Legalize Gay Marriage (u.s.a)

[Godiva]

Vita Felice,

Gay marriages are certainly happening in the United States, at least in Massachusetts, which is where I live. Several weeks ago I cheered with two of my coworkers, who have been married for almost a year, when the referendum was rejected. Because it was shot down, they can stay married.

It also appears that in other states it may be a reality at some point in the next couple years. A handful of states allow civil unions. It isn't completely fair, but it is a step in the right direction.

Like Sera said, it needs to be discussed. Discussion can help lead to understanding and equality. Unless we talk about it and share our opinions on it, it will cease to be an issue, which means there will be no chance whatsoever for gay marriage becoming legalized.

[DVDBear]

Originally Posted by vita_felice

I'm soooo sick of people saying the same thing over and over and over about gay marriage STOP ASKING already please??? I mean I agree you should be allowed to marry who ever you want to but we have to come to our senses gay marriage probably won't happen in the usa ever or for a very long time.

Don't get your position, Vita. I'm sorry if you're sick of hearing about it but it's not going to go away . . . ever. Since it's currently allowed in -

The Netherlands, 2001.

Belgium, 2003.

Massachusetts, USA, 2004.

Canada, 2005.

Spain, 2005.

South Africa - 2005

and civil unions or comparable legal contracts in many, many more.

It's hardly an outrageous or absurd proposition. The battle will continue to be waged, first through civil unions, then full out marriage equality for the next decade or whatever it takes. The only way it WILL die is if people not longer talk about it . . . . or care.

[nottooblushing]

I have cousins who attend a fundamentalist Christian school. Their social studies teacher informed them that before George Bush leaves office Gay Marriage and Abortion will both be outlawed because God is finally blessing our nation with a godly government even in the face of radical leftist trying to destroy the family and take away Christians' rights to freedom of religion.

Vita - That is the only other place I've heard anyone say that Gay Marriage will never happen in the US, and that was from a naive and bigotted viewpoint.

[DVDBear]

Nottooblushing - Scary, scary stuff. I hope your cousins find a way to overcome the brainwashing they're being subjected to.

[IKNOEVERYTHING]

hunni the more of us bi, gays, or lez's there are there will be no choice but for them to allow us to marry the same sex right now yes its a big commotion becasue everyone of us is comming out of our shells because we are tired of hidding are we not? but the more the marrier and canada has already stated that they will become a fully lisenced to wed the same sex country

[-wittyphrasehere-]

A random note, I like how people oppose gay marriage since it supposidly destroys the sanctity of marriage. Hahaha.
Man, what sanctity?

[LadyBug02]

Unfortunately, the legalization of same sex marriage can only happen state by state in the USA and many states simply are too conservative for it to happen.

[oberon]

My two cents...

The government has absolutely NO CONTROL over gay marriage. Should I wish to marry someone of the same sex I can do so in any state in the union. I can have any type of ceremony I wish... religious or non. Yes, there are churches in just about every denomination that will conduct a gay wedding (even Baptist, as shocking as that might seem! LOL). I can also decide for myself what I wish to call this union.

What the government (and religious nutcases) can do is deny the rights associated with marriage. They can levy unfair taxes on gay people. Both income and inheritance. They can destroy families that are trying to see to the welfare of their children. They could even be implicated in death should a person's spouse be unable to attend them in the hospital possibly denying lifesaving information.

Gay people are here and always have been. Gay marriage is here and there isn't anything that anyone can do to stop it. All you can do is continue to harm individual people and destroy lives by allowing legal discrimination.

One more little point that's sort of a sidenote.... As straight people, wouldn't you prefer that gay people married each other? I've already seen one topic on here where some guy said, "I think I might marry a woman just because that's what society expects". Would YOU want to be that woman?

Just something to think about the next time it comes up for a vote.

[sera300]

Basic denial of human rights appears to be the central core. Preventing society to force one to marry for the sake of "proper appearance" leads to horrific heartache for all involved; the outcome? No one is happy!

Glad to see you have returned!

[oberon]

Originally Posted by sera300

Basic denial of human rights appears to be the central core. Preventing society to force one to marry for the sake of "proper appearance" leads to horrific heartache for all involved; the outcome? No one is happy!

Glad to see you have returned!

Thanks, Sera300.

Yes, human rights are a large part of it, but it is also a societal problem.

What's one of the first things that gets thrown at gay people- specifically the men- when someone wishes to demean the "gay lifestyle" (whatever the heck THAT is!)? "Oh, they are so promiscuous. They rarely have long-term relationships." While that is a not entirely true stereotype, there IS some (I stress "some") truth in it. Yet, these same folks would like to deny gay people the social means by which most people sustain a long-term relationship.

I can get very angry at the idea that society creates this problem and then uses the results to then bash gay people. I think it is amazing that there are many gay couples who do maintain long relationships in spite of the lack of social acceptance and convenience. I wonder how many straight couple would still be together if there weren't a system in place that makes it easy for them to do so??