For most of our nation’s history, states had the power to define marriage as only ‘between a man and woman.’ The Supreme Court case of Obergefell v. Hodges overturned this state power when it stated the following:
“Four principles and traditions demonstrate that the reasons marriage is fundamental under the Constitution apply with equal force to same-sex couples. The first premise of this Court’s relevant precedents is that the right to personal choice regarding marriage is inherent in the concept of individual autonomy . . . A second principle in this Court’s jurisprudence is that the right to marry is fundamental because it supports a two-person union unlike any other in its importance to the committed individuals. . . . A third basis for protecting the right to marry is that it safeguards children and families and thus draws meaning from related rights of childrearing, procreation, and education. . . . Finally, this Court’s cases and the Nation’s traditions make clear that marriage is a keystone of the Nation’s social order.”
In 2-3 sentences, using the skills you learned for critiquing governmental policies that overturned inequality, examine the case of Obergefell. What are some possible advantages and disadvantages of this governmental policy?