Who can you call, 'Husband?"

Is a husband still a husband only by another name?

Let's not forget that marriage is a social convention, originally established for the elites of the world and gradually worked its way down to the masses. Marriage, it is claimed, was a way for men to keep track of their off spring. By marrying, and through the monogamy of marriage, men could establish which children were theirs - especially for the rights associated with inheritance. This method was established thousands of years before DNA testing was avaliable (or probably even thought of), and seemed to work fairly well to establish the familial lines of a clan.

Marriage is typically between three entities: the church, the state and the couple. The church gives it's blessings, and the state makes it legal. The couple are bound by a contract between the state and themselves. Over the last few decades the state has taken more interest in marriage and and this formally 'private' sphere has become increasingly, 'public.' A lot of the state intervention has had to do with domestic violence and child abuse. What was once acceptable, such as "the rule of thumb," is not longer tolerated. The "rule of thumb" was an accepted method for decipling wives. You could beat your wife but only with a stick no thicker than your thumb. Yes, that's true.

Marriage has continued to evolve. The current debates are over who can marry? Who can be a husband and a wife? Namely, does this mean a man and a woman? Last week the Iowa Supreme Court said (in a 7-0 decision) that same sexes can marry. The court cited the state constitution's commitment to equal protection for all of its citizens. Thus, Iowa (America's conservative heartland) joins Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont as the states where gay couples can marry.

Detractors are agruing that it is not for the judicial branch to decide, but for the legislature. Even if Iowa tries to reverse the ruling with its conservative legislatures, it would still have to take the issue to the public to achieve a constitutional amendment. The earliest Iowa would be able to do this is 2011.

Minister Paul Rushenbush stated in Beliefnet.com that he sees no difference between gay and straight marriages. Saying there is no "qualitative difference between the love and commitment."

Whether or not you agree or disagree with the ruling, the question remains is there always a husband in any marriage? Or only wives in a lesbian marriage and husbands in a homosexual male marriage? Does anyone know? Or have an opinion?