The legality of same sex marriage in the United States is a contentious subject. In the past few years, the pro-marriage side has made a lot of progress, with the same-sex marriage states now numbering 35. The same-sex marriage debate polarizes opinion, and both sides have many supporters in the U.S. The same sex marriage debate generally rests on the balance between traditional family roles and freedom of expression. Same sex marriage arguments generally are founded on basic disagreements about the way the world works, making it a contentious issue. With homosexuality increasingly accepted in the United States, same sex marriage is a key issue in the 21st century, and is gathering steam as a social movement. Being informed about the developments in same sex marriage and having an opinion on its legality is pivotal to current events knowledge.