VIKRAM AMAR and ALAN BROWNSTEIN Does Recognition of the Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry Impose Undue Burdens on People Who Reject Same-Sex Marriage on Account of Religious Convictions? An Evaluation of This Objection to the Massachusetts and California Same-Sex Marriage Decisions FindLaw columnist Vikram Amar and FindLaw guest columnist Alan Brownstein -- both U.C., Davis, law professors -- discuss one common objection to the Massachusetts and California decisions recognizing same-sex marriage: that their implications may compromise the rights of those whose religious beliefs hold that homosexuality is immoral. For example, some same-sex marriage opponents fear that religious institutions will now have to extend insurance benefits to same-sex couples, as they do to opposite-sex couples. Amar and Brownstein argue, however, that such concerns are best addressed by seeking legislative exemptions, not by opposing same-sex marriage itself. They also contend that there are strong parallels between laws and doctrines protecting people from discrimination based on sexual orientation, and discrimination based on religious belief, respectively -- suggesting that there is common ground to be found here.