Are you FOR or AGAINST Gay Marriage and why?

People get married on beaches, at home, in a garden... "Civil unions... legal protections" covers ALL ceremonies that don't happen in a house of worship. Got it?

everyone should have the right to be miserable in marriage

I support equality.

Actually I am for it. I just wish the homosexual community would stop the flamboyant and flamers from becoming the public persona of the community

For this simple reason: there's no warrant for it in natural law.

If two roommates, of either gender, want to sign a contract giving each one first "dibs" on the other one's bank account if he dies, I don't suppose there's any warrant to stop that. But calling it marriage, demeans the status of other, "natural" marriages.

And I don't buy the notion that no such demeaning is intended. Someone surely intends that. They wouldn't push so hard for a distinction without a difference.

Just because you do not think that it should be called a marriage does not mean it should not be legally recognised as marriage. Don't call it a marriage if you do not want to but don't make it so that it is not legally recognised as a marriage.

And what's it to you?

Unless what you're really after is to abolish any legal definition of marriage, and make all legacies, by default, revert to the government.

Live & let live.

It;s impossible to help who you fall in love with, and everyone should be able to be legally joined to the person they love.

everyone deserves love and happiness

LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

Kiddies....We're either all free, or none of us really are.

Except for RWNJ's -- they get to define what free means and enjoy the blissful ignorance of not realizing their hypocrisy.

Of course the rest of us laugh at them a lot...

[Well said, Doc.]

Equal rights are just that equal for everyone!
I really don't care if gays are allowed to marry they couldn't make the institution any worse than us hetero. What's the divorce rate in this country 60%. Also if the christian are so set against marriage then let the gays have civil unions!

Everyone has the right. And gay divorce too!

I am against marriage period, but for equality of all members of the human race.
Why would you wanna get married anyway?? Having yourself bound to vows you can never be sure you will be able or want to keep. Many things happen and change in a lifetime and so do people. Like that little piece of paper is going to make it better or hold you back in separation. The only thing that sometimes really will keep people together is when they have kids, which in the long run is not a good thing either. Very silly and unnatural

Because I believe that homosexuality is as natural as heterosexuality or any other genetic disposition. I do not believe in taking away their right to commit by marriage to the person they love. It's as backwards as not allowing people of different races to marry. In 1967, regardless of majority vote, the government stepped in and passed a law allowing people of different races to marry. This will eventually happen with same sex marriage. It's only a matter of time. It's already recognized in some states.

there just the same in the lords eyes

Civil unions are recognized by most states aren't they? Not being a wiseacre here. If a civil union is recognized legally, why should they care if any church body sanctifies it? Love is love. If it's wrong, God will sort it out. If not, or there is no God, no harm done. I'm Christian, but it isn't my place to condemn, nor judge. BTW, this is the same philosophy of Mr. Cathy of Chick-Fil-A. Basically his personal beliefs---not his business practices---are coming under attack by government toadies, thereby violating his First Amendment Rights. Where is Eric Holder now? Gays may work there, and they may buy there. There is no discrimination. Why isn't the DOJ investigating these mayors? If the GLBT would pick a real issue, maybe more people would be more tolerant and accepting of them. I've got gay family members, and they are not into this BS. Marriage isn't a right at any rate; it is a free-will decision made by two people in which to enter and commit to each other, not to the government, nor to be recognized/approved by the government as the primary reason.

Good stuff, Ahrtal.

Wouldn't it be a waste of money (oh, wait, that's no reason for our government, hmmm) to investigate someone before he actually DOES something? I mean, free speech works for mayors too -- actually blocking a license might be different. And actionable.

That is so off. I disagree Jubil.

Then you're not understanding, Pearl.

Why not? Maybe they are religious too and don't believe they would be condemned to hell. They want their union to be recognized in the same way. Why not? I ask again. LOL
And right now they do not get the same rights as other married couples. They do not get the same legal rights that come with marriage. So it's not equal. Besides this is more then just a marriage concern. Around the world people are abused and killed simply for being gay. In some places they don't even have a legal standing against abusers. More needs to be done.

It seems like the thing that gets the most press is the attitude of some Christian denomination, in particular, the Catholic Church. So leave the denomination that
forbids it----why be a member of a religion that is hostile to one's life style? Doctrine is doctrine.

As far as the persecution elsewhere it is up to those cultures to have that discussion and effect reform. It is not acceptable to kill someone for his/her sexual orientation. The change must occur from within.

Exactly. But law is separate from religion...or it's supposed to be. Basic human rights aren't subject to various religious beliefs, clubs or whatever. I think it's important to make it better for homosexuals. And the basic hatred and sexism that they face is ridiculous. It's similar to racism, just a bit different. It's similar in that they can't change their sexuality just like they can't change the color of their skin. They are born that way and it is natural.

True, except in a theocracy. We are not one, yet we do have religious influences that affect laws. I don't know why people are or are not gay. I think it is how people are wired at birth, nothing more. There have been centuries of societal abhorrence of homosexuality in Western society, but only within the past 400 years or so, as the political impact of the Church has declined. Its influence is more in the societal/cultural realm.

There are cultures and religions in which the Law and the Word are synonymous. I won't bother to name them; it isn't really necessary. Thus discrimination of homosexuality is lawful and the existence of homosexuality a crime and a grave sin. In the West we have moved away from the attitudes toward the life style for the most part as we have moved further from religion as a political power broker----except for the Westboro Baptist Church. All Christians are lumped in with them on this subject.

If religious gays want a religous wedding ceremony, they should belong to a church that welcomes them, don't you think? Knowing the person performing my ceremony had been forced to do so would spoil the day for me.

I don't think Ahrtal is saying anything against gay RIGHTS. And I KNOW I'm not. I'm saying that religion isn't necessary to have a legal relationship with full rights; that legal relationship is what matters.

Of course it would be wonderful if haters stopped hating and hurting. But they won't. At least in the U.S. there ARE legal protections.

If two people truly love each other, than it shouldn't matter if they're the same gender

Against anything that there is no cure for and cannot be fixed! Like a flat tire, useless and as sucking on a tit of a boar-hog, useless and if you get milk it is flat, tasteless, and it might just kill you!

You're doomed -- life just isn't perfect. And that includes you. I can see at least one thing about you already that there's "no cure for and cannot be fixed." Sad to be against yourself.

Deuteronomy 18:9-13, Leviticus 20:27, Exodus 22:18 and have a great week!

Ok, now I see at least 2 things that there's "no cure for and cannot be fixed."

I think this is America. If your not bothering me and it makes you happy. Go for it!

i support gays and lesbians i just dnt think its right for them to marry. ill support whatever they are doing except marriage. to my understanding marriage was created for man an woman not man and man or woman and woman.

Created according to who?

They should have the same rights we all have .. love is love between two consenting adults

I am a practicing Catholic. To me, marriage is a sacrament. One of my sons was married by a Justice of the Peace and I do not consider that a marriage. I still love him, his wife and my grandchildren but according to my faith, he is not married. As far as gays are concerned I am all for them forming a civil union. Love is not chosen, it just happens. And remember, just because someone does not agree with you it does not mean that she is a hater. It just means that her belief system is different from yours and should be respected.

So a gay Catholic must choose between his/her love and the Church? That should be an easy choice.

He is always welcome to join another Church. The Catholic Church never claimed to be a democracy. You want to be one of us you play by our rules. If not, there are plenty denominations that will welcome you

Exactly. It's just sad that there are still people who WILL play by your rules. I have a good friend who's a staunch Catholic, and she says the priests in her church (about 1 mile from Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago) tell their parishioners to follow their consciences and not let the Church push them around -- just don't make a big noise about it in front of the Archbp. Sad when a church's official teachings force good people to keep secrets.

How does the Catholic Church feel about your continuing to have a relationship with your apostate son and family? Do you have to confess whenever you see them?