On May 7, 2011, a young man named Tom Bridegroom died when he fell from a roof, leaving behind his devastated partner of six years, Shane Bitney Crone. Tom's family had never accepted his relationship with Shane; in fact, Tom's family members attacked and threatened him when he told them he was gay. Because Shane and Tom could not legally marry, Shane was not entitled to any information regarding Tom's death, funeral service, or burial arrangements (Crone). Tom's family was able to move Tom's body without notifying Shane, to keep Shane away from the memorial service, and to remove from Tom and Shane's shared home all personal effects that Tom's family determined had belonged to Tom . Despite building a life together over the course of six years and even purchasing a house together, Tom and Shane had none of the protections marriage provided. Without marriage, their relationship was, in the eyes of the law, that of roommates. There are approximately nine million people in the United States who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, and most of them are unable to do so. legally marry in the state in which they reside (“Gay or Lesbian Marriage Statistics and Facts”). Same-sex marriage is legal in only 16 states and the District of Columbia. While a majority of American citizens approve of legalizing same-sex marriage, it is against state law or prohibited by state constitutions in 33 states. Only one state, New Mexico, has no laws explicitly banning or allowing same-sex marriage (“Same Sex Marriage Fast Facts”). As residents of the 16 states that have legalized same-sex marriage can attest, numerous benefits coincide with the approval of same-sex marriage, and not with… middle of paper… is of Marriage.” MSN Money. Microsoft, April 11, 2011. Network. December 5, 2013. Meezan, William, and Jonathan Rauch. "Gay Marriage, Same-Sex Parenting, and America's Children." The future of children. The administrators of Princeton University. Network. November 28, 2013.---. “Will children benefit from same-sex parents marrying?” The future of children. The administrators of Princeton University. Network. Nov. 28, 2013. “Fast Facts on Same-Sex Marriage.” CNN US Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., November 29, 2013. Web. December 6, 2013. "Stats and Facts on Gay or Lesbian Marriage." A person's right to gay or lesbian marriage. Longwood University Blog, June 21, 2013. Web. December 2, 2013. Stewart, Marcia. “Common law marriage”. NOLO. Network. December 3, 2013. Stewart, Monte Neil. “Facts about Marriage.” Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy.Volume 31, number 1. 2008. Web. December 2 2013.