Supporters of "traditional marriages" generally hold that lawful marriage should be between only one man and one woman, and that the federal government should not compel a state to recognize any relationships to the contrary. They believe God intended marriage to be between one man and one woman, They say that the amendment is essential because it protects marriage from redefinition by either state legislatures or the courts. In addition, they believe the amendment would stop activist courts from giving away most of the legal benefits of marriage to same-sex couples. They say that marriage is a historic, cultural institution and fear having same sex marriages will confuse current generations.
On the other hand, supporters of same-sex or "gay" marriages, generally hold that lawful marriage and the benefits of it should be made available to couples regardless of sexual orientation, and that the denial of this right to homosexuals would unlawfully infringe on their right to pursue happiness. They say that there is no amendment in the constitution that defines sexual orientation. Equality should be the only "word" coming out of the constitution. They clam that if the amendment is passed then many families will lose the majority of their benefits.
