America has a reluctance to accept relationships between people of the same gender. This reluctance follows a similar pattern to the hostility towards interracial relationships. Although increasing, acceptance of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered persons' relationships are not widespread in America today. The stereotype remains that these groups practice promiscuous lifestyles.

Many homosexuals currently seek marriage rights in order to recognize their committed relationships. This campaign for gay marriage rights has been met with acceptance and hostility. Several states recently voted to revise the wording for legal marriages so that a marriage can only exist between a man and a woman. In addition, several states have witnessed court decisions legalizing same sex marriage. The issue is very polarizing in America, and the opposition to gay marriage is largely based on religious, moral, and cultural beliefs. In order to defuse some of this polarization, some states have found middle ground in recognizing "civil unions" for same sex couples.

Despite the political climate for the hot-button issue of gay marriage, the media has taken forward steps to increase acceptance by portraying human relationships in alternative lifestyles. Additionally, there is a very strong community for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered persons that can offer lots of support, if not in every town, than at least on the internet. Books, websites, television programs, and other media are offering more options geared to couples that break the heterosexual norm.

Perhaps because the country is so divided by the issue, gay and lesbian relationships have received increased attention and debate in the past decade.

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