marriage and individuals who are not as accepting. The dominant ideology in our society is that marriage is the union of one man and one woman; therefore, two men or two women cannot be legally or legitimately married. The conflict stands on the idea that if same-‐sex marriage becomes a completely accepted and recognized union the institution of marriage and family will then be questioned and, furthermore, transformed in the United States. Conflict theory analyses social conflict or socially conflicting issues on a macro level. It is safe to correlate conflict theory with the ongoing argument of same-‐sex marriage because of how widely discussed the topic has become in recent years. Evolving from just small talk to a widely-‐debated political issue, same-‐sex marriage has grown into division concerning acceptance among the major political parties in the United States. Previous research has also provided evidence of a direct and significant relationship between conservative ideological orientations, religiosity, and opposition to same-‐sex marriage (Becker and Scheufele, 2009; Brewer, 2008 Burdette, Ellison, and Hill, 2005; Rimmerman and Wilcox, 2007). Conflict theory also gives theoretical explanation for inequality and conflict homosexuals experience within the society. Gay bashing and discrimination are a common consequence for homosexual individuals within this society. Conflict theory states that these two groups, homosexuals and their supporters versus heterosexuals and non-‐supporters of homosexuality, clash because of their opposing ideas concerning this topic. The theory suggests that each group will continue to feud over the idea and dominance concerning the civil rights of homosexuals.
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