Should committed same-sex relationships be recognized by the government?

[Sunstone]

Let's allow the homosexuals to decide what happens in their lives. How are we supposed to make decisions that affect something we have nothing to do with? As far as I am concerned, everyone in our society is equal and deserves to have the exact same rights.

I go with Huajiro on this one.

 

[Jaymes]

What is the problem. If people are so opposed to the establishment, why do they need their relationship blessed by it?

Because I don't want my girlfriend's parents to make it so that I can't visit her if she's ever in the hospital. Because I want to be able to have the same benefits as married couples. Every little thing married couples take for granted. That's why we want the government to recognize it.

 

[Quoth The Raven]

There is a definition to marriage. It is the joining of a man a woman for the love of one another and the procreation of children. This is not an exact definition however it has been in place for thousands of years. Civil unions are the term for homosexual couples. What is the problem. If people are so opposed to the establishment, why do they need their relationship blessed by it?

You're right! Marriage DOES have a definition. As defined by the Webster online dictionary, marriage is:
1/the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (ooh! No mention of procreation there...oddly enough no mention of love, either) and
2/the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage.

And there you have it. People so opposed to the establishment (and I may have missed it, but where did the homosexual members of the forum who posted in this thread state that they were opposed to the establishment(or is it that their homosexuality automatically renders them opposed to the establishment) want their 'contractual relationship recognized by law', and that is something 'the establishment' has to sanction.
You may consider 'civil union' to be the term for homosexual couples, but it's a meaningless term if it doesn't carry the same legally recognised rights as 'marriage' does.

 

[Green Gaia]

There is a definition to marriage. It is the joining of a man a woman for the love of one another and the procreation of children. This is not an exact definition however it has been in place for thousands of years. Civil unions are the term for homosexual couples. What is the problem. If people are so opposed to the establishment, why do they need their relationship blessed by it?

How about because in this country, we're supposedly suppose to have EQUAL rights. Not allowing same sex couples to marry is saying we are unworthy of equal rights, and therefore not wanted in this country. My state voted to ban same sex marriage by the margin of 75% for and 25% against the amendment. It's not a great feeling this morning to know in black and white that 3/4's of the people I pass on the street think of me undeserving of rights that would protect my family. Is this the Christianity of today? Persecute anyone they don't agree with?

Also, my state voted, in the same measure, to outlaw civil unions and common law marriage (which will effect thousands of heterosexual couples). Which most people don't realize, or don't care as long as they're hurting us evil gay people that God hates.

I am just sick at the rampant bigotry in this country this morning. :banghead3

 

[Jaymes]

Maize, I thoroughly agree with you. To be honest, I'm all gloom and doom today. Wanna move to Canada or England with me? I hear the people are nicer and gays can actually get married there...

 

[Green Gaia]

Actually Trinity, the "definition" of marriage has been defined and redefined over and over again throughout history and in different cultures. 50 years ago a black man and white woman could not marry in some states. I would have thought that in today's society we could look past the bigotry of yesterday and formed a new tolerance for the future. But I guess some people want to hold on to their hateful and hurtful bias.

 

[Green Gaia]

Maize, I thoroughly agree with you. To be honest, I'm all gloom and doom today. Wanna move to Canada or England with me? I hear the people are nicer and gays can actually get married there...

Canada does, however England does not allow same sex marriage. I am looking into Canada though, and it would be easier for Bastet to move there than here anyway.....

 

[Pah]

It seems imperative to get a two cases before the US Supreme Court to settle the question of (1) The Defense of Marriage Act and (2) the Full Faith and Credit Clause (Article IV, section 1 and first paragraph of section 2)

-pah-

 

[Jaymes]

Canada does, however England does not allow same sex marriage.

Are you sure? I distinctly remember a special on the Discovery Channel about marriage that had a gay marriage in England...

 

[Pah]

Canada does, however England does not allow same sex marriage. I am looking into Canada though, and it would be easier for Bastet to move there than here anyway.....

It is not a bad idea. I would consider it too if QTpi did not have so much invested in her pension and we had more equity in the house.

I am deathly afraid of the coming, restrictive theocracy and feel that America, as it is in the eyes of much of the world, sinking into the crapper.

-pah-

 

[Green Gaia]

Are you sure? I distinctly remember a special on the Discovery Channel about marriage that had a gay marriage in England...

I am sure.

Three Canadian provinces issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples: Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec. These three provinces are the most populous in Canada, which means that 71% of Canadians live in a jurisdiction that issues marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Because marriage laws in Canada do not have residency requirements, this also means that U.S. same-sex couples may travel to Ontario, British Columbia or Quebec to marry.

The Netherlands and Belgium also grant same-sex couples the right to legally marry. Both these countries have residency requirements, however.

And Spain will soon have same sex marriage.

 

[Green Gaia]

I am deathly afraid of the coming, restrictive theocracy and feel that America, as it is in the eyes of much of the world, sinking into the crapper.

-pah-

I agree with you. The atmosphere in the country right now scares me to death. Our freedoms are slowly fading away...

 

[jewscout]

Because I don't want my girlfriend's parents to make it so that I can't visit her if she's ever in the hospital. Because I want to be able to have the same benefits as married couples. Every little thing married couples take for granted. That's why we want the government to recognize it.

And this is what i'm talking about Jensa. Look i know your not Christian and your faith may support such a union spiritually (which i'm all for if that's the case) but (unfortunately) this country is predominatly Christian. I WANT same sex couples to have all the same legal rights as any straight couple and if you have a spiritual ceremony to go along w/ the legal one super. But i'm talking about a secular instituion (though your faith would welcome it sadly many will not including Judaism which is odd because there is no prohibition against lesbianism in the Torah) that will give you and the homosexual community what you want and won't make Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson who live an hour from my place go ape-sh!t. (even though they probably will) Look i know you and others will think it's a a load of crap and you want the whole sha-bang all i'm trying to do is find a middle ground where the majority can be happy.

...But then that's just my personal opinion I could be wrong

 

[Green Gaia]

Look i know you and others will think it's a a load of crap and you want the whole sha-bang all i'm trying to do is find a middle ground where the majority can be happy.

The majority is only happy when trampling on the rights of the minority. This is why we have the court system, to make sure everyone's rights are upheld, no matter how much the majority hates them.

 

[huajiro]

There is a definition to marriage. It is the joining of a man a woman for the love of one another and the procreation of children. This is not an exact definition however it has been in place for thousands of years. Civil unions are the term for homosexual couples. What is the problem. If people are so opposed to the establishment, why do they need their relationship blessed by it?

I repeat, the only reason that the Church wants more kids is to have more income. Self- preservation. The only difference between homosexual unions and heterosexual ones is the fact that we can have kids. Marriage is marriage.

 

[huajiro]

How about because in this country, we're supposedly suppose to have EQUAL rights. Not allowing same sex couples to marry is saying we are unworthy of equal rights, and therefore not wanted in this country. My state voted to ban same sex marriage by the margin of 75% for and 25% against the amendment. It's not a great feeling this morning to know in black and white that 3/4's of the people I pass on the street think of me undeserving of rights that would protect my family. Is this the Christianity of today? Persecute anyone they don't agree with?

Also, my state voted, in the same measure, to outlaw civil unions and common law marriage (which will effect thousands of heterosexual couples). Which most people don't realize, or don't care as long as they're hurting us evil gay people that God hates.

I am just sick at the rampant bigotry in this country this morning. :banghead3

What we should do is make everyone homosexual and heterosexual have to fight for marriage (and children for that matter). Then you won't have so many idiots getting married and having children, and you will most likely find that in the end homosexuals are better spouses and parents.

 

[Lightkeeper]

I'm having a hard time understanding why the government is telling people who can and cannot marry. This seems to be headed toward arranged marriages by the state. It looks like even heterosexuals won't be able to choose their own partners. This is serious stuff and effects all of us. We need to form a coalition of gays and heterosexuals to speak out about government dictated unions.

 

[Sunstone]

The opposition to gay marriage goes against reason. In the long run, reason will win out. The problem is the long run keeps getting longer because the opposition to gay marriage has become institutionalized in organizations like Focus on the Family. Nevertheless, there is no rational basis to oppose gay marriages, and some day, that fact will win out.

 

[FyreBrigidIce]

I have read all the threads to this post and am trying to understand one thing.

AREN'T HOMOSEXUALS HUMAN? Last I knew they were. Maybe I am wrong.
Last time I looked at my uncle, he looked human to me. (He is homosexual)
My point is that our government sends our families to other countries to fight for the freedoms and human rights of the citizens in those countries yet is more than happy taking away human rights and freedom away from its own people. I am not against helping other countries, so please do not miusunderstand what I am trying to say. I realize not all of the officials in our government are opposed to same-sex marriages with all the legal rights attached. Those officals that are fighting so hard to ban same-sex marriages yet are eager to protect other countries are nothing more than HYPOCRITS!!!!

Same-sex marriages should not only be allowed and protected but they should be embraced. Please do nto quote me but the number of heterosexual marraiges that are based on love between the partners are getting fewer each year. More heterosexual marriages are out of convenience or because of the lack of practicing protective measures during sex. Other heterosexual marriages only stay together because one party or the other is afraid to leave. There are significantly fewer homo-sexual families (2 parents and at least one child) involved with as many Child Abuse cases or statistics. How often do we read in the paper about a same sex couple being arrested for domestic violence? I have not seen that many anyways. I could be wrong and I welcome anyone to inform me if there are any or if I am wrong in my assumptions on this point.

Sorry, i drifted off topic I think a bit. My head and my heart is a mess at the thought that people are being discriminated against because of their preference in who they wish to share their life, dreams, and love with so I ramble anything that is running through my head.

To sum it up in one sentence:
All humans deserve the same rights to LOVE, HONOR, and CHERISH another human being.

Until our government and other closed-minded people who choose not to evolve with the rest of the world accept and protect those rights, I will choose to learn how to perform Affirmation of love ceremonies for couples in my area and keep doing anything that I can to help these couples obtain the rights they should already have. Although Affirmation of Love ceremonies do not provide the same legal recognition as a marriage ceremony does, it does provide a way for couples to have friends and family share in their commitment to each other. Hopefully soon I will be able to perform marriage ceremonies for these couples to help them when other Churches turn their back on them.

Brandy aka FyreBrigidIce

 

[Bastet]

And this is what i'm talking about Jensa. Look i know your not Christian and your faith may support such a union spiritually (which i'm all for if that's the case) but (unfortunately) this country is predominatly Christian. I WANT same sex couples to have all the same legal rights as any straight couple and if you have a spiritual ceremony to go along w/ the legal one super. But i'm talking about a secular instituion (though your faith would welcome it sadly many will not including Judaism which is odd because there is no prohibition against lesbianism in the Torah) that will give you and the homosexual community what you want and won't make Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson who live an hour from my place go ape-sh!t. (even though they probably will) Look i know you and others will think it's a a load of crap and you want the whole sha-bang all i'm trying to do is find a middle ground where the majority can be happy.

...But then that's just my personal opinion I could be wrong

I don't give a rat's a$$ if any religion ever recognises same sex marriages (even though I know there is an increasing number of churches who are more than happy to perform the ceremony). Marriage is a secular institution, so Christians (or any other religious body, for that matter), should not have any say in whether same sex couples can marry or not. It's nothing to do with them, or their freaking religion. They didn't invent marriage. I don't consider being married in a church, as part of "the whole sha-bang". This is very simply about recognition of rights, not about whether or not the Pope thinks I'm the devil incarnate. Stuff the Pope. All I want is that piece of paper with a stamp on it, that entitles me and my partner to the same rights and responsibilities as any heterosexual married couple. I don't need church wedding...I'd get married in sweat pants in a dusty office, or naked on the beach, as long as I got that piece of paper. Legalizing same sex marriage would not make it mandatory for any church to perform the ceremonies, so what is their fecking problem?!