"Forty-five States, as the gentleman just said, have determined by people that were elected by the people of that State that marriage is the definition of one man and one woman"

In this statement, Randy Neugebauer, a former U.S. Representative from Texas, is revealing a viewpoint on the traditional definition of marital relationship as it stands in the political and social discourse in the United States. Neugebauer points out that most of U.S. states, at the time of his statement, had legislation or modifications defining marriage strictly as a union between one man and one woman. These decisions, he keeps in mind, were made by officials who were chosen by the residents of each state, suggesting that these laws and meanings reflect the will of the people within those states.

This quote can be analyzed as a defense of what some see as conventional values. It underscores the idea that marriage, as a legal institution, has historically been understood in these terms by lots of Americans. Neugebauer's focus on the participation of state-level democratically chosen agents mean an argument for states' rights in identifying the laws that govern marital relationship, as opposed to a federal required.

Neugebauer's declaration may also be viewed as a reaction to changing attitudes toward marital relationship in the United States during the early 21st century. As popular opinion shifted and more people advocated for marriage equality, Neugebauer and others who shared his perspective sought to articulate the perspective that marriage should stay defined in its standard sense-- a sentiment that was widespread at the time.

This assertion involves an acknowledgment of democracy, implying that if the majority elected authorities who defined marriage as such, then this should line up with individuals's dreams. Nevertheless, this raises concerns about minority rights and the balance in between democracy and private freedoms, particularly as popular opinion has actually continued to develop, leading to nationwide legal recognition of same-sex marriage following the 2015 Supreme Court choice in Obergefell v. Hodges. Neugebauer's declaration, therefore, shows a photo of a pivotal moment in the continuous argument over marriage equality and civil liberties in America.