UNITED STATES, September 2, 2015 (Hindu Students Association): As of June 2015, same sex marriage has been legal nationwide in the United States of America with the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges that state level bans on same sex marriage are unconstitutional. The court also ruled that the denial of marriage licenses to same sex couples and the refusal to recognize these marriages goes against the Constitution of the United States. As news of the ruling spread across the land , many of the opposition were quick to reply. Their arguments were regarding many religious concerns and the definition of marriage.
Hindu texts, however do not differentiate between heterosexual and homosexual acts. Hindu texts also do not use the latter terms, and also do not distinguish between procreative sex and non-procreative sex. However, these non-procreative sexual acts are discouraged only for Brahmins and priests, and not the common man. Due to the lack of Hindu authority on the matter, opinions regarding LGBT issues vary across different ashrams and temples. The Hindu American Foundation says that “Hinduism does not provide a fundamental spiritual reason to reject or ostracize homosexuals,” and that, “…[they should] accept them as fellow sojourners on the path to moksha.” The Vedas also discuss a “third sex,” which describes people for whom sex is not procreative, either because of impotence or the lack of desire for the opposite sex. These members were not known to be ostracized in ancient Hindu society, but celebrated for having divine powers or insights.