophobia may limit the willingness of MSM to access HIV prevention and care, isolate them from family and community support, and create cultural barriers that inhibit integration into social networks." In the Emory University study provided, the study confirms that denial of gay marriage is a form of intolerance, and with the passage of legislation denying same-sex marriage, AIDS rates among homosexuals will increase by 4 per 100,000 cases, while legalizing will reduce by 1 per 100,000 cases.[2]III. Constitutionality The Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment requires that "[no State shall] deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."[3] Bans on same-sex marriage are in violation of the Equal Protection Clause for at least two different reasons. First, they deny gay men and women the ability to marry the person of their choice, whereas heterosexual men and women are not bound by these restrictions. Second, these bans single out and harm a suspect class by preventing only gays and lesbians, not heterosexuals, from being able to marry. Because bans on same-sex marriage unfairly disadvantage gay people and fail to treat them equally, they are in violation of the Equal Protection Clause.The Due Process Clause of the 14th amendment requires that "[no State shall] deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."[13] Bans on same-sex marriage violate the Due Process Clause for at least two different reasons. First, they prevent gay citizens from having the liberty to marry the person of their choice. Second, an individual's choice of a marriage partner is protected by the 14th amendment from the state's subversion of that choice. For these reasons, bans on same-sex marriage are in violation of the Due Process Clause by impinging on a liberty that is deemed to be fundamental.Gay marriage prohbition violates both of these parts of the constitution. In addition, it violates previous court cases:As far as the United States Supreme Court is concerned, the right to marriage is a fundamental right. Theodore Olson, a world-renowned attorney and former Solicitor General of the United Sates, has pointed out that since 1888 the United States Supreme Court has ruled 14 times that the right to marriage is a fundamental right.[5] Consider, for example, Turner v. Safley, 482 US 78, 95 (1987) (“[T]he decision to marry is a fundamental right” and marriage is an “expression of emotional support and public commitment.”); Loving v. Virginia, 388 US 1, 12 (1967) (The “freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men.”); Cleveland Board of Education v. LaFleur, 414 US 632, 639-40 (1974) (“This Court has long recognized that freedom of personal choice in matters of marriage and family life is one of the liberties protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.”)[6] In light of this legal precedent indicating that marriage is a fundamental right, it is not reasonable to assume otherwise. Sources:[1]: http://www.businesspundit.com...[2]: Francis, Andrew M., and Hugo M. Mialon. "Tolerance and HIV." (2009).: http://userwww.service.emory.edu... [3]: http://www.usconstitution.net...[4]: ibid[5]: http://tinyurl.com...[6]: http://www.afer.org...;