Gay couples to get joint rights

[ChrisH]

Only fair don't you think?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3584285.stm

Chris

[slick]

It's about time!!!!!! I support gay and lesbian partnerships and could never understand why they've been discriminated against for so long.

[guster girl]

I agree with giving them the rights of same sex partners, but, I also agree with this remark made by a woman:

"My partner and I have been in a steady faithful relationship for almost 20 years. We have chosen not to marry, for our own reasons, but I am appalled that we will not be entitled to any of the legal benefits that the government is about to offer to unmarried homosexual couples. I see no difference in our situations at all. Any couple, living together in this way, should be protected by the Law."

I don't know....I guess nothing in life is supposed to be really fair.

[CathyBogart]

It's definitely a step in the right direction. :)

[Twisterdog]

Originally posted by guster girl
I agree with giving them the rights of same sex partners, but, I also agree with this remark made by a woman:

"My partner and I have been in a steady faithful relationship for almost 20 years. We have chosen not to marry, for our own reasons, but I am appalled that we will not be entitled to any of the legal benefits that the government is about to offer to unmarried homosexual couples. I see no difference in our situations at all. Any couple, living together in this way, should be protected by the Law."

I don't know....I guess nothing in life is supposed to be really fair.

I don't agree with that woman's reasoning at all. If her and her opposite sex partner choose not the get legally married (and the operative word here is choose), then that is a choice they are making with full knowledge of the consequences. They can choose to get married, and reap all the benefits ... as well as possibly having to face the legal consequenses of a divorce. Or they can choose to simply live together, and avoid the legal aspects. But they have a CHOICE.

Many states in the USA (I don't know about other countries) recognise "common law" marriages, as well. If you live together for a specific number of years, then you are legally "married".

The way the law stands right now, same-sex couples do not have the same choice that opposite-sex couples have - to legally marry or not. They cannot legally marry at all. Therefore, this is a small token step in that direction.

IMO, if opposite sex couples choose not to marry, then they shouldn't complain about not getting the benefits of a married couple. It's a choice they are making. Just like people who choose not to have children shouldn't complain because they can't deduct a kid on their income tax.

[CathyBogart]

Post deleted so as not to hijack. PM sent instead. :)

[lovemyshiba]

Great!!!
Definitely a step in the right direction.

If a man and woman choose not to get married, that is their choice. If they want to cry about not getting the same rights as a married couple, there is something they can do about it--get married.
Gay couples do not have this option, sadly.

[IttyBittyKitty]

Originally posted by WolfChan
It's definitely a step in the right direction. :)

Exactly ....

Given human frailty and the amount of bigots out there, positive change for homosexual rights can only happen one little step at a time. If you try to take giant leaps, you get into a situation like San Fransisco did, and have the changes revoked.

We'll get there one day! (here's to hoping!)

[sirrahved]

Homosexuals should not be able to corrupt the holy union of marriage. End of story.

[Twisterdog]

Originally posted by sirrahved
Homosexuals should not be able to corrupt the holy union of marriage. End of story.

I assume, then, that you are as adamently opposed to divorce? I'd say divorce is pretty much the ultimate bummer in terms of "holy unions", yes?

[sirrahved]

Yes, I AM opposed to divorce... is anyone for divorce? Like hey, let's go get divorced????:confused:

I believe that you shouldn't divorce no matter what, and if you do it's a sin... but I think you should have the right to do it.

Just like homosexuality.

[CathyBogart]

So even though homosexual marriage is a sin in your eyes, people should be able to do it, by your own reasoning.

[sirrahved]

NO, people should be able to have the relationship they want, but they should NOT be married, or have the same rights as a husband and wife.

[Twisterdog]

Originally posted by sirrahved
Yes, I AM opposed to divorce... is anyone for divorce? Like hey, let's go get divorced????:confused:

I believe that you shouldn't divorce no matter what, and if you do it's a sin... but I think you should have the right to do it.

Just like homosexuality.

Really? So ... if a woman's husband beats her, or molests her children, she should still stay married to him "no matter what", or else she will commiting a sin?

My goodness.

[popcornbird]

Ok, I have to say something about the divorce issue. I do believe homosexuality is a major sin, but no way do I believe divorce is a sin. :eek: What if you end up with a horrible, abusive, impossible-to-live-with spouse? Does that mean divorcing him/her would be a sin?

Homosexuality is a sin in my faith.......divorce is not. Divorce is not encouraged........it isn't a good thing, but sometimes, there is no other choice, and divorce is the best thing you can do for yourself, your spouse, and the rest of the family. SOMETIMES, it just has to be done. I don't know what Christians believe in this issue, but in my faith, God has made divorce lawful, and not something that would count as a sin. I can't compare divorce and homosexuality at all. I see them both as 100% totally different things. :p

[CathyBogart]

People just need to think things through more before they marry. There has only been one divorce in my family -ever- and that happened because my uncle became an alcoholic 20 years into a marriage and wouldn't change after 2 years of counseling.

I dunno....with one couple in my family on 72 years of marriage and another who has just celebrated 50 years....I was really shocked as a kid to learn that divorce even existed! I didn't hear about it until I was 11 or 12.

Edit: and I apparently need to read my posts before I post them, or I make all sorts of wierd errors.

[sirrahved]

When you divorce, you are breaking a covenant with God. Yes, I agree that sometimes you SHOULD leave someone (in the most dire of circumstances) but I believe that it is STILL a sin in the eyes of the Lord, and one that should not be entered into lightly. Sins are forgiven if we ask for forgiveness...

[Logan]

I'm divorced, and I'm a Christian. I know what the Bible says about it, but I am also a true believer in forgiveness. If God could forgive the worst of sinners (and the Bible says that he can), I'm sure he will forgive me for my divorce and give me that precious, second chance. I'm banking on that!!!! :)

[sirrahved]

God definitely forgives!

[guster girl]

Originally posted by sirrahved
Homosexuals should not be able to corrupt the holy union of marriage. End of story.

HUMANS have already corrupted the "holy union of marriage." And, it's not holy if you're not religious. It's legal, and, the legal rights should be fair and equal across the board.

[2kitties]

Originally posted by Twisterdog
Really? So ... if a woman's husband beats her, or molests her children, she should still stay married to him "no matter what", or else she will commiting a sin?

My goodness.

YAYAYAYAY! Twisterdog, you rock.

[QueenScoopalot]

But it only goes so far. I would hate to have a relative/friend whatever born gay, and treated as a second class citizen and worse! I cannot imagine the despair of a gay person that found out they had AIDs and the only person that didn't disown them was their signifigant other. But what rights do the lover's have when it comes to hospital care and eventual death? They can't even visit them from what I understand! :mad: At least it's a small step in the right direction, but ther's so much more that could have come of it all. Let the voters speak in the U.S! :rolleyes:

[guster girl]

Originally posted by Twisterdog
I don't agree with that woman's reasoning at all. If her and her opposite sex partner choose not the get legally married (and the operative word here is choose), then that is a choice they are making with full knowledge of the consequences. They can choose to get married, and reap all the benefits ... as well as possibly having to face the legal consequenses of a divorce. Or they can choose to simply live together, and avoid the legal aspects. But they have a CHOICE.

Many states in the USA (I don't know about other countries) recognise "common law" marriages, as well. If you live together for a specific number of years, then you are legally "married".

The way the law stands right now, same-sex couples do not have the same choice that opposite-sex couples have - to legally marry or not. They cannot legally marry at all. Therefore, this is a small token step in that direction.

IMO, if opposite sex couples choose not to marry, then they shouldn't complain about not getting the benefits of a married couple. It's a choice they are making. Just like people who choose not to have children shouldn't complain because they can't deduct a kid on their income tax.

I just read this thread again, and, I agree with you, completely. I'm an idiot when it comes to politics, the law, etc.....I love reading your posts, by the way. I like your honesty. And, I think you are tactful, as well, which is unusual. :)