The Queer Movement’s debate on same-sex marriage is a complex one.  On the one hand, marriage is a core part of American society.  It excludes gay and lesbian couples, and several people involved in the Queer movement would like to see this basic right extended to same-sex couples.  However, many people within the Queer Movement do not want to be part of a heterosexist institution such as marriage.  They would rather have the government extend to them the same rights as married heterosexual couples without the title of “marriage.”
     For the purpose of this assignment, we are going to take the side of those involved in the Queer Movement who are pro same-sex marriage.  Much of the ideology of the Queer movement is drawn from basic human rights established through enlightenment ideals.  Phrases within the constitution such as “All men are created equal” and everyone is entitled to “the pursuit of happiness” convey a sense of equality for everyone under the law; including same-sex couples.  Many people involved in the Queer movement would argue that by denying same-sex couples the right to marry, you are in effect denying them the fundamental right to be happy and live a validated and fulfilled relationship.
    One main argument for same-sex marriage proposed by the Queer movement is very simple—there is no significant reason why it should not exist.  The two most important pillars of marriage as defined by western culture, particularly the United States, are love and commitment.  It cannot be proven that two men or two women cannot love each other and be involved in committed relationships just as it cannot be proven that a woman and a man cannot love each other and experience total commitment towards one another. The fact is—love and commitment occur between men and between women just as it does between a woman and a man.  Unless it can be proven that there are more important qualities a marriage must possess, and gays and lesbians do not possess these qualities or there exists some extreme social need to deny homosexuals the right to marry, legal statutes such as the Defense of Marriage Act are unjust.
     Deeply engrained from socialization, individuals have a natural desire to marry.  It is also very natural to want recognition and acceptance of the relationship they choose, which includes relationships between women and between men.  This recognition includes being able to marry the one that you love.  However, just as important as this societal recognition, is legal protection to the relationship including benefits.  These benefits are offered to a man and a woman united under matrimony; therefore, it is unfair to exclude gay and lesbian couples the right to these benefits.
     Marriage encourages people to form economically stable family units that provide many needs for the individuals involved.  Several economic benefits surround the institution of marriage including health care, pension systems, and social safety nets.  Specifically, employers often offer health and pension plans to employees and their spouses and children.  There is often a more substantial income with two people pooling their earnings together.  Also, marriage automatically creates property, spousal inheritance, and social security survivor benefit rights in the event of divorce or death, all of which enhance the economic security of the family.
    By looking at Aberle’s model one can see that within the Queer Movement people seek different types of change based on the goal of the movement.  More grassroots and local organizations tend to follow an individual level of focus whether it be partial or complete change.  Factions of the Queer Movement concentrating on the individual level of analysis desire a change of homophobic attitudes within individuals.  In effect, the Queer Movement seeks to solve the problem at the core, which in an individual’s inner perceptions and psychological tendencies.  They believe that by changing the individual, you work to change the society.
      Larger groups within the Queer Movement focus on a social structural type of change.  Most of these focus on partial change.  For example on the issue of same-sex marriage, movements tend to focus on gaining acceptance into the institution of marriage rather than radically throwing away marriage and substituting another type of union concentrating on the rights given to two people living together for an extended amount of time.  The Queer Movement has made its most significant noticeable gains by working towards partial societal change.  This proves to be true within the goal of same-sex marriage.  Legal cases and political activism fought within the Queer Movement have produced the most tangible gains involving same-sex marriage.